Biologist

U.S.-Fish-; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument/Palmyra Atoll Refuge in Honolulu, HI, is seeking a biologist with a strong background in field work, data collection, and conservation research.

The role requires coordinating with teams across outdoor environments and contributing to long-term wildlife management projects. Applicants should have a biology-related degree or graduate-level education, with experience in supervising field staff and assisting in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences or related disciplines.
• Combination of education and experience in biological sciences may qualify.
• Graduate-level education can substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Train others in outdoor biological field work including surveying and data collection.
• Conduct applied conservation management or biological research activities.
• Directly oversee individuals conducting biological work.
• Support senior biologists in complex operational biological logistics.

Skills

biological field work

surveying

data collection

conservation management

biological research

supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological sciences/related field

2 years graduate education with related field

combination of education and experience in biological sciences

Job description

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument/Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in Honolulu, HI

You will be required to travel overnight away from home up to 6 months a year (see requirements section for additional information). You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.

Requirements Continued...
Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/22/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following basic educational requirements and minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the minimum qualifications for this position described below, you must meet at least one of the following basic educational requirements:

• A.) Possess a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
• B.) Possess a combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to a major in the biological sciences (i.e. at least 24 semester hours) as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4‑year course of study in the biological sciences, agriculture, or natural resources management or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

-AND-

Minimum Qualifications: In addition to meeting the basic educational requirements as described above, applicants must meet one of the minimum qualifications described below to qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include but are not limited to: train others in biological field work in outdoor settings including surveying and data collection; conduct applied conservation management or biological research activities; directly oversee individuals conducting biological work; and support senior biologists in complex operational biological logistics. You must include hours per week worked in your resume to receive credit for experience. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• Education: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited educational institution concentrated in a field that is directly related to the work of this position, such as in biological sciences, agriculture, botany, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position. You must include transcripts. -OR-
• Combination of education and experience. Note: only education in excess of the first year of graduate-level education (the amount required for the next lower grade level) may be combined with experience to meet the total requirement. For example, applicants with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to the GS-7 (50% of the experience requirement), and 27 semester hours (50 percent of the education requirement to qualify for GS-9, in excess of that required for GS-7) would be qualifying for the GS-9 grade level (assuming one year of graduate education is defined by the college or university as 18 semester hours). You must include hours per week and transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.