Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist (GS-13)

Summary

You will serve as a Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 4, Louisiana Ecological Services Office, duty location Lafayette, Louisiana.

Duties

As a Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist, the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Supervise and Lead Multidisciplinary Teams: Direct and oversee a team of biologists and technical staff engaged in planning, implementing, and evaluating federal conservation and restoration projects under CWPPRA. Assign work, set priorities, provide guidance, and ensure staff development and performance standards are met. Coordinate Federal Project Planning and Implementation: Develop strategies and procedures for managing multiple program areas (e.g., habitat conservation, federal activities, partners programs) within the office's geographic area of responsibility. Ensure effective coordination with other supervisors, federal agencies, and stakeholders to advance CWPPRA project goals. Provide Administrative and Technical Guidance: Offer administrative and technical support to subordinate staff and other Service units in carrying out responsibilities under federal statutes such as the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Clean Water Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. Advise on policy issues, program plans, and budgets related to federal project administration. Represent the Service in Interagency and Public Forums: Serve as the Service's representative on committees, at professional meetings, hearings, and conferences related to CWPPRA and other federal conservation initiatives. Prepare and present technical and non-technical reports to federal, state, and local agencies, professional organizations, and the public. Oversee Federal Activities Program Components: Protect and enhance fish and wildlife resources and their habitats by collaborating with federal agencies during planning and execution of water development and restoration projects, with emphasis on high-value landscapes such as wetlands and riverine habitats. Facilitate Interagency Coordination and Communication: Maintain expert-level cooperation and communication among Service programs, federal agencies, state governments, and other partners during project development, implementation, and evaluation. Ensure that Service positions are grounded in scientific fact and consistent with federal responsibilities and authorities. Monitor Project Effectiveness and Compliance: Evaluate the effectiveness of federal restoration activities, monitor progress against objectives, and ensure compliance with statutory authorities, regulations, and Service policies. Recommend improvements or corrective actions as needed to optimize project outcomes. Develop and Implement Performance Standards: Establish performance standards for staff and projects to meet mission requirements. Identify training needs, provide opportunities for professional development, and foster continuous improvement in project quality and production.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/03/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements: 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 Requirement: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts. B. Combination of education and experience that includes coursework equivalent to a major (e.g., 24 semester/36 quarter hours or school equivalent) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines as shown in A above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. This combination of education and experience is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field as described in A above. AND Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level: Minimum Qualifications [GS-13]: Must have at least one year of full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level (comparable to GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people; administering the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act, or other similar environmental statutes; developing and implementing short and long-range plans to achieve desired conservation outcomes; formulating and implementing policies, standards and procedures for a conservation program; leading teams or supervising staff on programmatic issues; and advising management concerning controversial and complex issues. You must include hours per week worked. 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.

Requirements

Must 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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. 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. This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

How you will be evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Compliance Partnering Project Management Technical Competence Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job. The assessment is a pass/fail assessment, and you must pass the assessment to be considered for the position. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 11/03/2026--unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13084989 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Other information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions. The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. PCS authorized; Discretionary benefits are not authorized.