Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to U.S. Citizens or Nationals; and Career transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL). This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Veteran's preference and traditional competitive rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants who meet the cutoff score will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for the position.

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

• Coordinates and facilitates activities pursuant to the Marine Mammals Protection Act. Writes Incidental Take Authorizations under the Marine Mammals Protection Act.
• Provides guidance to, and directs and evaluates the work of, journey level and other lower-graded biologists in matters pertinent to areas of special expertise.
• Acts as technical advisor to other Field Office staff on northern sea otters, polar bears and Pacific walrus. Consults with staff in preparation of mitigation measures and conservation recommendations.
• Coordinates wide ranging initiatives involving other Federal and state agencies, organizations, and the public.
• Plans, investigates, conducts, and reviews on-site ecological investigations on a wide variety of the most complex and diverse Federal land and water resource development proposals to determine their effects on fish and wildlife resources, with special emphasis on polar bears, Pacific walrus and northern sea otters in Alaska.

Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-12. 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-12. 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.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/04/2026-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 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 in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts.
• B. Combination of education and experience that includes coursework equivalent to a major (e.g., 24 semester/36 quarter hours or school equivalent) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines as shown in A above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. This combination of education and experience 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 as described in A above.

AND

Specialized Experience:

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:

Minimum Qualifications [GS-11]:
One year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) conducting investigations of moderate complexity to determine the impact of various land and water development projects upon the fish and/or wildlife resources of an area; (2) assisting in developing comprehensive fish and/or wildlife management plans; (3) assisting in preparing and reviewing biological implications of environmental assessment/impact statements or comprehensive resource planning reports to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions; (4) implementing federal environmental laws (i.e., Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; National Environmental Policy Act; Marine Mammal Protection Act), regulations, and policies involving natural resource issues. You must include hours per week worked.
OR
Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a discipline directly related to the position.
OR
A combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:

Minimum Qualifications [GS-12]:
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing work in or directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) implementing conservation strategies, recovery plans, or risk analyses pursuant to federal environmental laws (i.e., Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; National Environmental Policy Act; Marine Mammal Protection Act), regulations, and policies involving natural resource issues; (2) providing technical leadership with actions and restoration initiatives in estuarine systems regarding threatened and endangered species; (3) analyzing and coordinating the development of endangered species conservation initiatives in coordination with other agencies (Federal, state, local), organizations, and the public; (4) preparing and reviewing written correspondence, reports, or papers on natural resource impacts for publication based on literature, observations made, and investigations results; (5) conducting risk assessments related to potential management- or development-related impacts to habitats of threatened and endangered species. You must include hours per week worked.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Compliance
• Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Technical Competence
• Writing

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

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 successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

The assessment includes a cutoff score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in the above-mentioned competencies. You must meet or exceed the cutoff score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.