U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Job Postings

Job Title: Fish Biologist
Department: Department Of The Interior
Agency: Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Job Announcement Number: R3-15-1344368-LO

SALARY RANGE: $39,570.00 to $62,920.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 to Tuesday, March 31, 2015

SERIES & GRADE: GS-0482-07/09

POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time - Permanent

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 09

DUTY LOCATIONS: 7 vacancies in the following location(s): Carterville, IL View Map
Columbia, MO View Map
Ashland, WI View Map
New Franken, WI View Map
Onalaska, WI View Map

WHO MAY APPLY: United States Citizens

SECURITY CLEARANCE: Not Applicable

SUPERVISORY STATUS: No

JOB SUMMARY: You too can make a difference in our world. The work of the US Fish and Wildlife Service is meaningful and varied. Want to know more about what it is like to work for us? Click here to watch short podcasts called Meet Your New Boss! and Diversity is our Strength.

Permanent, full-time positions will be filled at the following offices: Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Carterville, Illinois; Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, New Franken, Wisconsin; Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Ashland, Wisconsin; La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Onalaska, Wisconsin; and Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Columbia, Missouri. Applicants will identify which duty location they wish to be considered for when completing the on-line application questionnaire.

Incumbent will work with the lead biologist to complete early detection and monitoring for Aquatic Invasive Species, including Asian carp. Work will include standardized monitoring using trawling, electrofishing, and netting and in some cases will include use of various sonar techniques and assisting with gear development. Position will lead field crews and insure work is completed as scheduled and per protocols and will enter, analyze, and/or report on data from field efforts.

More than one position may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised field offices or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

TRAVEL REQUIRED
- 50% or Greater
- Travel will be required for training or work efforts.

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED
- No

KEY REQUIREMENTS
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply to this position.
- A background investigation is required.
- Selected candidate must wear the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform.
- A valid driver's license is required.
- Appointment in this position may include a one-year probationary period.

DUTIES: The major duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Conducts biological surveys of waters.
- Conducts studies of various factors affecting fish and fish populations.
- Prepares reports summarizing the results of biological surveys and studies.
- Operates and maintains specialized fish sampling fishery management equipment.
- Assists in the development of fish stocking schedules and fisheries management plans.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
By the closing date of this announcement, you must meet the minimum qualification requirements as outlined in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook and as identified in this announcement below.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS - A degree with a major in biological science that included: (1) 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 (2) 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. OR

A 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for GS-07: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the federal service that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include conducting biological surveys of waters for the preservation and rehabilitation of fishery resources; conducting studies of fish populations; and preparing and presenting scientific data relative to fishery resources. (Your resume must include starting and ending dates of employment and number of hours worked per week. OR

You must have a bachelor's degree in a biological science as described above AND have documented Superior Academic Achievement.
Superior academic achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.
1. Class standing--Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)--Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
>> a. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ('B' or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
>> b. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ('B+' or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Note: G.P.A. excluding pass/fail courses. Applicants usually cannot claim credit based on their overall G.P.A. if more than 10 percent of their total credit was based on pass/fail or similar systems rather than on traditional grading systems. However, if they can document that only their freshman-year courses (25 percent or less of their total credit) were credited on a pass/fail or similar system, they can use their overall G.P.A. to claim Superior Academic Achievement. If 10 percent or fewer credits or only freshman-year courses were based on pass/fail or similar systems, such credits can be ignored and the G.P.A. computed on the graded courses. Applicants can, however, still claim credit based on their last 2 years if 10 percent or fewer credits were based on pass/fail or similar systems. Applicants who cannot claim credit under the G.P.A. requirements may claim credit for superior academic achievement only on the basis of class standing or honor society membership.

3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society--Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. These honor societies are listed in the Association of College Honor Societies: Booklet of Information (1992-95) and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1991). OR
You must have completed 1 year (18 semester hours) of graduate level education with a major study directly related to fish biology. OR
You must have an equivalent combined of specialized experience and graduate education. (To determine this, you must first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determine your graduate education as a percentage of the education required. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.)

To qualify for GS-09: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the federal service that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include conducting biological surveys of waters for the preservation and rehabilitation of fishery resources; conducting studies of fish populations and performing data analysis; and preparing and presenting scientific data relative to fishery resources. (Your resume must include starting and ending dates of employment and number of hours worked per week. OR

You must have completed 2 years (36 semester hours) of graduate level education or a master's degree with major study directly related to fish biology. OR

You must have an equivalent combined of specialized experience and graduate education. (To determine this, you must first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determine your graduate education as a percentage of the education required. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.)

