Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Supervisory Fish Biologist

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the R4-Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery. As a Supervisory Fish Biologist you will be responsible for developing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the entire aquatic species propagation and restoration programs at the Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/21/2019 to 06/04/2019
Salary
$88,704 to - $115,313 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Mammoth Spring, AR
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel is required for overnight field work / fish distribution, meeting and conference attendance.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—you may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R4-19-10508395-LLP-MP
Control number
534372900

Duties

Help

The duties of the position include but are not limited to:

  • Managing a complex hatchery water supply system
  • Applying new scientific findings, developments, and advances toward resolution of culture problems with on-station stocks
  • Managing a professional, technical, and non-technical staff to accomplish program objectives
  • Managing all administrative/management functions such as developing annual budgets, program plans, developing programs, etc.
  • Serving as Project Coordinator between State and Federal agencies, Tribal entities, and private, commercial, and academic partnerships
  • Serving on Regional and National task groups relating to fisheries management and pertinent fisheries issues as a technical expert representing the Service
  • Managing a robust environmental education, public use and volunteer program

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Time-in-Grade requirements apply to status candidates
  • LMWFA or Public Land Corps eligibles may apply
  • Required to work a non-standard tour of duty that may include weekends, holidays, and night shifts
  • Required to obtain and wear an official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform
  • A valid State driver's license is required to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle
  • Must be able to frequently lift and carry parts and equipment weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally over 50

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of the announcement will be considered

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-0482 SERIES:

A. Must have a degree with a 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. Must have a 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.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR THE GS-0482-13 GRADE LEVEL:

Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. This experience has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is in or related to the work of the position being filled. Specialized experience includes: planning, directing and leading and/or supervising all aspects of fish production, spawning, developing genetically viable brookstocks, refugia, endangered fish life history research; leading and/or supervising others in the evaluation of fish management; and developing, executing and operating a complex budget that comes from different sources.

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.

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures:
Current appointees:
Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA.
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency.
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level.
Former appointees:
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency,
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
·Must apply for position within 2 years after separation,
·Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority:
Note: You must provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Compliance Hiring Based for Public Land Corps Service.
(1) In order to be eligible for PLC non-competitive status, a former member of the PLC must provide documentation, as part of their application, verifying their eligibility and meet the following criteria:
(a) Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC;
(b) Applied to a vacancy announcement for which applications are being accepted from individuals with non-competitive status;
(c) Meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification standards stated in the vacancy announcement for the position which you are applying; and
(d) Completed his/her most recent Corps service, which provided him/her with a total of 640 hours, inclusive of 120 hours on a PLC project as defined in 16 USC 1723(d), within the last two (2) years.
(2) Appointments must be effected within the two years requirement.
(3) The two year time-frame cannot be extended.
(4) Selectees will be subject to a probationary period.
(5) This authority may be used for General Schedule and Federal Wage System positions.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s) and grade point average or class ranking. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

Telework: FWS has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework

Relocation Expenses: A PCS Move is authorized as follows: travel and relocation expenses including reimbursable real estate expenses will be authorized in accordance with the Federal travel regulations excluding contractor-provided home sale. All moving expenses are taxable.

Physical Demands: Work requires both indoor and outdoor work. There will be occasions where the work requires physical exertion; such as, walking over wet, rough, uneven, or slippery surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, over night travel, driving motor vehicles or similar activity. The lifting of items weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally over 50 is required. The work requires average agility and dexterity.

Work Environment: The work is performed in a hatchery setting involving operational and maintenance tasks as well as in an office setting; hatchery work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks (e.g., loading fish distribution trucks, operating a variety of vehicles and equipment) and moderate discomfort is encountered with exposure to extremes of heat and cold, and inclement weather. Special safety precautions are necessary and protective clothing/equipment may occasionally be required due to irritating chemicals, noxious fumes, flammable liquids, poisonous insects, plants, or snakes, etc. The wearing of the Service uniform is required. State motor vehicle operators licenses are required for the operation of government-owned vehicles.

We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 06/04/2019; OR More than one position may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Supervisory Probationary Period: If you have not previously completed a supervisory probationary period, you will be required to serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period for this position.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

1.Knowledge of the science and application of natural resource management principles sufficient to direct the Service's aquatic restoration efforts in the southeast
2. Knowledge and experience in captive rearing, propagation, distribution and coordination of a variety of imperiled and recreational aquatic species
3. Skill in managing and overseeing the work of a fish hatchery
4. Ability to administer a large and varied program of work, including the management of the workforce, budget, equipment, facilities, and other resources
5. Ability to communicate effectively with fellow employees, agency representatives, and the general public
6. Ability to lead, supervise, and motivate a diverse staff of professional and technical employees

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

Career Transition Assistance Program Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) : These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP or CTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.