Fish and Wildlife Biologist.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Lacey (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Lacey, WA seeks a biologist to conduct complex ecological investigations and evaluate how land and water projects affect fish and wildlife resources.

You will help ensure compliance with ESA and other requirements across state and federal partners. The role includes coordinating with federal, tribal, and state agencies, processing research permits and ESA-related documents, and maintaining comprehensive records to support policy and program decisions

Qualifications

• Degree in biological sciences or related field; transcripts required.
• Experience with Endangered Species Act processes and consultations.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple agencies and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Plan and evaluate complex ecological investigations affecting wildlife and habitats.
• Assess effects of land/water projects on species; support ESA consultations.
• Develop and process research permits and ESA-related documents.
• Provide recommendations on ESA application and permit reviews to ensure compliance.
• Maintain permit/consultation files and summarize data for reports.

Skills

Ecological investigations

ESA consultations

Permit processing

Data evaluation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related field

Job description

Duties

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

• Plans, evaluates, conducts a wide variety of complex ecological investigations or inspections involving complex land and water resource development projects, proposals and/or license applications/renewals to determine their impact upon fish and/or wildlife resources and habitats and to ensure that legal standards and other requirements are met and implemented in a manner most beneficial to fish and/or wildlife resources.


• Evaluates biological data and Federal program or project operational data to determine the effects of those programs or actions on threatened or endangered species through formal and informal consultation procedures, such as draft biological opinions required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).


• Leads efforts in the development of review and processing of research/recovery permits and other recovery/ESA-related documents in coordination with Federal, Tribal, and state agencies, and with other parties, consistent with due dates and policies regarding permit reviews and permit issuance process in the Ecological Service's field offices.


• Submits recommendations to the supervisor on technical and policy matters regarding application of the ESA for sensitive issues including, but not limited to, the status of consultations and permits assigned to field office, to ensure documents have appropriate reviews and follow Service regulations, policy, guidance, and procedures.


• Maintains and updates files on permits and consultations issued for activities associated with endangered, threatened, proposed, and candidate species and their habitats, including summaries of these data for inclusion in projects such as consultation or permit documents, listing or de-listing packages, and planning exercises.

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


• You may be required to travel occasionally to visit work sites. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.


• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.


• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

Probationary period

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

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-09/21/2026-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.

Basic Requirement

• Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study 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

Minimum Qualification [GS-11]

• One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience may include: 1) conducting biological or ecological investigations to determine the impact of various land or water development projects on the fish and/or wildlife resources of an area; 2) reviewing biological portions of environment assessment/impact statements or resource planning reports; 3) writing/conducting biological assessments or evaluations; 4) Coordinating activities with other agencies, government agencies, landowners, private interest groups, organizations, the public regarding requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other Federal and state legislation/regulations; 5) assisting with implementing biological work or habitat preservation and development work for endangered, threatened, proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; and implementing federal environmental laws (i.e., Endangered Species Act, specifically Sections 7 and 10; Clean Water Act; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; National Environmental Policy Act), regulations or policies involving natural resource issues. You must include hours per week worked.


• 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or a directly related field appropriate to this position.


• A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Only education beyond the second graduate year (36 semesters) is creditable to meet this standard. You must include hours per week worked 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.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement.

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education

To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case‑by‑case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit:

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here,

The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.