Fish Biologist

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service•Suches, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This Fish Biologist position (GS-0482-7) is with the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery in Suches, Georgia. The full performance level is GS-9. The National Fish Hatchery System works with tribal, local, and state governments, other federal agencies, and foreign nations to conserve fisheries. Duties are developmental when the position is filled below the full performance level. The position performs hatchery operations, including fish culture, disease control, broodstock collection and care, spawning, egg incubation, feeding and care of fry and fingerlings, cleaning tanks and raceways, distributing fish and eggs, and tagging and marking. It also involves examining fish for disease and parasites, keeping electronic operational records, collecting and analyzing water-quality and biological data, and assisting the Hatchery Manager with technical and administrative aspects of hatchery management. The work takes place in an office and outdoors in varied conditions and seasons. Outdoor work may involve vessels, hazards in wild settings, and extended exposure to water of varying temperatures and currents. Duties are not suitable for telework. Government housing may be available. The work can be strenuous and may include responding to alarms for mechanical or water-supply failures, potentially interrupting sleep and requiring long hours of physical effort.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Must participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Must have and maintain a valid driver's license; must be at least 18 years old to operate government vehicles.
Must not hold an active real estate license or have an interest in or hold stocks in firms with interests in Federal Lands.
Must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
Must serve a one-year probationary period.
Meet the basic education requirement through a bachelor's or higher degree in biological science with at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours in animal sciences; or qualifying coursework combined with appropriate experience or additional education. Transcripts are required.
Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 performing fish-culture activities, or meet the stated graduate-education or education-and-experience combination alternative.
Specialized experience includes participation in spawning, egg collection, fertilization, incubation monitoring, and care of fry and fingerlings; feeding and observing fish; monitoring water quality; supporting wild fish population surveys and assessments; or assisting with hatchery outreach.
Resume must state full-time or 40 hours per week, or part-time and the number of hours worked per week, for experience to receive appropriate credit.
Submit transcripts supporting required or claimed education. Foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education by a qualified credential-evaluation organization.

Responsibilities

Perform hatchery operational activities, including fish culture, disease control, broodstock collection and care, treatment and spawning, egg incubation, and care of fry and fingerlings.
Feed fish; clean raceways and tanks; distribute eggs, fry, and fingerlings; and conduct tagging and marking programs.
Conduct visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites, identify issues, and recommend appropriate action.
Maintain electronic records and generate reports on feeding, water quality, disease or stress and treatment, broodstock inventory, and production.
Collect, monitor, and analyze water-management parameters and biological data.
Assist the Hatchery Manager with technical and administrative hatchery duties, including preparing the annual hatchery report and addressing operations, resources, production, planning, facilities, maintenance, safety, training, budget, partnerships, outreach, public relations, and resource needs.