U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Logo
Position Title
Fish Biologist
Agency
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Announcement Number
R8-23-11875252-CU-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 to Monday, April 3, 2023
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. You are eligible for this hiring category if you:

(1)  The spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty for more than 180 days other than for training
-OR-

(2) The spouse of a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty
-OR-

(3) The un-remarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for E.O. 13473 which includes:

All military spouses must submit documentation verifying marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage)
AND

If you are married to an active-duty service member, documentation verifying active-duty status
OR

If you are a spouse of a 100% disabled service member, documentation showing the member of the armed forces retired, or was released or discharged from active duty, with a disability rating of 100 percent.
OR

If you are an un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while on active duty, documentation showing the member was released or discharged from active duty due to his or her death while on active duty; documentation verifying the member of the armed forces was killed while serving on active duty; documentation verifying the widow or widower's marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); and a statement certifying that the individual seeking to use the authority is the un-remarried widow or widower of the service member.

For more information please see OPM's Questions and Answers for Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Military Spouses
 
(limit characters)
3. 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)
4. 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)
5. 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)
6. 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 (All SF-50s) and acceptable performance (performance appraisal ratings or references from supervisors if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal.)
(limit characters)
7. 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 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.)
  4. Peace Corps/VISTA Eligible
  5. A Foreign Service Employee
  6. 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)
  7. DOI or FWS Authorities not regulated by OPM (e.g. Directorate Fellowship Program)
  8. Interchange agreement with other merit systems Eligible 
 
(limit characters)
8. 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)
9. 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)
10. 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?

NOTE:  Eligible veterans may be appointed without competition to positions at any grade level through General Schedule (GS) 11 or equivalent. (The promotion potential of the position is not a factor.) 

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)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
0482 IOR (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 that most accurately describes how you satisfy the Basic Requirement of the 0482 Fish Biology series.
(limit characters)
Minimum Qualification GS-9 (limit characters)
2. Select the response below that most accurately describes how you qualify for a position at the GS-9 grade level.
(limit characters)
Minimum Qualification GS-11 (limit characters)
3. Select the response below that most accurately describes how you qualify for a position at the GS-11 grade level.
(limit characters)
Ability to apply scientific, biological, and ecologial techniques and procedures to the solution of problems affecting natural resources. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. 1. Make recommendations concerning habitat restoration techniques.
(limit characters)
5. Analyze internal and external forces, changing situations, and new developments to determine their impacts on the goals established for the protection, conservation, and propagation of fish and aquatic resources.
(limit characters)
6. Review comprehensive fishery management plans to assist others in developing programs that affect biological resources.
(limit characters)
7. Assist other biologists in developing programs that affect biological resources, including ecological interactions between hatchery and wild fish populations, assessing fish populations, and/or recommending habitat restoration/management.
(limit characters)
Knowledge of the biology, ecology and habitat requirements of aquatic species native to North America in both stream and hatchery environments. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
8. Plan and conduct investigations involving fish population distribution, abundance, survival and behavior, and habitat assessments.
(limit characters)
9. Participate in ecological studies involving areas such as population distribution, abundance, survival, age/length
composition, behavior, competition and habitat assessment.
(limit characters)
10. Participate in stream habitat evaluations.
(limit characters)
11. Provide direction on the development of restoration projects for fish habitat restoration and fish passage.
(limit characters)
Ability to establish rapport and cooperation with other agencies (e.g., Federal, State, local), private and national organizations, private landowners, and the general public. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
12. Communicate and coordinate with other researchers and biologists about research and management needs and activities.
(limit characters)
13. Attend public meetings and or hearings to discuss proposed or existing practices that affect biological resources
(limit characters)
14. Collaborate with partners and private landowners on projects to help protect and restore natural channel and riparian habitat values through habitat restoration actions.
(limit characters)
15. Work with representatives from states, tribal groups, and other federal entities and/or non-governmental
organizations in the development of innovative technologies for use in aquatic natural resource management.
(limit characters)
Ability to communicate in writing. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
16. Generate reports and communicate results in writing using various word processing, spreadsheet, and database software applications.
(limit characters)
17. Develop plans and recommendations for cooperative restoration and management of aquatic species.
(limit characters)
18. Compose reports and technical fishery manuscripts that require minimal review and editing.
(limit characters)