Biologist

Duties

At the full performance level of this position, you will:
Interpret, evaluate and analyze data and other information for the development of human health assessments, environmental assessments, and pesticide benefits assessments. Communicate risk and benefits analyses, risk assessment characterization, and other technical information to internal and external customers both orally and in writing. Make informed recommendations to management on exposure, hazard, risk assessments, and/or modeling inputs and refinements. Provide technical expertise, analysis, and advice to support pesticide assessment efforts.

If you are hired at a grade level lower than the full performance level (i.e., highest promotion potential level), your duties will be less complex and you will have more supervisory oversight. You may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses.

NOTE:

Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

Conditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. citizen. If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period. This position is designated as Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

REAL  became effective on 05/07/25. If you are selected for this position and plan to use your driver's license or identification card during the onboarding process (i.e., for employment eligibility verification or to obtain your EPA identification card), the document must be a REAL
-compliant state-issued driver's license or identification card that includes the REAL
-compliant star marking, or must be an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL). You will receive information about alternative acceptable documents (e.g., passport) prior to onboarding. For more information about REAL , see Dept. of Homeland Security and REAL . If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

NOTE:

You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement. In addition to the basic entry education requirements, you must have specialized experience and/or directly related education as described below:
To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following: 1 year of full-time
* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level defined as analyzing scientific data; and communicating scientific findings orally and in writing. 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree; or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; the education must be directly related and provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position equivalent combination of education and experience

NOTE:

1 year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study; if that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours is considered an academic year of graduate study. To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must have 1 year of full-time
* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level defined as evaluating scientific data related to chemicals to determine results; collaborating in interdisciplinary teams; and preparing reports related to scientific assessments of chemicals. To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must have 1 year of full-time
* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level defined as evaluating pesticide data to determine results; preparing reports related to pesticide risk or benefits assessments; collaborating with interdisciplinary groups of scientists to address pesticide regulatory issues; and providing recommendations to management to mitigate risks from pesticides to human health or the environment. You will need the following competencies in order to perform the duties of this position successfully:
Written Communication
* Teamwork* Biological Science
* Attention to Detail
* You will be evaluated on these critical competencies. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies,…