FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Bloomington, IN seeks a biologist to lead ecological investigations and habitat assessments for complex land and water projects.

The role focuses on rare and endangered species habitats, wetlands, and aquatic systems, requiring collaboration with federal, state, and private partners. The position involves preparing comprehensive reports, presenting results to agencies and the public, and supporting Section 7 consultations with technical expertise on

Qualifications

• Experience planning and conducting ecological investigations and evaluating habitat impacts.
• Ability to prepare written reports and deliver oral presentations to diverse audiences.
• Experience coordinating with other agencies and contractors on status surveys and consultations.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct on-site ecological investigations for complex land and water projects.
• Lead status surveys for listed or candidate species in coordination with partners.
• Assist in Section 7 consultations and in preparation of conservation recommendations.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings to professional and public groups.
• Assess effects of contaminants on fish and wildlife resources and habitats.

Skills

Field investigations

Environmental impact assessment

Data analysis

Education

Biological sciences / related discipline degree

Job description

Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, investigates, conducts, and reviews on-site ecological investigations on a wide variety of the most complex and diverse Federal land and water resource development proposals to determine their effects on fish and wildlife resources, with special emphasis on rare, candidate, proposed, federally listed threatened and endangered species habitat, riparian habitat, wetland ecology and management, and other habitats of concern in the affected area.
• Plans and conducts status surveys for both listed and candidate species, in cooperation with other Federal and state agency personnel, private organization representatives, and contractors; negotiates agreements for status surveys with prospective contractors and personnel of cooperating agencies.
• Acts as technical advisor to other Field Office staff on the habitat needs of rare, candidate, proposed, and federally listed species for the purpose of Section 7 consultations with other Federal agencies and designated non-Federal representatives; also consults with staff in preparation of reasonable and prudent measures, reasonable and prudent alternatives, and conservation recommendations.
• Prepares objective and complete written reports and other documents and delivers oral presentations to Service, other agency and organization professional, and public groups based on investigations conducted, analyzing present and future impacts of various complex project alternatives on fish and wildlife resources and economic/recreational uses thereof.
• Plans, investigates, conducts, and reviews on-site ecological investigations on a wide variety of the most complex and diverse actual or suspected contaminant sites to determine their effects on fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, with special emphasis on rare, candidate, proposed, and federally listed threatened and endangered species, and aquatic systems, including wetlands and other habitats of concern.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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 - 09/01/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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.

Basic Education And Minimum Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

• Degree: Possess a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.. You must submit transcripts.
• OR-
• Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• AND -

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:

• Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Assisting in conducting investigations to determine the impact of land and water development projects on fish and wildlife resources, under the guidance of a senior biologist. 2) Reviewing and providing input on permit applications (e.g., Section 10 recovery permits, Corps of Engineers, EPA, or state permit programs) related to fish and wildlife resources. 3) Participating in status surveys or field investigations for listed, proposed, or candidate species in coordination with other agency staff or contractors. 4) Assisting in the preparation of biological opinions, species status assessments, environmental assessments, impact statements, or resource planning reports evaluating effects on fish and wildlife resources. 5) Gathering, organizing, and summarizing biological or habitat data to support Section 7 consultation documents or fish and wildlife management plans. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree -OR- have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or closely related field which provided me with the knowledge skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.. You must include transcripts. -OR-
• Combination of education and experience as listed above. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:

• Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Independently conducting Section 7 consultations under the Endangered Species Act and preparing draft Biological Opinions, including reasonable and prudent measures and conservation recommendations, for supervisory or Regional Director signature. 2) Planning and conducting status surveys for listed and candidate species in cooperation with Federal and state agency personnel, private organizations, or contractors, including negotiating survey agreements with cooperating parties. 3) Serving as technical advisor to other field office