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Fish Biologist, ZP-0482-4 (MAP)

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

USAJOBS and Monster Government Solutions (MGS) will be performing updates and scheduled maintenance between Sunday, December 10, and Monday, December 18, 2017. You may experience difficultly completing your application during this time period.

This position is located in the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), West Coast Region and is for one vacancy located in any of the following location: Seattle, WA, Lacey, WA or Portland, OR.

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

Salary ranges will vary based on the location. Please visit: http://hr.commerce.gov/Practitioners/CompensationAndLeave/DEV01_006348 for specific salary information related to a specific location.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NMFS-WCR-2018-0006, which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit.

NOTES:

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Fish Biologist, ZP-0482-4 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

The salary above reflects the 2017 pay scales. Salaries will be adjusted upon announcement of the 2018 pay tables. To see the current pay tables click here.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/04/2017 to 12/19/2017
Salary
$90,955 to - $142,352 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 4
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Portland, OR
Lacey, WA
Seattle, WA
Travel Required
50% or less - Up to 30% travel may be required and does include travel to Canada.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time / Career or Career-Conditional
Service
Promotion potential
4
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
NMFS-WCR-2018-0005
Control number
485721500

This job is open to

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Duties

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As a Fish Biologist, you will peform the following duties:

  • Represent NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region at Pacific Salmon Treaty’s (PST) Chinook Technical Committee and Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) Salmon Technical Committee to oversee annual preseason, in-season, and post-season fishery management cycle in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Conduct original analyses of west coast salmon and steelhead fisheries using existing harvest models and those developed independently by incumbent to advise biologist on harvest biological opinions and monitor fisheries for compliance with Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA).
  • Provide advice on management alternatives, natural resource regulation, and recovery plans with regards to the effect of fishery related activities on salmon, steelhead, and other ESA-listed species.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  • Time-in-grade/band must be met by closing date of announcement.

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

A. Degree: major in biological science that included:

  • At least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology; and
  • At least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate.)
OR

B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of 6 semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 level or equivalent to GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Experience as a fishery manager including activities developing preseason forecasts or inseason updates, and developing and implementing annual fishery management plans for salmon and steelhead; and
  • Evaluating proposed fishery actions and advising decision makers regarding compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Education

Education: Substitution of education for experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

Additional information

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 80 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Knowledge of preseason, in-season, and post-season fishery management cycle.
  • Ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders, such as government agencies, fish advocacy groups, tribal committees, and fishing industry.
  • Skill in interrelationship harvest models for salmon and steelhead assessments.
  • Knowledge of Endangered Species Act and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
  • Skill in fisheries management and salmon habitat conservation principals and regulations.
Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

To preview questions please click here.

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