U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Logo
Position Title
Biological Science Technician (Fish)
Agency
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Announcement Number
R8-22-11471578-LL-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 to Wednesday, May 18, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
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.
(limit characters)
3. Please select YES to this eligibility if you are ANY of the options below:
 
  1. A 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. OR
  2. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) Eligible
(limit characters)
4. 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.
(limit characters)
5. 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.)
(limit characters)
6. Please select YES to this eligibility if you meet ANY of the eligibilities listed below: 
 
  1. A 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
  2. A Veteran who has a service connected disability of 30% or more
  3. 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)
  4. 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.)
  5. Peace Corps/VISTA Eligible
  6. A Foreign Service Employee
  7. 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)
  8. DOI or FWS Authorities not regulated by OPM (e.g. Directorate Fellowship Program)
  9. Interchange agreement with other merit systems Eligible 
 
(limit characters)
7. 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.
(limit characters)
8. Please select YES to this eligibility if you are a former Public Land Corps (PLC) Member who meets all the requirements below for non-competitive eligibility:
  • Served as a qualified youth, ages 16 to 30 years inclusive, or a veteran age 35 or younger, on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours on a PLC project as defined in 16 USC 1723(d); and 
  • Completed the PLC service within the last two (2) years, and 
  • Possess a copy of the "Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Competitive Hiring Status (PLC)" signed by a bureau PLC Coordinator. 
To verify your eligibility, you must provide:  a copy of your "Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Competitive Hiring Status (PLC)".  
 
(limit characters)
9. 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.
(limit characters)
10. Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Min Qual GS-6 (limit characters)
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. (limit characters)
1. Select the response the most accurately describes how you meet the qualification requirement of a GS-0404-06 Biological Science Technician.
(limit characters)
Min Qual GS-7 (limit characters)
2. Select the response the most accurately describes how you meet the qualification requirement of a GS-0404-07 Biological Science Technician.
(limit characters)
Knowledge of fish propagation techniques. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Assist hatchery crew in providing daily care to fish in an aquaculture facility.
(limit characters)
4. Perform assignments and general maintenance required for general fish hatchery upkeep and maintenance.
(limit characters)
5. Care for fertilized eggs in incubation trays and/or jars; observe fish behavior in response to feeding, cleaning, and husbandry operations; determine feed regiments; maintain zooplankton cultures for use as live feeds; treat fish disease; and collect and record data.
(limit characters)
6. Assist in collecting data on hatchery populations to study health and propagation methods.
(limit characters)
Knowledge of principles, practices, and terminology of biological sciences and related management practices and a working familiarity with similar disciplines in order to independently plan, lead, and coordinate survey and other biological data collection and analysis projects. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
7. Identify and collect fish and aquatic species for studies.
(limit characters)
8. Capture and tag (visual, injected, or radio tags) fish/wildlife, and gather biological, physiological, and spatial data.
(limit characters)
9. Use a variety of databases and reporting systems to store, compile, analyze, and summarize data from surveys, biological evaluations, and tests.
(limit characters)
10. Prepare segments of recurring reports, such as monthly activities and progress reports on individual projects.
(limit characters)
Ability to collect biological and water resources data from investigations and report findings. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
11. Analyze established data and monitor environmental elements related to conservation, management, and/or control of fish/wildlife.
(limit characters)
12. Compile and summarize data from surveys, biological evaluations, and tests, and assist in preparation of reports.
(limit characters)
Ability to follow detailed sampling and laboratory procedures and recognize departures from established quality control and quality assurance guidelines. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
13. Collect biological samples and data, ensuring correct logging, documentation, reporting, storage, transport and delivery.
(limit characters)
14. Uses automated databases to enter, organize, and perform preliminary analysis of collected data using standard statistical methods in preparation of fish, wildlife, and/or botany reports.
(limit characters)
15. Identify and collect data for studies.
(limit characters)
16. Run routine programs and check resulting data for inconsistencies.
(limit characters)
17. Use a variety of laboratory and equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures to perform standardized tasks for studies.
(limit characters)