Summary There are three (3) vacancies for the Biologist, GS-0401-7/9 working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Midwest Region. 2 vacancies - Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Carbondale, Illinois 1 vacancy - Assistant Regional Director-Fisheries, Bloomington, Minnesota The salary will be based upon duty station and locality pay once selected for duty in either Carbondale, IL or Bloomington, MN. Locality tables may be found at: Federal Pay Tables 2024. Responsibilities The Pathways Recent Graduate Program is for recently graduated or graduating individuals who are looking for developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service. Recent Graduates will serve on this appointment for one year. During the first year the selectee will perform developmental activities designed to help them acquire the competencies of the target position in which they may be placed upon completion of the program. Participants who successfully complete the Recent College Graduates Program may be eligible for conversion to the target position on a permanent or term (more than one to four years in duration) basis without further competition. For more information on the Pathways Recent Graduate Program, please visit https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads. As a Biologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Carbondale, IL - 2 vacancies: Habitat Conservation Program: This position will serve as our lead biologist for projects undertaken on Department of Defense lands under the Sikes Act acting as our liaison to two military bases in Illinois and Indiana. Leads and/or participates in the application of various fishery techniques in support of carrying out complex biological studies related to monitoring of aquatic species, habitat rehabilitation, and/or habitat restoration; provides technical guidance and expertise related to biological studies of native aquatic species and invasive species management on Department of Defense lands (including technical guidance and biological recommendations to military partners); oversees fish surveys, aquatic habitat management, and terrestrial habitat restoration on Department of Defense lands. Aquatic Species Program: Serves as the lead biologist for projects in our aquatic invasive species program in the Ohio River Basin. Planning and implementing activities related to tracking the movement of invasive carps using acoustic transmitters; analyzing data related to fish movements; working with state and academic partners related to invasive carp movements in the Ohio River Basin; leads and/or participate in the application of various fishery techniques in support of carrying out complex biological studies related to monitoring of aquatic species; and works with supervisor and other biologists to develop and implement studies by contributing ideas, determining methods, establishing sampling procedures and protocols for accomplishing and reporting findings. Bloomington, MN - 1 vacancy: Aquatic Species Program: Supports key aspects of the Aquatic Invasive Species Program in Region 3: Support Prevention and Risk Assessment Program; drafts Ecological Risk Screening Summaries and coordinates with Prevention Program leads in Region 3 and Region 5 to conduct horizon scanning activities with partners; support the Great Lakes Early Detection and Monitoring Program to draft communication and reporting with partners, including assisting with transmission of molecular sampling results; participate in Mississippi River and Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) panels to assist with partner collaboration and related tasks; and assist with implementation of invasive carp coordination with other Service Regions and with partners. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 07/08/2024 will be considered. OPM's Qualification standard: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/final-groupcoveragequalificationstandardforpathwaysprogramschedule-20d.pdf. Applicants meet the following eligibility requirement, and provide documentation such as a copy of your official transcript and/or veteran's documentation by the closing date of the announcement to be considered: In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification [GS-7] Possess one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Assisting in field surveys related to fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; 2) Participating in the development of reports, briefings, presentations, or training materials related to fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; and 3) Assisting in work with partners, stakeholders, or the general public. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Possess one full year graduate level education. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. OR Possess Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). S.A.A. is based on (1) Class Standing, (2) Grade-Point Average, or (3) Honor Society Membership. (1) Class Standing: Upper one-third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses. (2) Grade-Point Average: A grade point average of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) as recorded on the official transcript or as computed based on four years of education, or computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B+ or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. (3) Election to Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this position. Superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. OR Possess a combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. Minimum Qualification [GS-9] Possess one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Participating in and leading field surveys related to fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; 2) Participating in and composing reports, briefings, presentations, or training materials related to fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; or 3) Working with partners, stakeholders, or the general public. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Possess two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field directly related to the work of the position. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. OR Possess a combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above that when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. 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 major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-7/9. 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-7/9. 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. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.) Education PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants 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. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating. 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information Education Status: Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met. Recent Graduate appointments may not exceed two years. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at: Link 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. PCS INFORMATION: Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable. -In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale. Salary: The salary will be based upon duty station and locality pay once selected. Locality tables may be found at: Federal Pay Tables 2024. 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.