Wildlife Biologist.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Smyrna (DE); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) seeks a seasoned wildlife biologist to manage a large refuge complex, overseeing habitat projects across coastal, estuarine, salt marsh and upland areas.

You will develop monitoring plans, secure funding, coordinate with partners, use GIS for data mapping, and provide technical guidance to junior staff and volunteers. This role emphasizes field leadership, data-driven decisions, and collaboration to advance refuge priorities.

Qualifications

• Degree in biological science with wildlife specialization and zoology coursework.
• Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education toward a Ph.D. for advanced qualification.
• For GS-12, one year of specialized experience at GS-11 level including wildlife habitat management and GIS.

Responsibilities

• Manages and leads the biological work of a National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
• Develops habitat and monitoring plans and secures funding.
• Coordinates with partners on wildlife projects and funding.
• Uses GIS and data systems to prepare defensible reports and maps.
• Leads junior staff and volunteers with quality assurance of work.

Skills

Wildlife management

Data analysis

GIS

Team leadership

Report writing

Education

Biological science degree with wildlife specialization

Graduate studies toward Ph.D. in wildlife biology

Tools

GIS software

Data management systems

Job description

Duties

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

• Manages and leads the biological work of an extensive National Wildlife Refuge Complex that spans coastal, estuarine, salt marsh and upland habitats.
• Develops wildlife habitat and species monitoring, protection and management plans, and grant proposals, and secures funding for these efforts, and coordinates all facets of these programs in the field and administratively.
• Works with partners to coordinate and leverage support and funding for complex wildlife and habitat projects, manages and monitors work on and off refuge, and works as a member of local, regional, or national teams.
• Uses computer systems to manage data and information, and to prepare statistically defensible reports including the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to prepare maps and display data and results.
• Leads and provides technical guidance and quality assurance of the work of junior graded biological team members and volunteers at the refuge.

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.
• You are 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 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 - 11/06/2026-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.-AND-

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

Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR 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: In biological science from an accredited college or university that included at least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, or research courses in such subjects (Excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate.); and 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences.. You must submit transcripts.

• Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Specialized Experience

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

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) Managing the biological program at a national wildlife refuge or other protected area by analyzing, evaluating, and selecting the appropriate techniques in the collection of biological data with an emphasis on wildlife population assessment, habitat management, or conservation plans; 2) Identifying and making recommendations to resolve wildlife management problems; 3) Providing technical advice relating to wildlife habitat management or conservation plans, wildlife species; 4) Preparing reports and making presentations on findings and recommendations concerning wildlife management issues; 5) analyzing and evaluating diverse environmental conditions; planning and conducting wildlife inventories, monitoring or research. You must include hours per week worked.

Education

Successful completion of at least three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. You must include transcripts.

Combination

Have a combination of education and experience as listed above.

Specialized Experience

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

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) Leading and managing the biological program at a national wildlife refuge or other protected area by monitoring, protecting, managing, restoring, and enhancing wildlife and wildlife habitat; 2) Planning, implementing, and using quantitative means to assess the results of research, habitat management, wildlife population management, and species and habitat monitoring work; 3) Working with refuge, regional biology, and partner organization teams to monitor, manage and restore key habitats and species; 4) Using GIS technology and statistical analyses to produce scientifically defensible results; 5) Writing natural resource management plans, Section 7 consultations, and presenting these and other findings to diverse audiences.

• There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level.

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

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

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 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,

Physical Demands/Work Environment: This position involves a substantial amount of field work. Work may require walking over terrain that is rough and uneven. May require bending crouching, stooping, stretching and lifting up to 50 lbs. Field work can occur in temperature and weather extremes, around biting insects and large animals. Work can require travel via air, boat, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicles, on foot etc. May be required to travel to remote site and camp in tents or cabins.

Some 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.