Fish Biologist
What you'd do
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Vacancies may be available in each listed location. Additional duty locations are listed for future vacancies and/or vacancies that may be filled at a later date. Please select locations for which you want to be considered.
Major duties
As a Fish Biologist, you will perform the following duties: Propose program objectives and priorities, content, funding, and allocation of resources, and new programs or projects. Develop briefings or reports for senior leadership to consider additional or revised programs or projects. Interpret and develop new precedents and guidelines requiring the use of advanced scientific techniques and the modification and extension of theories, and practices of the sciences and related disciplines. Integrate emerging technologies into program systems and concepts, and determine their impact on program and project tactics, techniques, and procedures. Provide technical expertise to lead and perform complex analyses of scientific data and technical materials for the purpose of determining impacts on biological resources and aquatic habitats. Evaluate the effects of land and water development activities on various fish species, marine mammals, and aquatic habitats through a variety of scientific functions. Use judgment and ingenuity to exercise broad latitude to identify misinformation and validate scientific data. Convey the uncertainty of resource management alternatives, examine the consequences of climate change and other environmental factors, and evaluate sampling designs. Contribute to or serve on a variety of international, national, regional, or local science or management bodies, including regional Fishery Management Councils, to provide expertise and to share program research plans and results. Provide expert consultative services to stakeholders in a variety of scientific fields of science. Serve as a primary technical expert for a variety of communities, government representatives, non-governmental organizations, and academia on fisheries or water resource management. Participate in writing or reviewing fisheries-related documents on scientific analyses and results for consumption by different stakeholders. Carry out one or more phases of research work in support of primary job duties and assignments, including: determining research methodologies, planning and conducting experiments; collecting, analyzing and interpreting data; drawing conclusions, making recommendations for future work required in the area; and publishing findings. NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4; the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance. For more information about these positions, please visit the NOAA Fisheries is Hiring Webpage: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/careers-more/noaa-fisheries-hiring CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license. This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12. The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14. The Full Performance Level (FPL) is the ZP-4. The following locations are in the bargaining unit and is covered by 2274 or 5627: Miami, FL; Beaufort, NC; Panama City, FL; Pascagoula, MS; Galveston, TX; Seattle, WA; Lacey, WA; Monterey, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; Manchester, WA; Pasco, WA; Pomeroy, WA; Hammond, OR; Astoria, OR; La Jolla, CA Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
What you need to qualify
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements: To qualify for the 0482 series: EDUCATION: A. Degree: major in biological science that included: 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 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.) OR B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of 6 semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -AND- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting in evaluating fishery or protected species activities for compliance with various regulations or policies aimed at the conservation of biological resources and natural habitats; and Communicating audience-appropriate scientific information to stakeholders. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower level may be combined with experience. To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Providing technical or scientific information to stakeholders related to fishery or protected species activities; Participating in coordinating fishery or scientific projects; and Participating in the compilation of papers, publications or other technical or scientific documents.
Before you apply
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