To be credited as specialized experience, technical work must be comparable to that which would have been gained in a professional series and clearly demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary background to perform satisfactorily the duties of the position to be filled. Professional positions generally differ significantly in the nature of the work (e.g., greater independence, responsibility, and judgment). Therefore, if applying for this professional position and you wish to be considered on the basis of a minimum one year of technical work experience at the next lower grade, your application must clearly evidence the variety and progressive nature (independence, responsibility, and judgment) of your work assignments and any applicable training or coursework completed.

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts for this professional position. Unless otherwise stated, unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If selected, you will be required to produce official transcripts.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Full performance level of the position is GS-09. If selection is made below the full performance level, the incumbent may be subsequently promoted to the full performance level without further competition after all legal and regulatory requirements are met (satisfactory performance and time-in-grade); however, promotion is neither automatic nor guaranteed.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability. You should be aware that your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification.

Applicants are expected to possess the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) listed below to qualify for this position. These KSAs are addressed in the self-assessment questionnaire that you will complete for this announcement. You do not need to respond separately to the KSAs listed below. Your answers to the on-line experience questions will serve as responses to the KSAs. Your application will be evaluated based on your ability to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies (KSAs):

Knowledge of fishery biology and related disciplines.

Knowledge of planning and programming as related to a fishery resource program.

Ability to analyze and evaluate technical data in order to make recommendations and to meet fishery objectives.

Ability to communicate technical data orally.

Ability to communicate technical data in written form.

Qualified candidates will then be placed in one of three categories:
- BEST QUALIFIED
- WELL QUALIFIED
- QUALIFIED

Please make sure that your responses to the assessment questionnaire are supported in your resume. Follow all instructions carefully as errors or omissions may affect your score. Please note that if a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher in the self assessment than is apparent in your description of experience and/or education OR your application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

APPLICATION OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: The Category Rating method does not add veteran's preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade lever or higher. An agency may not select a non-preference eligible over a preference eligible in the same category unless the agency receives approval to pass over the preference eligible in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3318.

To preview the Occupational Assessment Questionnaire, click here View Assessment Questions

BENEFITS: You can review our benefits at: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits
The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

OTHER INFORMATION:
1. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.

2. Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. Under category rating, applicants who meet basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position and whose job-related competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) have been assessed are ranked by being placed in one of three predefined quality categories instead of being ranked in numeric score order. The Category Rating method does not add veteran's preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Preference eligibles that meet minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade lever or higher.

3. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 to receive consideration.
* To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
* Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
* To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login , select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents:
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
NOTE: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.

If you completed the occupational questionnaire online and are unable to upload supporting document(s):
1. To fax your documents, you must use the following cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf and provide the required information. The Vacancy ID is 1344368.
2. Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

If you cannot complete the Application Package online, you may fax all of your materials. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 to receive consideration. Keep a copy of your fax confirmation in the event verification is needed.

To complete the occupational questionnaire and submit via fax:
1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print the 1203FX form, follow the instructions and provide your responses to the occupational questionnaire items http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/opm1203fx.pdf.
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144. Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
In addition to your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire, the following documents are required:
- Resume
- All Transcripts

The documents listed below must be submitted as applicable as they will be used to verify your stated eligibility to apply to this vacancy.
- Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Must submit a copy of the agency notice; a copy of his/her last Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 noting current position, grade levels, and duty location; and their most recent annual performance appraisal.
- Veterans Preference documentation: A copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility, such such as an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof required by that form.

If you fail to submit all of the required materials, we will not be able to fully process your application, and you may lose consideration for this position.

Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications can be submitted electronically using the document upload process or by fax. Please be sure to include all of the following information in your resume:

- Your full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day/evening telephone numbers; Country of Citizenship. If ever employed by the Federal Government, please show the highest Federal civilian grade held, job series, and dates of employment in grade.

- Education - High school name, city, state, and zip code, date of diploma or GED. For any colleges and/or universities attended, include city, state, and zip code; major field(s) of study; type and year of degree(s) received. If no degree was received, show total credit hours received in semester or quarter hours.

- Work Experience - List each paid or non-paid position held related to the job for which you are applying (do not provide copies of job descriptions). Include job title; duties and accomplishments; number of hours worked per week; employer's name and address; supervisor's name and phone number; starting and ending dates of employment (month and year); and salary. For seasonal employment, list starting and ending dates for each period of work. Indicate if your current supervisor may be contacted.

- Other Qualifications - Job-related training courses (title and year); job-related skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.); job-related certificates and licenses; and job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.). Do not send copies of documents unless specifically requested.

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