Fish Biologist

You will serve as a Fish Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Warm Springs Fish Health Center in Georgia. These are GS-7 and GS-9 term positions (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of four years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition at management's discretion.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/31/2026-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 and/or Education 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: major in biological science that included:
  • 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. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate.) You must submit transcripts.

-OR-

• B.
  Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of 6 semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, 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-5 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
  • Assist with daily hatchery operations including fish culture, disease control, brood stock care, egg incubation, feeding, cleaning, and tagging programs.
  • Conduct visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites and implement disease control plans under supervision.
  • Collect and help analyze water quality and biological data to support healthy fish production and apply corrective measures as directed.
  • Maintain electronic records and generate reports on hatchery operations, including feeding, water quality, disease incidents, inventory, and production.
  • Support technical and administrative tasks such as annual reporting, facility management, safety, training, budgeting, partnerships, outreach, and public relations. You must include hours per week worked.

• 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: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
  • Lead daily hatchery operations by managing fish culture activities, disease control, brood stock care, egg incubation, feeding, cleaning, and tagging programs.
  • Conduct visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites, recommend actions, and administer treatments as needed.
  • Collect, monitor, and analyze water quality and biological data to ensure healthy fish production and implement corrective measures.
  • Maintain electronic records and generate reports on hatchery operations, including feeding, water quality, disease incidents, inventory, and production.
  • Assist with technical and administrative tasks such as annual reporting, facility management, safety, training, budgeting,…