Fish Biologist (Direct Hire Authority)
What you'd do
You will serve as a Fish Biologist with the National Park Service at Grand Canyon National Park in Flagstaff, AZ. Annual Salary Range Information: First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. GS-11: $74,678 (Step 1) to $97,087 (Step 10) - Salary Table 2026-RUS
Major duties
Attends management and professional conferences and other events for the purpose of exchanging information, presenting technical and policy information, and advancing advocacy for park stewardship. Coordinates the park's fishery and aquatic biology management strategies and programs with those on adjacent lands for the purposes of achieving broad ecosystem protection strategies and minimizing human impacts. In cooperation with appropriate staff, researchers, and partners, the fishery biologist designs, develops, tests, and implements scientific monitoring protocols to identify, evaluate, and do long- term monitoring of fish populations and fisheries. This includes conducting inventories to determine species distributions, composition, and relative abundances; age-and-growth characteristics; catch and harvest in recreational, commercial, and/or subsistence fisheries; and overall patterns of angler use and distribution. Writes monitoring documents that define techniques and develops methods for assessment and refinements of protocols. Based on results of inventories, in-depth studies, and monitoring, the incumbent develops and conducts scientifically credible protection, mitigation, and restoration projects needed to restore and/or maintain the integrity of fish populations and fisheries and to minimize human impacts. Develops and carries out statistically valid data collection protocols for the monitoring of fish and aquatic species and populations and the results of protection, mitigation, and reintroduction programs. Performs data collection using professionally accepted techniques. Ensures data entry and carries out quality control checks on work performed by others. Analyzes complex data then determines and documents the significance of findings. Identifies research needs, prepares requests for proposals or statements of work, and provides oversight for research projects. Serves as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative for fishery projects conducted through contracts, interagency agreements, and cooperative agreements. May administer and track project funds and prepare accomplishment reports, as needed. Maintains awareness of applicable funding sources within NPS and outside. May represent park on NPS regional task groups or similar organizations. Makes technical and policy presentations in parks, public gatherings, and professional meetings.
What you need to qualify
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/11/2026-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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has basic requirements required by the Office of Personnel Management. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. It is recommended to upload any and all transcripts you have to justify this requirement (under grad, grad, etc.). Applicants must meet one of the following before the close of the announcement: EDUCATION: Successfully completed a course of study leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biology, ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, botany, chemistry, agriculture, or related disciplines appropriate to the position that MUST include: 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 the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate. -OR- COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience that included courses 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 above; PLUS, appropriate experience or additional course work. The quality of the combination demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above. -AND- MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying specialized experience is: 1) Planning and conducting field monitoring or biological surveys for aquatic fish species, including collecting, documenting, and managing scientific data using established protocols. 2) Designing and implementing fisheries conservation measure projects, including planning and conducting monitoring, early detection, rapid response, suppression, and habitat or species conservation activities; coordinating with partner organizations; and evaluating results to support adaptive management of aquatic resources. 3) Analyzing biological or environmental data and preparing technical reports, summaries, or recommendations to support natural resource management decisions. 4) Coordinating field activities with multiple partners, including Federal, Tribal, state, or local agencies, contractors, or research organizations, to accomplish shared resource management objectives. 5) Operating and maintaining field equipment, watercraft, vehicles, or specialized fisheries sampling gear while conducting fieldwork in remote or challenging environments and following established safety procedures. You must include hours worked per week. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least three years (54 semester hours or 81 quarter hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited educational institution in biology, ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, botany, chemistry, agriculture, or in a field that is directly related to the work of this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: Successful completion of a combination of education (only excess credits beyond 36 credits of graduate education are creditable) and experience as described above which together equals 100% of the requirement. For example, 45 credits in graduate level education leading to a Ph.D. and 6 months professional experience equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must include transcripts and hours worked per week. 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. Requirements Continued... 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.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.