About this role
Job SummaryYou will serve as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service. This position is for a Senior Fish and Wildlife Biologist in the Texas Coastal and Central Plains Ecological Services Field Office in Fort Worth, Texas. This office focuses on administering the Endangered Species Act, reviewing development and infrastructure projects, and developing and maintaining partnerships for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources.
QualificationsAll qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/11/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: 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: Possess a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level: A. Experience: To qualify at the GS-12 grade level for this position you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in Federal service (obtained in the public or private sectors). Specialized experience for this grade is defined as: (1) Conducting moderately complex biological or ecological investigations to determine the impact of various land and water development projects upon threatened and endangered species and their habitats by developing timelines, collaborating and negotiating with internal and external partners, and reviewing and monitoring deliverables to ensure timely completion; (2) planning/coordinating recovery activities for threatened and endangered species between diverse stake holding organizations (e.g., state agencies, commission, tribal, other Federal agencies, etc.); (3) developing multi-species conservation agreements with stakeholders to provide for the conservation of endangered and threatened species, or enhance the biological status of at-risk species; and (4) preparing species status assessments, biological opinions, or recovery plans under the Endangered Species Act. 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.
Major DutiesSome of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Position works with multiple state and Federal partners to address complex plant and wildlife conservation issues largely in the east and north regions of Texas, including the panhandle, as well as other projects in the state and beyond. Serves as an agency expert on threatened, endangered, and at-risk species occurring in north Texas, including the peppered chub, sharpnose shiner, smalleye shiner, Arkansas River shiner, golden-cheeked warbler, Texas kangaroo rat, Texas heelsplitter, Louisiana pigtoe, tricolored bat, and lesser prairie-chicken. Provides technical assistance to agencies, researchers, and other stakeholders with regard to the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other wildlife or conservation laws. Independently works to administer activities under the Endangered Species Act, including conducting consultations and conferences under section 7, negotiating and developing conservation agreements under section 10, and drafting/reviewing documents associated with section 4 of the Endangered Species Act. Coordinates landscape scale conservation and recovery projects with multiple state, Federal, and private entities that target threatened, endangered, or at-risk species with ranges that overlap north/east Texas. Develops work plans and technical reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations regarding management plans, development projects, or conservation agreements.RequirementsMust 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probation to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. 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.