FUL - Biological Science Technician (Fish)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service•Williamstown, WV

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5, Lower Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office, in Williamstown, West Virginia. The full-performance level is GS-8, with a career ladder from GS-5 through GS-8. Duties below the full-performance level are developmental in nature. The incumbent assists with fish hatchery operations and propagation, which may include collecting data on hatchery populations; supporting breeding, rearing, and growing fish in tanks or raceways; caring for fertilized eggs; observing fish behavior in response to feeding and husbandry; determining feeding regimens; treating fish disease; transporting and stocking fish; recording data; and maintaining hatchery facilities. The incumbent also participates in fish and/or wildlife studies and field investigations. This includes conducting research and survey methods, collecting and entering samples and data, monitoring environmental elements, using and maintaining laboratory and field equipment, summarizing survey and evaluation data, running routine programs and checking results for inconsistencies, helping prepare reports, interacting with the public and project partners, and operating small motorized watercraft.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or nationality.
Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements.
Possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
Wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
Meet one of the stated minimum qualification pathways: one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to GS-4; a qualifying bachelor's-level course of study with the specified coursework; qualifying clinical laboratory technician training for the specified microbiology and biochemistry work; or an eligible combination of experience and education.
For the specialized-experience pathway, experience must include work in or directly related to biological science, such as assisting with field data collection, entering data into simple automated databases, and using basic fish capture equipment.
For the education pathway, have completed a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours in an eligible combination of subjects; at least 6 semester hours must be directly related to the position.
Submit transcripts if using education to qualify; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
Provide resume details identifying full-time or part-time work and hours per week for experience to be credited.
Meet the local hiring eligibility requirement by residing within 70 miles of the duty station at the time of application and provide proof of residency.
Pass the required background investigation and favorable adjudication, employment verification, and probationary evaluation; males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
Participate in Direct Deposit.
Submit all qualification information by the announcement closing date of 11/05/2026.

Responsibilities

Assist with fish hatchery operations and propagation.
Collect data on hatchery populations and support studies of fish health and propagation methods.
Support fish breeding, rearing, and growing in tanks or raceways, and care for fertilized eggs in trays.
Observe fish behavior in response to feeding and husbandry operations; determine feeding regimens and treat fish disease.
Transport and stock fish, collect and record data, and perform general hatchery upkeep and maintenance.
Participate in fish and/or wildlife studies, surveys, and field investigations.
Collect study data and samples, enter data for analysis, and monitor environmental elements related to conservation, management, or control of fish and wildlife.
Use and maintain laboratory and field equipment to perform standardized study tasks.
Compile and summarize data from surveys, biological evaluations, and tests; run routine programs and check resulting data for inconsistencies.
Assist in preparing reports and interact with the public and project partners.
Operate small motorized watercraft.