Biologist

Summary This position is in the Environmental and Cultural Group, Technical Services Division, Western Colorado Area Office. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Group's biologist and environmental specialist and to provide technical guidance on environmental matters.

Locations Considered:

• Durango, La Plata, CO.
• Grand Junction, Mesa, CO.

Duties

Biologist, GS-0401-11 include but are not limited to the following duties:

• Plans and conducts field studies, conducts needed inventories and surveys, compiles, analyzes and verifies environmental data.
• Conducts compliance activities related to the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other environmental laws, regulations and policies.
• Provides professional input on environmental issues associated with planning, design, construction and operation of Reclamation facilities, projects and programs. Conducts field inspections and reviews a wide variety of reports, field data, plans, designs and specifications to ensure that they meet environmental laws and policies.
• Schedules and tracks environmental activities.
• Coordinates, advises on, and implements the directives of Public Law 91-190, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Assists Group Chief in identifying appropriate NEPA compliance within environmental policies and directives established by the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to Western Colorado Area Office (WCAO) projects.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/26/2026-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. Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must submit transcripts.

-OR-

B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to the Basic Requirement listed above, to qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level you must also meet one of the following minimum qualifications requirements:

Specialized Experience:

To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: of at least 3 of the following:

• Applying Federal environmental and fish and wildlife protection laws (e.g., Endangered Species Act Section 4 and 7, Clean Water Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, National Environmental Policy Act) to accomplish fish and wildlife management strategies;
• Assisting with the research of potential impacts of proposed actions to determine their effects on fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species;
• Studying and preparing reports on the probable effects of land and water development projects on fish and wildlife resources; and
• Gathering, organizing, and interpreting biological, ecological, pathological, public use, or other pertinent information to contribute to fish and/or wildlife management plans.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, natural resource management, or a closely related field which provided me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Combination of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience, first divide the total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide the number of completed higher level graduate education semester hours of education (that are in excess of 36 semester hours) by 54. Add the two percentages together; the total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: Only higher-level graduate education in excess of more than one-year may be used to qualify for this position and must be in a major such as those listed above. You must include hours per week 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

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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Vehicle Operation: The incumbent is required to maintain a valid State-issued driver's license to operate equipment and/or motor vehicles in the performance of his/her duties and is completely responsible for their safe operation. Responsible for reporting all

accidents in accordance with regulations contained in applicable Reclamation instructions.

• Travel: Occasional travel by air or ground transportation for field work may be required for this position.
• Government Credit Card: You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

Probationary Period: 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.

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. 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 the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

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):

• Compliance
• Conservation Biology
• Data Interpretation
• Field Data Collection
• Technical Competence

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 includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered; which is 80. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this 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.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 11/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.

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/13105142
• Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

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.

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. Other information Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.

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.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

Physical Demands: Office work is primarily sedentary with no unusual physical requirements. Field work involves travel to and from various work and survey sites throughout the WCAO jurisdictional area. Work entails walking over a variety of terrains, working in or along rivers, terrestrial inventories in

remote areas, and lifting and carrying equipment up to 25 pounds. The position is a motor vehicle operator position. The employee must possess a valid state driver's license.

Work Environment: Office work is primarily performed in an office setting. Field work involves exposure to moderate risks and discomforts. The topography and climate can expose the incumbent to adverse weather conditions and safety hazards. Heat, cold, uneven surfaces, and water elements

may be encountered. Work requires special safety precautions and safety gear. Travel to and from field locations is required. Travel may involve transportation in light and commercial aircraft, and overnight travel may result in a varying environment. The employee is responsible

for the safe operation of motor vehicles. Driving must comply with the requirements established by Reclamation.

The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.