- Position Title
- Fish Biologist
- Agency
- Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Announcement Number
- R1-18-1026319-BP-DE Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Thursday, July 19, 2018 to Wednesday, August 1, 2018
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position?
If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
3.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
4.
Are you a U.S. citizen or national.
For example, you can apply to these jobs if you're a U.S. citizen or national or non-citizen and you:
Have never worked for the Federal Government.
Currently work for the Federal Government, but are in the excepted service.
Currently work for the Federal Government, but you're not eligible for merit promotion.
Are not sure if you're eligible for any other hiring path.
Even if you're eligible under one of the other hiring paths, you can still apply to jobs that are 'open to the public'.
For example, you can apply to these jobs if you're a U.S. citizen or national or non-citizen and you:
Have never worked for the Federal Government.
Currently work for the Federal Government, but are in the excepted service.
Currently work for the Federal Government, but you're not eligible for merit promotion.
Are not sure if you're eligible for any other hiring path.
Even if you're eligible under one of the other hiring paths, you can still apply to jobs that are 'open to the public'.
Preferences
1.
Would you accept a term appointment?
Assessment 1
Basic Education Requirement
For each question, choose the response that best describes your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume or application and information provided by your references.
1.
In order to meet the basic education requirement for a Fish Biologist position, your application materials must demonstrate either A or B below.
Additional Qualification
For each question, choose the response that best describes your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume or application and information provided by your references.
2.
In addition to the basic education requirement stated above, to qualify at the GS-09 grade level, you must meet the additional qualification requirements for this position and your application materials must demonstrate either A, B, or C below.
Knowledge of the principles of fish biology sufficient to apply conventional techniques to fish habitat and population investigations, and familiarity with related disciplines to determine the effects of land and water development projects on fish resources.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
3.
Design and/or assists supervisor with the design and implementation of field studies and population monitoring protocols to address the conservation needs of the USFWS.
4.
Determine the distribution of Pacific Northwest fish species using methods such as snorkel, electrofishing, PIT tag, radio telemetry, and eDNA surveys.
5.
Apply knowledge of the life history of Pacific salmon and steelhead, bull trout, and Pacific lamprey to evaluate fish population, conservation, and recovery status.
Ability to coordinate and effectively work with a variety of partner agencies and entities, including Federal, Tribal, and State fishery resource agencies to jointly implement projects of mutual interest.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
6.
Work with co-workers, colleagues, other agencies and individuals with a diverse group of interests in developing and implementing biological study plans, management actions, and regulatory programs.
7.
Communicate ideas and other information to diverse individuals and groups to gain support and to maintain positive working relationships.
8.
Work as a member of a multi-agency research team that includes other Federal, State, and Tribal agencies.
Ability to direct and organize field crews to ensure compliance with standard operating and safety protocols.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
9.
Direct and coordinate field personnel to conduct a wide array of scientific studies.
10.
Provide guidance in the field on sampling techniques, safety protocols, and data collections to technical staff.
11.
Communicate field crew employee performance to supervisory staff.
Skill in written communications to prepare technical reports and peer-reviewed publications, including project reports and summaries, biological narratives, habitat and population assessments, and survey findings.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
12.
Act (complete and publish) as the lead author of annual progress reports that include management recommendations for populations of fish.
13.
Act (complete and publish) as the lead author of peer-review manuscripts dealing with the biology of fish.
14.
Deliver oral presentations conveying technical information relating to biological and ecological studies/projects to other professionals and technicians.
Knowledge of database and statistical procedures to analyze habitat and fishery data using software such as Access, Excel, Arc-GIS, R, and SAS.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
15.
Design, implement, and maintain databases used to store and analyze fisheries field data.
16.
Use Arc-GIS software to develop maps and conduct spatial analyses of biological and fisheries data.
17.
Use statistical packages such as R and SAS to summarize and analyze biological and fisheries data.
Ability to collect biological samples from live or dead fish including otoliths, fin rays, diet samples, tissues, and scale samples. Ability to use standard laboratory techniques for aging samples, analyzing diet samples, and reading coded wire tags.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
18.
Collect fin rays from threatened and endangered species in a non-lethal manner.
19.
Prepare fin rays for laboratory analysis including aging and microchemical analysis.
20.
Collect and analyze diet samples from Pacific Northwest fish species.
21.
Collect various tissue samples from Pacific Northwest fish species for laboratory analysis.
Ability to operate a variety of field equipment commonly used in fishery studies including rotary screw traps, adult fish traps and counting weirs, seines, gill nets, trawls, fyke nets, electrofishers, cameras, generators, PIT readers and equipment, and radio telemetry equipment. Performs methods such as seining, trawling, fish mark and capture, snorkel surveys, kayak and raft surveys, carcass surveys, adult salmon trapping, juvenile salmonid screw trapping, water velocity and river discharge measurement, habitat typing, habitat surveying, and using GPS hardware.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
22.
Familiarity with field safety techniques (i.e., swiftwater rescue and wilderness first aid) in order to safely conduct field surveys in remote locations.
23.
Transport heavy loads (up to 50lbs) for long distances (up to 12 miles) through uneven terrain to reach field sampling locations.
24.
Use rafting and/or inflatable kayak techniques in swift flowing rivers to conduct fisheries surveys.
25.
Use fish sampling techniques such as fyke netting, seining, rotary screw traps, tangle netting, snorkeling, electrofishing, and angling.
26.
Use PIT tag technology to monitor the movement and life history expression of Pacific Northwest fish species.
Condition of Employment: Ability to operate motorboats up to 25' in length.
Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain Department
of Interior Motorboat Operator Certification.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
27.
I currently possess or will be able to obtain and maintain during employment a Motorboat Operator Certification (MOCC). I understand the expectation that I will be able to perform the duties falling within this certification.
Condition of Employment: Ability to operate motor vehicles in a safe manner. A current state driver's license is required.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
28.
I have a valid state driver's license or will have before and during employment.
Condition of Employment: Ability to safely swim and snorkel in cold fast moving water. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain Swiftwater Safety Certification.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
29.
I currently possess or will be able to obtain and maintain during employment a USFWS-approved Swiftwater Safety Certification. I understand the expectation that I will be able to perform the duties falling within this certification.
Condition of Employment: Extensive travel is required and may include up to four nights per week for approximately six months.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
30.
I understand that travel in this position includes overnight up to four nights per week for as much as six months.
Condition of Employment: The work schedule may require working evenings, weekends and holidays.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
31.
I am aware that I may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays in this position.
Condition of Employment: Must wear official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Uniform
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
32.
I understand that I must wear an official uniform according to USFWS policy.
Condition of Employment: Ability to operate rafts and kayaks in cold fast moving water. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain white water rafting certification.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
33.
I currently possess or will be able to obtain and maintain during employment a USFWS-approved Whitewater Rafting Certification. I understand the expectation that I will be able to perform the duties falling within this certification.