Fish Biologist

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Suches (GA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Suches, Georgia is seeking a Fish Biologist, GS-0482-7, at the GS-9 level. The role involves fish culture operations, water quality monitoring, field sampling, and hatchery outreach to support trout populations and habitat conservation.

The position emphasizes documentation, proper hours of work, and meeting basic educational requirements with transcripts. Collaboration with federal and state partners is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological science with at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects and 12 in animal sciences; transcripts required.
• Specialized experience or education combination to qualify; document hours per week.
• Volunteer experience can count toward qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Participate in spawning operations, egg collection, fertilization, incubation monitoring and care of fry and fingerlings.
• Feed and observe fish, administer feed, monitor growth and health indicators.
• Monitor and maintain water quality by measuring temperature, DO, pH and flow rates.
• Participate in field sampling and habitat assessments to track species distribution and population trends.
• Assist hatchery outreach by giving tours and supporting visitor center activities.

Skills

Fish culture activities

Water quality monitoring

Field sampling

Hatchery outreach tours

Fry and fingerling care

Education

Bachelor's in biological science with aquatic & animal sciences coursework

Graduate-level education in biological science

Tools

None

Job description

This position is a Fish Biologist, GS-0482-7, full performance level GS-9, working in Suches, Georgia for the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery. The National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS) is comprised of a network of field stations located throughout the nation that work with tribal, local, and state governments, other federal agencies, and foreign nations to conserve fisheries.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/13/2026-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.

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:

• A. Degree: possess a Bachelor's or higher degree with a major in biological science that includes: At least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology AND at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. You must submit transcripts supporting this required education.
• B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND-

Specialized Experience Requirement

You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience performing fish culture activities:

1. 1) Participate in spawning operations, egg collection, fertilization, incubation monitoring, and the care of fry and fingerlings, following established protocols to support healthy production.
2. 2) Feed and observe fish: Administer appropriate feed based on life stage and monitor fish behavior, growth, and appearance to identify early signs of stress, disease, or environmental imbalance.
3. 3) Monitor and maintain water quality: Collect and evaluate key water parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and flow rates, ensuring conditions remain within optimal ranges for trout health and development.
4. 4) Participates in the monitoring, surveying, and assessment of wild fish populations, including conducting field sampling, evaluating habitat conditions, recording biological data, and supporting efforts to track species distribution, health, and long‑term population trends.
5. 5) Assists with the implementation of the hatchery outreach program by providing tours, maintaining the hatchery visitor center, and conducting fishing events.

-OR-

• Education: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate‑level education in biological science or related field of study. You must include transcripts.
• Combination of education and experience. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week on your resume 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.