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Federal Career Guide

Natural Resources, Environment & Biological Sciences

Overview

The federal government offers a variety of exciting, challenging positions in the natural resources, environment and biological science fields. These careers support the protection of environmental and agricultural systems, as well as the creation of innovative biological technologies. 

There are many ways to enter these fields, including laboratory work, environmental monitoring and field research as well as regulatory compliance roles. Those interested in applying scientific thinking in their day-to-day work while supporting healthier communities would be a great match for this work. 

What You Might Work On 

In the federal government, professionals in this field often: 

  • Advance national conservation and environmental protection programs through field and lab work, data collection and scientific analysis  
  • Manage federal lands, forests, parks, prairies and waterways, ensuring long-term health and viability 
  • Evaluate environmental impacts of government and private sector projects and develop science-based recommendations 
  • Partner with agencies, tribes and communities to advance national environmental and resource priorities 

Is This a Good Fit? 

While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you: 

  • Enjoy analyzing data and conducting research to solve problems  
  • Want to do hands-on work, like environmental data collection or parks maintenance  
  • Are motivated by protecting ecosystems and public health long-term  
  • Can communicate complex scientific concepts and data clearly to non-experts  

Job Series Codes

What are job series codes? 
In the federal government, most jobs are grouped into “job series” based on the type of work. Each series has a four-digit code (for example, environmental protection specialist, 0028). 

How to use them: 
You can use job series codes to narrow your search on USAJOBS. Start with a keyword (like “program analyst”), then add a series code for more targeted results. Here are a few examples to get you started — there are hundreds of job series codes across the federal government! 

CodeSeries / category nameCommon keywordsWhat you’ll do
0028 Environmental Protection Specialist Environmental protection specialist, Environmental horticulture Safeguard environmental quality and ensure legal and regulatory compliance 
0401 General Natural Resources Management Biological scientist, Environmental engineer/scientist, Biologist, Forensic biologist, Agriculture specialist, Natural resource specialist This series includes all work in biology, agriculture, and other natural resource management fields that don’t fit in any other series 
0404 Biological Science Technician Biological science technician, Aquatic resources, Fisheries, Plants Support lab research and operations using biological and agricultural science expertise 
0457 Soil Conservation Soil conservationist, Biological sciences Protect soil, water and other natural resources 
0462 Forestry Technician Forestry technician, Fire dispatch, Logistics coordinator, Wildland firefighter Support forestry research, management, protection and resource development 
0482 Fish Biology Fish biologist, biological sciences, interdisciplinary  Develop and manage fishery resources, and evaluate the impact of potentially harmful projects and activities 
0486 Wildlife Biology Wildlife biologist, biological sciences, Interdisciplinary Conserve and manage wildlife habitats 

Where You Could Work 

The federal government is big — so where do you start? 

One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area, or the kind of impact you want to have (i.e., in public health, education, transportation or elsewhere).

Keep in mind: mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect! 

Professionals in this field work across many federal agencies depending on mission area, including: 

  • Forest and land stewardship: U.S. Forest Service 
  • Coastal resource management: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
  • Infrastructure environmental compliance: Federal Highway Administration 
  • Wildlife Conservation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Sample Positions

Fish Biologist (0482) 

Employer / agencyDepartment of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Location(s) Elberton, Georgia 
Mission context Fish biologists with the Army Corps of Engineers manage fisheries and water quality programs to ensure compliance with environmental commitments. 

In this role, you may: 

  • Develop and implement fishery management plans, manage conflicts between fishery resources and hydropower, and coordinate with state resource agencies 
  • Prepare long-range functional plans for fishery resources, develop cooperative programs with other agencies and prepare reports and correspondence 
  • Serve as the business line manager for the water supply program, develop budgets and manage water storage agreements 

Soil Conservationist (0457)  

Employer / agencyDepartment of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Location(s) Toppenish, Washington 
Mission context Soil conservationists with the Bureau of Indian Affairs assist and implement conservation and environmental programs, conduct field inspections and work with federal agencies and tribes to coordinate land use. 

In this role, you may: 

  • Develop plans, policies and procedures for meeting the overall objectives of various Natural Resources Program functions 
  • Provide management and conservation services for various assigned projects 
  • Maintain data on agricultural resources and soil classification surveys using Excel, Access, Microsoft and ArcGIS software 

Top 10 agencies for this Field

Top 10 Most Common Jobs in this Field

Positions Currently Open on USAJOBS

Browse current federal job openings on USAJOBS and explore opportunities across agencies and career fields. Use the filters to find positions that match your skills, review requirements, and understand how to apply.

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