The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for the American people. FWS responsibilities are to protect and conserve migratory birds, endangered species, and marine mammals and fish. FWS partners with farmers and ranchers, State and local governments, Federal agencies, Tribes, citizen volunteers, corporations, and conservation groups to accomplish its mission. You can find additional information at WWW.FWS.GOV
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for the American people. FWS responsibilities are to protect and conserve migratory birds, endangered species, and marine mammals and fish. FWS partners with farmers and ranchers, State and local governments, Federal agencies, Tribes, citizen volunteers, corporations, and conservation groups to accomplish its mission. You can find additional information at WWW.FWS.GOV
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the only federal government agency whose primary responsibility is to manage fish and wildlife resources in the public trust. These functions are frequently conducted in cooperation with Tribes, other Federal and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations, and other partners. The Assistant Director for Ecological Services (AD-ES) provides leadership and oversight to an exceptionally complex and far reaching program area which focuses primarily on activities related to assisting other federal agencies and non-federal parties in complying with a variety of federal wildlife laws, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Federal Power Act, Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and National Environmental Policy Act. The incumbent must process and apply executive level expertise in the administration of environmental law and policy to direct and manage policy development within the rapidly changing social and political landscape of conservation in the Nation.
The AD-ES provides frequent counsel and recommendations to the Director and other members of the FWS Directorate on matters of policy and the implementation and management of specific issues within the program area. ES Program activities are among the most complex and sensitive in all of natural resource management and are subject to constant litigation, frequent Congressional oversight, and extensive media interest and are often raised to the attention of the highest political levels in the United States including the DOI Secretary, the White House, and Congress. On a regular and routine basis, the AD-ES represents FWS to high level officials including Assistant Secretaries, Representatives and Senators (and their staffs), state government officials, foreign leaders, and Presidents/CEOs of non-governmental organizations and businesses. The AD-ES frequently testifies before Congress on legislation relative to the program and is often the spokesperson for National issues in the media involving the program area.
Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on Resume.
Drug Testing Position: Selectees tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: This position is subject to a financial disclosure requirement and you will be required to complete either OGE Form 278e or OGE Form 450 as applicable within 30 days of your appointment.
Appointment MAY include a requirement for a 1 year Senior Executive Service probationary period.
Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.
Qualifications
You must meet all qualification requirements outlined within this vacancy by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/15/2026 of this announcement.
Educational Requirement
As a basic requirement, applicants MUST have:
A. Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, or at least 30 semester hours in courses, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education; OR
C.Experience: Four years of experience that demonstrated that the applicant acquired knowledge and understanding of one or more of the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related disciplines equivalent to that which would have been acquired through completion of a 4-year course of study as described in A above.
As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), you must show in your resume evidence of progressively responsible leadership that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed below.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the ECQs and TQs related to this position within your resume. Resumes must not exceed 2 pages and resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you will not receive consideration for the position.
It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, and results. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess.
Separate narrative statements for the ECQs and TQs are not required and will not be reviewed if submitted.
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Below are descriptions of the ECQs that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume.
ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
Leadership Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government; Commitment to the Rule of Law; Civic-Mindedness
ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
Leadership Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility; Managing Resources; Leveraging Technology
ECQ 3: Merit and Competence This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
Leadership Competencies: Technical Skill; Problem Solving; Agility; Resilience
ECQ 4: Leading People This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
Leadership Competencies: Accountability; Developing Others; Executive Judgement
ECQ 5: Achieving Results This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.
Leadership Competencies: Operational Mindset; Innovation; Strategic Thinking
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS: Below are descriptions of the TQ's that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume.
TQ 1: Knowledge of and experience in applying principles of natural resources administration to drive innovation in the production of scientific data and development of regulatory reforms. TQ 2: Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams to ensure all members remain accountable, productive, and customer focused.
Education
PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).
Additional information
PCSINFORMATION:
Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6.
All moving expenses are taxable.
In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements MAY be authorized for this position including contractor-provided home sale.
Telework: This position is suitable for situational telework with supervisory approval.
The sensitivity level of the position requires completion of a successful background investigation of the selectee.
Reasonable Accommodation: The FWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the ECQs and TQs listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
If selected, you must be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before you can be appointed to the position, unless you are a current career SES member, a former career SES member with reinstatement eligibility, or an SES Candidate Development Program graduate already certified by OPM.
All applicants must submit the following in order to receive consideration for this position:
1 Resume must include the following information:
Vacancy announcement number
Full name, mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers
Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degrees received
Information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position including:
Job title (include series and grade if Federal job)
Duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates of employment (monthandyear)
Salary
Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor
Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments
2. Graduates of approved SES Candidate Development Programs must include a copy of the OPM certification of eligibility.
3. Current or former Career SES members must submit documentation of their SES status.
4. If you are a current federal employee, you must submit a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service.
5. A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (from either the government or private sector).
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Resume. At a minimum, yourresumeMUSTcontainjob title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk?
For this job announcement the following documents are required:
Your resume
A complete Assessment Questionnaire
SF-50Notification of Personnel Action (that shows your current grade and step) if a current or former Federal employee.
Most recent performanceappraisal.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section.
Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
Applications must be received by 05/15/2026 , 11:59pm ET to receive consideration.
Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJobs Account.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Resume. At a minimum, yourresumeMUSTcontainjob title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk?
For this job announcement the following documents are required:
Your resume
A complete Assessment Questionnaire
SF-50Notification of Personnel Action (that shows your current grade and step) if a current or former Federal employee.
Most recent performanceappraisal.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section.
Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
Applications must be received by 05/15/2026 , 11:59pm ET to receive consideration.
Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJobs Account.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
