- Position Title
- Biologist
- Agency
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Announcement Number
- R8-25-12635617-SC-IMP Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, December 11, 2024 to Wednesday, December 18, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Career Transition Assistance Plan:
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.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in the agency posting this job announcement with CTAP eligibility?
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.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in the agency posting this job announcement with CTAP eligibility?
2.
Competitive - Current, Permanent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Employee:
Please select YES to this eligibility if you meet the criteria below:
Are you a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment (tenure 1 or 2 in block 24 of the SF-50) in the competitive service (position occupied is 1 in block 34 of the SF-50) and has never held the full performance level of the position being announced on a permanent basis?
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Your latest SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• Career or Career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2 in block 24 of the SF-50); AND,
• your status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1 in block 34 of the SF-50).
Do you wish to be considered for appointment as a Competitive, Current, Permanent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee?
Please select YES to this eligibility if you meet the criteria below:
Are you a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment (tenure 1 or 2 in block 24 of the SF-50) in the competitive service (position occupied is 1 in block 34 of the SF-50) and has never held the full performance level of the position being announced on a permanent basis?
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Your latest SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• Career or Career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2 in block 24 of the SF-50); AND,
• your status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1 in block 34 of the SF-50).
Do you wish to be considered for appointment as a Competitive, Current, Permanent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee?
3.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment (Term, Temporary)? 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 which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations or references from supervisors (if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal) for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency with LMWFA eligibility?
Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment (Term, Temporary)? 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 which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations or references from supervisors (if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal) for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency with LMWFA eligibility?
4.
Non-Competitive - Current, Permanent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Employee
Please select YES to this Eligibility if you meet the criteria below:
Are you a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service AND has held a permanent (non-temporary) position at the same or higher full performance level as the position being announced?
To verify your eligibility, you MUST submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Your latest SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• Career or Career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2 in block 24); AND,
• your status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1 in block 34)
Do you wish to be considered as a non-competitive, current, permanent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee?
Please select YES to this Eligibility if you meet the criteria below:
Are you a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service AND has held a permanent (non-temporary) position at the same or higher full performance level as the position being announced?
To verify your eligibility, you MUST submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Your latest SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• Career or Career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2 in block 24); AND,
• your status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1 in block 34)
Do you wish to be considered as a non-competitive, current, permanent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee?
5.
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?
Assessment 1
Basic Education
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.
From the descriptions below, select the one response that best describes how you meet the basic requirement for the GS-0401 series.
GS-13 Minimum Qualifications
2.
Please select the response below that best describes how you meet the GS-0401-13 minimum qualification requirements for this position:
Expert technical skills in developing, implementing, refining, and evaluating techniques and approaches for addressing complex resource management issues.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
3.
Coordinate with staff and leadership to develop agreed-upon timelines for projects, track progress and hold staff accountable to schedules and deadlines.
4.
Provide technical leadership in collaborative partnerships in order to develop shared and strategic approaches to address complex problems, predict future trends and emerging needs.
5.
Serve as technical expert providing guidance, advice, and expertise to others regarding coastal and aquatic habitat restoration.
Expert professional knowledge of the theories, principles, practices, concepts methodologies and techniques of biology and an in depth working knowledge of related biological and ecological fields (e.g., fish biology, ecology, conservation science, wildlife biology, botany, chemistry, toxicology, hydrology, entomology, limnology, parasitology, etc.) in order to serve as a scientific and technical expert; undertake complex, cross-program and multi-agency biological studies and projects; evaluate policies and programs; and, to apply new scientific findings, developments, and advances to critical problems of a unique, novel, or highly controversial nature.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
6.
Apply comprehensive knowledge of fish and wildlife biology principles, theories, and practices to complex natural resource problems.
7.
Design and conduct analyses of populations, species, habitats and natural communities using the principles of population/species ecology, conservation biology and other science-based biological principles.
8.
Applies knowledge of concepts, principles and practices of wildlife biology and management and other related fields of study in the development of planning documents and NEPA decision documents to accomplish long-range management goals
9.
Maintain a working knowledge of state-of-art coastal habitat restoration, enhancement, creation and protection.
Expert knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies governing decisions and responsibilities related to the role and responsibilities of the Service such as the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Refuge Improvement Act, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, wilderness Act, Wild and Scenic River Act, , Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Water Act, Federal Power Act, and other associated laws, regulations and policies in order to provide guidance to FWS staff concerning their responsibilities in implementing these laws, regulations, and policies; conduct investigations, assessments or inspections; and, prepare impact statements. biological opinions, or project findings.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
10.
Provide technical assistance in the interpretation and implementation of laws, regulations, and policies( i.e. the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Endangered Species Act, or National Environmental Policy Act) in the area of fish, wildlife, plants and trust resources to personnel of Federal, State, Tribal, and/or private companies.
11.
Apply fish and wildlife biology principles, theories, and practices to complex natural resource problems to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
12.
Ensure that legal standards are met in the review of proposed activities and compliance documentation by applying environmental laws, executive orders, regulations and policies for the protection of fish or wildlife.
13.
Provide technical assistance to personnel of Federal and State agencies and private companies in the implementation of laws, regulations, and policies in the area of restoration of coastal habitat for fish, wildlife, plants and ecosystems.
Ability to establish positive working relationships/partnerships and exercise tact and diplomacy in coordinating activities with co-workers, and as needed, with representatives of other federal agencies, state, Tribal and local organizations, conservation organizations, private entities, and the general public.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
14.
Present and negotiate complex, controversial and technical information to diverse audiences on fish and wildlife management and conservation in a respectful and tactful manner and maintain good working relationships with partners.
15.
Recognize emerging issues and identify the information and tools/techniques necessary for problem resolution.
Communicate ideas and other information in a professional and courteous manner under all circumstances to individuals and groups to gain support and maintain positive working relationships where divergent points of view exist.
Communicate ideas and other information in a professional and courteous manner under all circumstances to individuals and groups to gain support and maintain positive working relationships where divergent points of view exist.
16.
Build effective professional relationships with colleagues internally and externally to establish collaborative efforts and nurture existing partnerships in order to achieve program objectives.
Ability to effectively communicate orally, at meetings and conferences, to explain and defend findings, recommendations, scientific data and Service policies and positions on issues that are often controversial and contentious to diverse audiences.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
17.
Communicate scientific and technical information to a diverse audience of Management Officials, Management and Division Staff, and representatives from other agencies.
18.
Coordinate and communicate appropriate program operations with the Congress, other Federal agencies and departments, State agencies, other countries' governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
19.
Recognize emerging issues and identify the information and tools/techniques necessary for problem resolution.
Communicate ideas and other information in a professional and courteous manner under all circumstances to individuals and groups to gain support and maintain positive working relationships where divergent points of view exist.
Communicate ideas and other information in a professional and courteous manner under all circumstances to individuals and groups to gain support and maintain positive working relationships where divergent points of view exist.
Certification Statement
20.
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in me not being considered for this position.