- Position Title
- Fish Biologist
- Agency
- Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Announcement Number
- MR-21-10931435-CAA-MP Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Tuesday, October 6, 2020 to Tuesday, October 13, 2020
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.
Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion eligibilities:
- Current or Former Federal Employee who has held or currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has never held the full performance level of the position being announced.
- Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA)
- Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
4.
Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment? You may be eligible to compete under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, P.L. 114-47.
Current land management agency appointees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
Former land management agency employees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; must have been separated (with respect to their most recent separation) for reasons other than misconduct or performance, and must apply for a position covered by these provisions within two years of their most recent date of separation.
You must provide documentation showing all required periods of service (generally SF-50s) and acceptable performance (generally performance appraisal ratings or references from supervisors if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal.)
Current land management agency appointees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
Former land management agency employees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; must have been separated (with respect to their most recent separation) for reasons other than misconduct or performance, and must apply for a position covered by these provisions within two years of their most recent date of separation.
You must provide documentation showing all required periods of service (generally SF-50s) and acceptable performance (generally performance appraisal ratings or references from supervisors if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal.)
5.
Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive eligibilities:
- Current or Former Federal Employee who has held or currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has held a permanent (non-temporary) position in the competitive service at the same or higher full performance level as the position being announced
- Veterans who have a service connected disability of 30% or more
- Certain Military Spouses (Relocating with your spouse under Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders / a spouse of a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury / a spouse of a service member killed while on active duty)
- Certain Overseas Family Members (A family member of a federal employee, or uniformed service member, who has completed 52 weeks of service in a federal position overseas.)
- Peace Corps/VISTA
- Foreign Service Employees
- Miscellaneous Authorities not regulated by OPM (Postal Career Service Employee; Postal Rate Commission Employee; Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee)
- DOI or FWS Authorities not regulated by OPM
- Individuals with a Disability: Schedule A Disability appointments (Severe Physical, Psychiatric, Mental Disability)
- Interchange agreement with other merit systems
6.
Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment? For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
7.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
• recently separated (within the past 3 years); OR
• are a disabled veteran; OR
• served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition; OR,
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
• recently separated (within the past 3 years); OR
• are a disabled veteran; OR
• served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition; OR,
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
Preferences
1.
Select the locations you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. You may only select up to 5 location(s).
2.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
Assessment 1
Basic Education Requirements
Thank you for your interest in completing the Occupational Questionnaire. Your responses to this questionnaire, in conjunction with the other portions of your completed application, will be evaluated in making preliminary screening decisions for the Fish Biologist position. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability. You should be aware that your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification. Additional steps in the selection process are designed to verify your stated level of experience and capability.
1.
From the responses below, select the letter corresponding to the statement that most clearly and accurately describes your education and/or experience in meeting the Basic Education Requirements for this position. Select only one letter. SUBMIT A COPY OF TRANSCRIPT(S).
Minimum Qualifications 7
2.
In order to be qualified at the GS-07 level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications. Please select the most appropriate response as it applies to you:
Minimum Qualifications 9
3.
In order to be qualified at the GS-09 level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications. Please select the most appropriate response as it applies to you:
Professional knowledge of the biology, ecology and habitat requirements of aquatic species native to North America (e.g., Pacific salmon and steelhead trout) in both the stream and hatchery environments, and of Service trust species (e.g., bull trout, cutthroat trout, and Pacific lamprey) sufficient to plan and conduct inspections and evaluations; to review and analyze biological date; and to provide technical assistance and guidance to others.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Review comprehensive hatchery or fishery management plans to assist others in developing programs that affect biological resources.
5.
Participate in ecological studies involving areas such as population distribution, abundance, survival, age/length composition, behavior, competition and habitat assessment.
6.
Participate in hatchery or stream habitat evaluations.
7.
Conduct fisheries sampling using a variety of marking and tagging techniques.
8.
Provide technical assistance to others by performing tasks such as planning, conducting, analyzing and reporting on investigations/assessments.
Professional knowledge of the principles, concepts, and theories in fishery biology and a working familiarity with related disciplines (e.g., ecology, conservation science, wildlife biology, and botany) sufficient to detemine the effect of various fish culture techniques, land and water development projects, and fish health on the fishery resources of an area.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
9.
Assist in the design of studies and interpretation of results of ecological interactions between hatchery fish and wild fish populations or native and invasive fish populations.
10.
Analyze biological data to determine the effects of various fish culture techniques or fisheries management practices.
11.
Evaluate the impact of land and or water development practices upon fishery resources of an area.
12.
Assess aquatic biological data and develop sound conclusions for recommended actions.
13.
Evaluate existing projects to ensure legal standards and other requirements are met in a manner most beneficial to fishery resources.
Knowledge of, and skill in applying, biometric principles, theories, practices and concepts to develop statistically valid study proposals and evaluation of study results.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
14.
Participate on ecological studies involving population distribution, abundance, survival and habit assessments.
15.
Assist in the designing and monitoring of aquatic research projects.
16.
Assist other fish biologists in developing programs that effect biological resources, which include fish culture, ecological interactions between hatchery and wild fish populations, assessing fish populations and/or recommending habitat restoration /management.
17.
Assist in compiling data and performing statistical data analyses on biological databases.
Oral communication skills sufficient to interact with a variety of individuals and to exchange information in an effective, clear, and tactful manner; to respond to verbal inquiries; and to present data and its analyses.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
18.
Respond to in-person inquiries from the public, obtaining and providing requested information within established guidelines.
19.
Present technical and non-technical information through verbal presentations, outreach or other activities to the general public.
20.
Attend public meetings to discuss proposed or existing practices that effect biological resources.
21.
Provide status reports on progress and completion of assigned activities.
Basic technical writing skills sufficient to prepare technical fishery related documents and review materials prepared by others for technical accuracy.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
22.
Respond to written inquiries from the public, obtaining and providing requested information within established guidelines.
23.
Assist in drafting technical reports on the progress and completion of scientific related activities.
24.
Edit technical reports and documents.
25.
Assist in the preparation of written scientific documents to be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
26.
Generate reports and communicate results in writing through the use of various word processing, spreadsheet and database software applications.