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Open: July 29, 2026 — Closes: August 19, 2026
Summary
You will serve as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service. For over 60 years, Ecological Services has protected and restored fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats, beginning with the River Basins Program. The Illinois-Iowa Field Office, founded in 1971 and expanded in 1982, reviews federal projects, supports endangered species recovery, leads environmental restoration, and builds conservation partnerships in Illinois and Iowa.
Major Duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Plans and conducts status surveys for both listed and candidate species, in cooperation with other Federal and state agency personnel, private organization representatives, and contractors; negotiates agreements for status surveys with prospective contractors and personnel of cooperating agencies. Acts as technical advisor to other Field Office staff on the habitat needs of rare, candidate, proposed, and federally listed species for the purpose of Section 7 consultations with other Federal agencies and designated non-Federal representatives; also consults with staff in preparation of reasonable and prudent measures, reasonable and prudent alternatives, and conservation recommendations. Coordinates wide ranging initiatives involving other Federal and state agencies, organizations, and the public in fully implementing Endangered Species Act programs. Provides expertise, interpretation, coordination, and determination of compliance activities under Farm Bill programs. Coordinates with the Natural Resource Conservation Service on the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetland Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program and Environmental Quality Incentive Program, as well as the Swamp buster provisions of the Farm Bill and other habitat protection and restoration activities. Understands and engages with the Farm Bill State Technical Committee and WRP review team to ensure that the Service's objectives and policies are addressed. Monitors habitat improvement projects; determines necessary funding; purchases required supplies and services; insures completion of work within appropriate time and funding limits. Monitors projects in accomplishing habitat restoration and/or enhancement on private lands. The work includes data collection, site evaluation and design recommendations, landowner contacts, minor construction, interagency coordination with professional and senior level management officials, writing private lands agreements, track projects and funds, environmental compliance, and other tasks necessary to improve habitat and benefit our natural resources. Plans, investigates, conducts, and reviews on-site ecological investigations on a wide variety of the most complex and diverse Federal land and water resource development proposals to determine their effects on fish and wildlife resources, with special emphasis on rare, candidate, proposed, federally listed threatened and endangered species habitat, riparian habitat, wetland ecology and management, and other habitats of concern in the affected area. Conducts habitat restorations on private lands, including landowner contacts, mapping, surveying, staking, construction monitoring, seeding, and other related activities, and prepares management plans for restored areas. Responsible for review and development of conservation easements with multi-agency review teams for Farm Services Agency inventory and debt restructure properties. Develops cooperative agreements with Federal, tribal, state, local, and private individuals and organizations for large and complex wetland preservation, enhancement, and restoration projects on private, tribal, and public lands. Participates in review, evaluation, and development of plans for Wetland Reserve Program. Prepares objective and complete written reports and other documents and delivers oral presentations to Service, other agency and organization professional, and public groups based on investigations conducted, analyzing present and future impacts of various complex project alternatives on fish and wildlife resources and economic/recreational uses thereof. Participates in diverse, complex, and multi-disciplinary planning efforts with public and private groups and state, local, and Federal agencies to achieve Service policies, objectives, and goals. Negotiates mitigation of complex project impacts with project proponents and regulatory agencies and develops reasonable and prudent alternatives and conservation recommendations or measures. Inspects projects for compliance with policies, standards, guidelines, agreements, and plans; makes recommendations for action to assure compliance. Reviews existing, new, and proposed regulations, legislation, and statutes pertaining to fish and wildlife resources. Recommends appropriate procedures for implementing provisions of these mandates and establishes key contacts with other agencies, organizations, and individuals. Prepares responses to inquiries from Congressional staff, the public, and the news media, obtaining and providing requested information within established office guidelines, and in conformance with agency and departmental policy. Provides guidance to, and directs the work of, lower-graded biologists in matters pertinent to areas of special expertise.
