Fish and Wildlife Biologist

You will serve as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Ecological Services Field Office.

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Manage complex private land conservation projects from initiation through completion, including developing timelines, coordinating activities, collaborating with partners, documenting progress, and ensuring deliverables meet scientific, regulatory, and program standards. Plan, lead, and conduct ecological investigations on diverse and complex private lands across Kentucky, assessing impacts and opportunities for fish and wildlife conservation- particularly for threatened, endangered, candidate, and State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) species and habitats. Develop, evaluate, and implement statewide private lands conservation initiatives and step-down strategic plans, including recommending workload distribution, funding priorities, and program direction to advance habitat restoration and species recovery. Maintain, strengthen, and expand collaborative partnerships with private landowners and conservation partners, effectively communicating Service priorities, program goals, and scientific findings through clear written and oral communication to diverse audiences. Inspect private land conservation projects for compliance with policies, guidelines, agreements, and conservation plans, prepare recommendations to ensure adherence and improve conservation outcomes. Coordinate budgets, strategic planning, cooperative agreements, and reporting requirements to support efficient program operations and the implementation of private land conservation actions. Provide technical assistance, guidance, and mentorship to staff and partners engaged in private land conservation, strengthening statewide capacity to implement habitat restoration and species recovery actions.

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/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. 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.