The Recent Graduates Program lasts for one year. During the first year the selectee will perform developmental activities designed to help him/her acquire the competencies of the target position in which the he/she may be placed upon completion of the program. Participants who successfully complete the Recent Graduates Program may be eligible for conversion to the target position on a permanent (more than one to four years in duration) basis without further competition.

The duties of a Fish and Wildlife Biologist you will be responsible for carrying out professional work in the biological sciences or related natural science field to plan, develop, coordinate and implement biological programs. Duties may include:

• Independently perform routine, less complex studies or assessments or work with a senior biologist on larger more complex investigations/assessments
• Research potential impacts of proposed Federal program or project operational data to determine the effects of those programs or actions on threatened and endangered species and prepares draft biological opinions as required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments for the supervisor's review and/or discussion.
• Participate in the review and/or preparation of biological portions of environment assessment/impact statements or comprehensive resource planning reports to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions on Federal fish and wildlife resources of concern.
• Accompany supervisor or senior biologists conducting private land wetland impact restorations
• Independently review and process routine research/recovery permits and other recovery/ESA-related documents
• Assist in the development, coordination, and review of plans that may encompass any and all Service programs that affect fish and/or wildlife and their habitat conditions including, but not limited to, fire management, moist soil management, cooperative farming, wetland management, water quantity/quality, timber/forestry, or grassland management and/or restoration.
• Plan, organize, and conduct biological work and/or habitat preservation studies.
• Analyzes results and develops objective reports on progress and completion of studies
• Accompany supervisor and senior biologists to various meetings, hearings, and events to discuss proposed or existing development projects

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• Must meet Pathways eligibility requirements
• Must meet the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduate Program. Recent Graduates will enter a formal training program with a mentor and execute an Individual Development Plan outlining training requirements and program expectations.
• Recent Graduates must receive at least 40 hours of formal training directly linked to their employment field.
• Recent Graduates serve a trial period for the duration of their excepted service appointment.
• Recent Graduates will be required to sign a Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement.
• Applicants must provide documentation of completion within the previous 2 years of a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.

Qualifications

Recent Graduate Program Eligibility Requirements:
Recent Graduates must have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.

Exceptions are made for veterans, as defined in 5 USC 2108, who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during the two-year eligibility period described above. These individuals have a full two-year period of eligibility upon their release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may their eligibility period extend beyond six years from the date on which they completed their academic requirements.

Basic Educational Requirements: To meet the basic educational requirements for this position you must have one of the following:

A. A Degree: major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR-
B. A combination of education in an accredited college or university, and experience equivalent to a major in biological sciences. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation.

GS:05
In order to qualify at the GS-05 level, you must fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:
A. 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree or bachelor's degree as stated above in option A under Basic Educational Requirements; OR
B. A combination of education and experience as stated in option B above under Basic Educational Requirements.

GS-07
Additionally in order to qualify at the GS-07 level, you must fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:
A. Completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in a field of study that demonstrates the competencies required by this position with either (1) a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale; (2) a 3.5 GPA based on a 4.0 scale for all required courses completed in a qualifying major field of study at either the time of application or during the last two years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or a major subdivision of the college; or, (4) membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies; OR
B. One full year of graduate level education in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. The education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position; OR
C. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: research potential impacts of proposed Federal program or project operational data to determine the effects of those programs or actions on threatened and endangered species and prepares draft biological opinions as required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments for the supervisor's review and/or discussion. Maintains and updates files on permits issued for activities associated with endangered, threatened, proposed, and candidate species and their habitats. Gathers, organizes, and interprets biological, ecological, pathological, public use, or other pertinent information to insure management plans are current. OR
D. A combination of education and experience as listed above.

Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-11. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

1. Knowledge of the theory, principles and methods of fish and wildlife biology, fishery biology, and/or wildlife biology and a working familiarity with related disciplines
2. Knowledge of the laws and regulations pertaining to the endangered and threatened species program in order to prepare and review documents, ensure compliance with them, and provide biological interpretations/definitions on specific passages, phrases, and terms in the ESA.
3. Ability to research literature (including familiarity with appropriate scientific journals and computer searching processes), analyze data, and apply scientific methods
4. Ability to communicate orally to inform peers and cooperators/partners, explain results, and present information
5. Ability to communicate in writing to prepare correspondence, and reports for diverse audiences.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, Qualified

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the basic qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.