Fish and Wildlife Biologist

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Frankfort, KY

3d

About The Position

You will serve as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Ecological Services Field Office. The position manages and advances private-land conservation work across Kentucky, with a focus on habitat restoration and species recovery, including conservation of threatened, endangered, candidate, and State Wildlife Action Plan species and habitats.

The biologist plans and conducts ecological investigations, develops and implements statewide conservation initiatives and strategic plans, and builds partnerships with private landowners and conservation organizations. The role also supports program operations through project oversight, technical assistance, budgeting, strategic planning, cooperative agreements, and reporting. The work involves both office and outdoor duties; telework may be allowed with supervisor approval.

Requirements

• Meet the basic educational requirement through a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline appropriate to the position, or a qualifying combination of coursework and experience or additional education.
• For the GS-12 grade level, have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 in Federal service, in the public or private sector.
• Specialized experience must include coordinating activities pursuant to sections of the Endangered Species Act; coordinating initiatives to implement Endangered Species Act programs; building partnerships with Federal, State, and private entities; analyzing proposed projects for potential impacts to trust resources; and managing complex projects, including timelines, partner collaboration and negotiation, and deliverable monitoring.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements if a current Federal employee.
• Submit transcripts to support claimed education; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
• Pass a background investigation and favorable adjudication, and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Participate in Direct Deposit.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period; continued employment requires written agency certification.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex private-land conservation projects from initiation through completion, including timelines, coordination, partner collaboration, progress documentation, and quality assurance of deliverables.
• Plan, lead, and conduct ecological investigations on private lands across Kentucky to assess conservation impacts and opportunities, particularly for threatened, endangered, candidate, and State Wildlife Action Plan species and habitats.
• Develop, evaluate, and implement statewide private-lands conservation initiatives and step-down strategic plans, including recommendations on workload distribution, funding priorities, and program direction.
• Maintain, strengthen, and expand partnerships with private landowners and conservation partners, and communicate Service priorities, program goals, and scientific findings to diverse audiences.
• Inspect private-land conservation projects for compliance with policies, guidelines, agreements, and conservation plans; prepare recommendations to improve compliance and conservation outcomes.
• Coordinate budgets, strategic planning, cooperative agreements, and reporting requirements supporting program operations and conservation actions.
• Provide technical assistance, guidance, and mentorship to staff and partners engaged in private-land conservation.
• Coordinate and facilitate activities pursuant to sections of the Endangered Species Act and support implementation of Endangered Species Act programs.
• Analyze proposed projects for potential impacts to trust resources using ecological knowledge, regulatory understanding, and science-based evaluation methods.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to eligibility.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered to eligible candidates on a case-by-case basis; it is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior