Internship Fish Processing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5, Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, East Orland, Maine.
First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.
Rate range:
GS-07: $50,460 - $65,599
GS-09: $61,722 - $80,243
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Duties
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Some of the major duties at the full-performance level (GS-09) you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Distributes salmonid eggs, juveniles and adults throughout the State of Maine in accordance with fish health regulations, state directives, in close cooperation with partners while using best practices.
• Observes salmonid eggs, juveniles and adults daily for signs of hunger, distress, parasites and disease. Diagnoses and provides proper treatment for routine health issues; collaborates with fish health professionals as required. Ensures feed is distributed appropriately to each life stage to ensure proper growth and gamete development while minimizing waste and phosphorus discharge.
• Maintains hatchery databases and other electronic records regularly and in a clear, accessible manner. Maintains computers and equipment used during spawning, tagging and sampling. Provides data to internal and external partners upon request and as part of annual reporting schedules.
• Maintains hatchery effluent water sampling equipment including automated sampler, dissolved oxygen meters and pH meters. Conducts weekly effluent monitoring, ensures chain-of-custody form are correct and samples are shipped to laboratory within required timeframes.
• Assists hatchery management with budget development, development of annual work plans, hiring interns, safety and maintenance.
• Provides training for lower-graded employees, interns and volunteers. Represents the FWS and hatchery at professional meetings, workshops, conferences, in verbal and written communications, and to the public.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
Requirements
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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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. 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.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/24/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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.
To qualify for this position, you must meet the following basic educational and minimum qualifications:
Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:
Degree: Possess a degree in biological science that included (a) at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology; AND (b) at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate.). You must submit transcripts.
-OR-
Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Minimum Qualification Requirements (GS-07): To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level:
Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience for this position is described as: handling juvenile salmonids; collecting data in a clear and precise manner; making minor repairs and adjustments to automated fish feeders; spawning salmonids and enumerating eggs; working with a team requiring collaboration and professional conduct in the field conducting surveys, electrofishing, releasing fish or similar activities. You must include hours per week on your resume. -OR-
Education: Have one year (18 semester hours) of graduate education in biology or a closely related field which provided me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully complete the work of the position. You must include transcripts. -OR-
Combination of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience, first take percentage of first year of graduate level education. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week on your resume and transcripts. -OR-
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to the one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society.
Minimum Qualification Requirements (GS-09): To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:
Experience: Possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience for this position is described as: initiating monthly growth monitoring and applying data to guide feed use; developing annual feed orders and providing budget data to management; developing stocking and spawning schedules, soliciting assistance from federal, state and NGO partners; training lower-graded employees, interns and volunteers in spawning and egg enumeration techniques; leading field crews and ensuring safety procedures were followed. You must include hours per week worked on your resume. -OR-
Education: Have two years (36 semester hours) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree closely related field which clearly provided me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully complete the work of the position. You must include transcripts. -OR-
Combination of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience, first take percentage of education beyond your first year of graduate level education. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week on your resume and transcripts.
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. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
Additional information
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
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. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)
All 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, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.
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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
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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.
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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.