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Fish Biologist

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery

Summary

This position is a FISH BIOLOGIST, GS- 0482-7 working in Suches, Georgia for the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery.

The National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS) is comprised of a network of field stations located throughout the nation that work with tribal, local, and state governments, other federal agencies, and foreign nations to conserve fisheries.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/21/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 21, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$50,460 - $65,599 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Promotion potential
9
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
R4-26-12984117-JMJ-MP
Control number
875784500

Duties

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As a Fish Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

  • Performs a variety of operational tasks and applies standard methods and practices relating to
    daily hatchery operational activities including fish cultural activities, disease control, collection, care, treatment, and spawning of broodstock; incubation of eggs; feeding, cleaning, and sample counting of fry and fingerlings; cleaning of raceways and tanks; distribution of eggs, fry, and fingerlings; and the tagging and marking programs.
  • Conducts visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites. Identifies issues and makes
    recommendation regarding appropriate course of action.
  • Maintains electronic records and generates reports of ongoing hatchery operation activities including feeding records; water quality; incidence of disease/stress and treatment; brood stock inventory; and production records.
  • Collects, monitors and analyzes a wide variety of water management parameters and biological data.
  • Assists the Hatchery Manager with a variety of technical and administrative duties associated with hatchery management and operations, e.g. develops annual hatchery report detailing all station operations, resource issues, hatchery production, planning, facility and infrastructure management and maintenance, safety, training, budget, partnerships, outreach, public relations, and resource needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
  • Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
  • A condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a [1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period] during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 07/21/2026 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:

  1. Bachelor's or higher degree with a major in biological science that included (1) 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 (2) at least 12 semester hours in animal science subjects such as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. (Excess coursework in aquatic subjects may be used to satisfy the animal science coursework requirement when appropriate.). OR
  2. Combination of education and experience that includes coursework 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. The quality of my combination of education and experience is sufficient to demonstrate that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities comparable to those normally acquired through the successful completion of a full four-year course of study.
Minimum Qualification GS-07
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-5 in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: 1) Assists with conducting visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites; 2) Collects and assists with the analysis of a wide variety of water management parameters and biological data; 3) Participates in and assists in the development of project plans and methods to conduct assessments of aquatic species; 4) Assists with the implementation of the hatchery outreach program by providing tours, maintaining the hatchery visitor center, and conducting fishing events; 5) Participates in the care, culture, and management of fish populations, including spawning, incubation, feeding, disease monitoring, and maintaining optimal environmental conditions to support hatchery operations. OR
  2. One year of graduate-level education with a major study in or directly related to fish biology which provided the knowledge skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position. OR
  3. A bachelor's degree in biological science as described above (i.e., degree in biological sciences that included at least 6 semester hours in aquatics subjects and at least 12 semester hours in animal science subjects) AND meet one of the provisions for Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). Provisions of SAA are 1. Maintained a grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. - OR - 2. Maintained a grade-point average "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher) for all courses in the major field of study, or those courses in the major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. -OR- 3. Rank in the upper one-third of the class in the college, university, or major subdivision. -OR- 4. Membership of a national honor (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Please submit a college transcript(s) showing grade point average for all four years of undergraduate study, including all transferred courses. OR
  4. A combination of education and experience which together equals 100% of the requirement.
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.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions

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

PCS INFORMATION:
No PCS entitlements authorized

Housing:
Government housing might be available

Telework:
This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/"

Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS 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.

Probation/Trial Period:
The 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 -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

KSA's

Ability to communicate technical information to a variety of audiences with varying levels of understanding of hatchery operations.

Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy when interacting with Federal, state, Tribal, civic entities, local agencies, private and national organizations, private landowners, and the general public.

Ability to use the scientific method to design, implement and conduct limited aspects of fishery studies.

Ability to communicate orally in order to prepare and present technical reports.

Experience with fish and aquatic species transfer processes and procedures sufficient to assist in hatchery transfer operations and safely transport and release at target sites.

Experience with the methods, techniques, tools, and equipment of fish culture in order to perform a variety of functions in support of a fish production program from spawning through release/distribution.

Knowledge of fish nutrition, feeds, and feeding techniques in order to execute a conventional feeding program in accordance with established guidelines.

Knowledge of water quality, water supply systems and water effluent treatments systems, fish egg isolation facilities and recirculating aquaculture system, and the relationships between water reuse environments and fish physiology.

Competencies:

Attention to Detail
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12984117

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

You too can make a difference in our world. The work of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is meaningful and varied. Want to know more about what it is like to work for us? Click here to Learn more about Fish and Wildlife Service Regions - www.fws.gov/about/regions

Agency contact information

Human Resources Staffing Division
Email
fwshiring@fws.gov
Address
Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Capital Management
1875 Century Blvd Suite 370
Atlanta, GA 30345
US

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