Fish Biologist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Summary
You will serve as a FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST working for Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office.
One position will be filled in either Arcata, CA or Yreka CA. You must apply to each location's you want to be considered for.
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, evaluates, conducts a wide variety of complex ecological investigations or inspections involving complex land and water resource development projects, proposals and/or license applications/renewals to determine their impact upon fish and/or wildlife resources and habitats and to ensure that legal standards and other requirements are met and implemented in a manner most beneficial to fish and/or wildlife resources. Prepares reports on the findings and recommends appropriate courses of action (e.g., approval/disapproval, offering alternative projects, or taking remedial action).
• Evaluates biological data and Federal program or project operational data to determine the effects of those programs or actions on threatened or endangered species through formal and informal consultation procedures.
• Assesses impacts of proposed Federal actions on threatened and endangered species and develops draft biological opinions required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments for supervisor's review.
• Recommends ways to minimize or eliminate impacts to listed species, as well as alternatives that will avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of a species or avoid destroying or adversely modifying critical habitat.
• Submits recommendations to the supervisor on technical and policy matters regarding application of the ESA for sensitive issues with regard to permits including, but not limited to, the status of permits assigned to field offices or other Regional staff and analyzes regional permit workload and provides recommendations for streamlining as appropriate.
• Develops comprehensive fish and/or wildlife mitigation or management plans to ensure preservation, protection, and enhancement of fish and/or wildlife and their habitat for a geographic area having a variety of habitat conditions.
• Interacts with biologists throughout the assigned Region and with other agencies (Federal, Tribal, and state) that have endangered species programs and provides technical assistance and regulatory information involving moderately complex assignments in order properly satisfy requirements of the ESA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other Federal and state legislation/regulations.

Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• 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.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/28/2026-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.
In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.
Basic Requirement:

1. Successfully completed a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline related to this position. NOTE: Transcripts required. (OR)
2. An appropriate combination of education and experience that included course work equivalent to a major (i.e. 24 semester hours) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a discipline related to this position; PLUS, appropriate experience or additional course work. The quality of the combination must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four year course of study with a major as described above. NOTE: Transcripts required, and Your resume must contain sufficient detail of this level of work, i.e., complete begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration.

Minimum Qualification [GS-11]

1. Possess at least one year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-9 level or higher in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Assess impacts of proposed actions on threatened and endangered species; 2) Develop draft biological opinions or letters of concurrence required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or develop habitat conservation plans pursuant to Section 10 of the ESA; 3) Conduct environmental impact assessments in private lands; 4) Assist in preparing and reviewing biological implications of environmental assessment/impact statements; 5) Review and process standard, routine research/recovery permits and other recovery/ESA related documents; 6) Plan, organize, and conduct biological work and/or habitat preservation studies. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient detail at this level of work, e.g., begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration. OR
2. Possess 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a discipline directly related to the position. NOTE: Transcripts required. OR
3. Possess a combination of qualifying specialized experience and qualifying graduate education (both as described above) that, when computed as percentages of their respective requirements, equals at least 100% when combined. Only education beyond the second graduate year (36 semesters or equivalent) is creditable using this method. NOTE: Transcripts required, and Your resume must contain sufficient detail of this level of work, i.e., complete begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc. for each timeframe for consideration.

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.
Education
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
Additional information
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
Physical Demands
Some field work will require periods of physical exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; occasionally carrying light items, such as books, small instruments or samples, and other similar materials; or driving a motor vehicle.
Work Environment:
The work requires both office and outdoor work. The office is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of the outdoor work.
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 INFORMATION:
-No PCS entitlements authorized
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.