Fish and Wildlife Biologist
What you'd do
You will serve as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service. For over 60 years, Ecological Services has protected and restored fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats, beginning with the River Basins Program. The Illinois-Iowa Field Office, founded in 1971 and expanded in 1982, reviews federal projects, supports endangered species recovery, leads environmental restoration, and builds conservation partnerships in Illinois and Iowa.
Major duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Plans and conducts status surveys for both listed and candidate species, in cooperation with other Federal and state agency personnel, private organization representatives, and contractors; negotiates agreements for status surveys with prospective contractors and personnel of cooperating agencies. Acts as technical advisor to other Field Office staff on the habitat needs of rare, candidate, proposed, and federally listed species for the purpose of Section 7 consultations with other Federal agencies and designated non-Federal representatives; also consults with staff in preparation of reasonable and prudent measures, reasonable and prudent alternatives, and conservation recommendations. Coordinates wide ranging initiatives involving other Federal and state agencies, organizations, and the public in fully implementing Endangered Species Act programs. Provides expertise, interpretation, coordination, and determination of compliance activities under Farm Bill programs. Coordinates with the Natural Resource Conservation Service on the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetland Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program and Environmental Quality Incentive Program, as well as the Swamp buster provisions of the Farm Bill and other habitat protection and restoration activities. Understands and engages with the Farm Bill State Technical Committee and WRP review team to ensure that the Service's objectives and policies are addressed. Monitors habitat improvement projects; determines necessary funding; purchases required supplies and services; insures completion of work within appropriate time and funding limits. Monitors projects in accomplishing habitat restoration and/or enhancement on private lands. The work includes data collection, site evaluation and design recommendations, landowner contacts, minor construction, interagency coordination with professional and senior level management officials, writing private lands agreements, track projects and funds, environmental compliance, and other tasks necessary to improve habitat and benefit our natural resources. 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 rare, candidate, proposed, federally listed threatened and endangered species habitat, riparian habitat, wetland ecology and management, and other habitats of concern in the affected area. Conducts habitat restorations on private lands, including landowner contacts, mapping, surveying, staking, construction monitoring, seeding, and other related activities, and prepares management plans for restored areas. Responsible for review and development of conservation easements with multi-agency review teams for Farm Services Agency inventory and debt restructure properties. Develops cooperative agreements with Federal, tribal, state, local, and private individuals and organizations for large and complex wetland preservation, enhancement, and restoration projects on private, tribal, and public lands. Participates in review, evaluation, and development of plans for Wetland Reserve Program. Prepares objective and complete written reports and other documents and delivers oral presentations to Service, other agency and organization professional, and public groups based on investigations conducted, analyzing present and future impacts of various complex project alternatives on fish and wildlife resources and economic/recreational uses thereof. Participates in diverse, complex, and multi-disciplinary planning efforts with public and private groups and state, local, and Federal agencies to achieve Service policies, objectives, and goals. Negotiates mitigation of complex project impacts with project proponents and regulatory agencies and develops reasonable and prudent alternatives and conservation recommendations or measures. Inspects projects for compliance with policies, standards, guidelines, agreements, and plans; makes recommendations for action to assure compliance. Reviews existing, new, and proposed regulations, legislation, and statutes pertaining to fish and wildlife resources. Recommends appropriate procedures for implementing provisions of these mandates and establishes key contacts with other agencies, organizations, and individuals. Prepares responses to inquiries from Congressional staff, the public, and the news media, obtaining and providing requested information within established office guidelines, and in conformance with agency and departmental policy. Provides guidance to, and directs the work of, lower-graded biologists in matters pertinent to areas of special expertise.
What you need to qualify
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/19/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A) Possess a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR B) Possess a combination of education and experience which includes courses equivalent to a major in the biological sciences (i.e., at least 24 semester hours) as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, GS-11: In addition to the basic education requirement above, you must possess the qualifications below in order to qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level. A) Possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as a GS-09 in Federal service performing the following duties:facilitating activities pursuant to sections of the Endangered Species Act; conducting status surveys for listed candidate species; preparing and implementing habitat restoration and enhancement projects; preparing draft budget initiatives; preparing written correspondence. OR B) Possess 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in the biological sciences, natural resource management, or a closely related field which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position; OR C) Possess a combination of experience as described above and graduate education as described above which, when combined, is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, GS-12: In addition to the basic education requirement above, you must possess the qualifications below in order to qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level. A) Possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as a GS-11 in Federal service performing the following duties: coordinating and facilitating activities pursuant to sections of the Endangered Species Act; planning and conducting status surveys for listed candidate species; coordinating wide ranging initiatives to fully implement ESA programs; independently designing and implementing habitat restoration and enhancement projects; preparing draft budget initiatives; reviewing rules, regulations and legislation pursuant to ESA; preparing written correspondence for publication. 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. Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. 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. 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.
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