Fish Biologist.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Tupelo (MS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Tupelo, MS seeks qualified personnel to plan and conduct investigations on native and invasive fish and aquatic species, manage sampling programs, and develop tools for habitat conservation.

You will collaborate with internal and external partners, analyze biological data, and prepare reports and briefings. Qualifications emphasize biology, field sampling, and communication of scientific results.

Qualifications

• Biological science with aquatic course work (e.g., limnology, ichthyology) and animal sciences coursework.
• Combination of education and experience may be acceptable.
• Current federal employees: hours per week must be shown or SF-50 submitted.
• Graduate education may substitute for experience as described.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct complex investigations: design, collection, and analysis of biological data for native/invasive fish and aquatic species.
• Conduct population and habitat assessments across diverse aquatic habitats and sample with various equipment.
• Develop partnerships with stakeholders to support science-based planning and field sampling.
• Design studies, build biological models to quantify habitat needs, evaluate invasive species management, and develop tools.
• Compile and report findings for annual reports, publications, and briefings to diverse audiences.

Job description

Duties

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

• Plan and conduct a variety of complex investigations including design, collection, and analysis of biological data related to management of native and invasive fish and aquatic species, control of aquatic invasive species, and conservation and restoration of aquatic habitats.
• Conduct fisheries and aquatic species populations and habitat assessments sampling using various equipment and techniques in a variety of aquatic habitats including large rivers (e.g., Mississippi River), lakes and reservoirs, small streams; develop and provide oversight to an office field sampling program.
• Develop and foster partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to leverage resources and ensure appropriate collaboration and accountability, including providing biological assistance and support to partners in science-based planning, field sampling, and technical knowledge based on current published literature and other professionally endorsed practices.
• Conduct project study design, develop and utilize biological models to quantify habitat conservation needs for fish and aquatic species, evaluate invasive species management activities, and develop technological tools as identified.
• Compile, review, analyze, and report on activities for project and annual reports, scientific documents and publications, and briefings; communicate technical and non-technical information, written and verbally, with a variety of audiences.

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.
• Required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 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 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 - 10/28/2026-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.

To qualify for this position, you must meet the Basic Educational Requirement and Minimum Requirement stated below:

Basic Educational Requirement

You must meet at least one of the following:

• Degree: Biological science that included (a) 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 (b) 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. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate.). You must submit transcripts.
• OR-
• Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Minimum Requirement

In addition to the Basic Educational Requirement for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

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 for this position is described as: providing support for the design, collection, and analysis of biological data related to management of native and/or invasive fish and aquatic species; conducting fisheries and aquatic species populations and habitat assessments using various equipment and techniques in a variety of aquatic habitats; managing biological data and conducting statistical analyses; assisting in fisheries management planning; and preparing and presenting scientific data and assessments relative to fishery resources through both written documents and publications and oral communications. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. You must include hours per week worked.

Education

Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study that is directly related the position and which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work. You must include transcripts.

Combination

of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience, first take percentage of hours beyond the 2nd year of progressively higher-level graduate education. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. 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.

Education

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. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit:

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

All 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,

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.