National Park Service Logo
Position Title
Biologist
Agency
National Park Service
Announcement Number
IM-1539-IMDO-23-12127784-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, September 18, 2023 to Wednesday, September 27, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Are you a current career/career-conditional employee with the National Park Service?

To verify your eligibility, you must provide a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) showing that you are a current National Park Service employee.
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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.
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3. Are you a current career/career-conditional National Park Service Federal employee and meet the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibility:

Current National Park Service Federal employee with a career or career- conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced. 

To verify your eligibility as a current National Park Service Federal employee, you must provide a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your competitive status showing that you are a current National Park Service employee. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
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4. Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) who:
  • was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,
  • served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and,
  • performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,
  • if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and departed that position in good standing.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must provide documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
For more information, review Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).
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5. Are you a current career/career-conditional National Park Service Federal employee and meet the following Non-competitive Merit Promotion Eligibility:
 
Current National Park Service Federal employee with a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced.
 
To verify your eligibility as a National Park Service Federal employee, you must provide a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your competitive status showing that you are a current National Park Service employee. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
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6. 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.

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

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Preferences
1. My performance is at an acceptable level and I am not serving under a formal Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). (limit characters)
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. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Biologist, GS-0401-11. The following questions is the basic requirements for a Biologist GS-0401 series. All applicants must meet this requirement. Select the statement that best reflects your education and/or experience. To be minimally qualified for this position you must possess the required education, combination of education in a related discipline, or a combination of education and experience. For a detailed explanation of qualifying education and experience, review the information in the vacancy announcement or visit: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs0400/0401.htm. You will be required to provide transcripts with your application to validate that you meet all degree/coursework requirements for this position. (limit characters)
1. From the descriptions below, select one response that best describes how your background meets the basic education requirements for a Biologist, GS-0401 position. Read all responses before making your selection. MARK ONLY ONE RESPONSE. If you select more than one response, or leave this question blank you will be rated ineligible. If you do not meet these minimum qualifications, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position.
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Read all responses before making your selection. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and demonstrated capability. You should be aware that your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume, and other relevant documents you submit, as well as through verification of references as appropriate. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your stated level of experience and demonstrated capability. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position following acceptance. Make sure your resume supports the response you select. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts or a complete list of college courses taken that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information as described previously, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected). (limit characters)
2. From the descriptions below, select one response that best describes how your background meets the specialized experience or education requirements for a Biologist, GS-0401-11 position. Read all responses before making your selection. MARK ONLY ONE RESPONSE. If you select more than one response, or leave this question blank, you will be rated ineligible. If you do not meet these specialized experience requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position.
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Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences. (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. Plan and facilitate meetings with park staff including agenda creation, scheduling, arranging venue, and sending out invitations and managing meeting successful to promote participation and "getting along" among participants.
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4. Facilitate discussion between parks on to get to consensus agreement (such as budget proposals or technical issues like modeling approaches)
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5. Represent NPS in multiagency/multistakeholders meetings that include tribal representatives and may involve controversial management issues.
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6. Develop and maintain partnerships with federal or state agencies, tribes, academic and other partner scientists to conduct research, monitoring, application, training, and education projects and programs.
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7. Train park staff in biological techniques, analysis or data collection
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8. Participate in meetings with higher level executives (such as RDs, deputies RDs or Washington leadership)
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Ecology - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of the interrelationships among organisms and their environment, including competition and predation, evolution and natural selection, population dynamics, and the impact of natural phenomena or human actions on natural systems, processes, and biota. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
9. Conduct or recommend fish monitoring and management techniques (early detection, electrofishing, netting, chemical treatment, etc.)
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10. Coordinate and collect biological aquatic macroinvertebrate sample collection
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11. Assess changes in water levels and related impacts to vegeation and wetland habitats
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12. Interpret and synthesize monitoring or research data so that it can be understood by natural resource managers.
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13. Evaluate or propose scientific simulation models approaches for impact assessment of natural resources in river or reservoirs
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14. Evaluate reservoir water quality data and prepare recommendations/implications for visitor use for park management
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Written Communication - Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a succinct and organized manner. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
15. Conduct scientific literature research and prepare summaries/recommendations for use by park staff related resource impacts or management issues (such as non-native fish treatment).
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16. Prepare reports for state or local officials on monitoring issues (such as water quality monitoring or fish management treatments).
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17. Prepare federal contracting or agreement scopes of work and related documentation.
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18. Prepare draft letters for external communications on NEPA planning processes for other federal agencies (such as Bureau of Reclamation Reclamation comments or USFWS consultation related letters).
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19. Prepare slideshows on technical or policy issues for park leadership.
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Technical Competence - Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise (for example, engineering, physical science, law, or accounting); maintains credibility with others on technical matters. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
20. Review or prepare information for National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) or Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance documents related to park resource/management issues along rivers or reservoirs.
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21. Review or prepare information for National Historic Protection Act (NHPA) section 106 tribal consultation agreements or consultation meetings.
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22. Identify native and non-native species in the Colorado River ecosystem (fish, vegetation, macroinvertebrates).
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23. Apply knowledge of water rights and Colorado 'law of the river' for interactions with states and federal agencies.
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24. Prepare analyses of impacts to resources (fish, vegetation, etc.) related to river or reservoir changes.
Utilize a variety of computer programs to compile, analyze and report biological monitoring and modeling data.
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