Clarification from the agency

All qualified United States Citizens or Nationals; CTAP/ICTAP eligibles.

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

• Apply concepts, principles, practices, and methodologies of biology and ecology to groundfish observer programs. Implement and evaluate fish management plans; and ensure established data collection procedures are properly followed.
• Communicate with observers to provide observer support and data quality control measures during fishing activities. Debrief returning observers to ensure that the Division’s established data collection procedures were properly followed during observer deployments to commercial fishing vessels and processing facilities. Create a record of each observer’s data collection methodologies.
• Assure that all observer data meets the Division’s quality expectations prior to finalizing data, making it available to end users.

Conditions of employment

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

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-2 is equivalent to the GS-07/09 grade levels, however is only being advertised equivalent to the GS-07 grade level. 

The full performance level of this position is ZP-2.

NOTE:
* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is in the bargaining unit.

*This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.

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.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle.

This position has a Selective Placement Factor: Experience in collecting and processing data and biological information from fisheries in the North Pacific Region. 

* Your application materials must clearly demonstrate this experience. Failure to do so will result in your application being marked as ineligible.

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: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

EDUCATION:

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.

-AND-

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.  Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. 

This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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-2 or GS-07 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-1 or GS-5 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Participating in the biological data collection, marine species identification, and verification of collected data;
• Supporting observers in sampling protocols, compliance monitoring and safety during fishing activities; and
• Aiding in the review of data to ensure quality and integrity of collected data.

 -OR-

EDUCATION: One year of graduate-level education in a related discipline appropriate to the position.

 -OR-

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: as demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below:

• A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study;
• A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
• Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
• Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

-OR-

COMBINATION: A combination of related graduate education and specialized experience as described above.

- AND -

SELECTIVE FACTOR: In addition to meeting the above, applicants must also possess experience in collecting and processing data and biological information from fisheries in the North Pacific Region. Failure to clearly demonstrate this experience in your application materials may result in the removal of the additional weight to your overall rating.

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) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories.  The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”.  However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.  Candidates placed in the “gold” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility:  Within each category, those entitled to veterans’ preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.  For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

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

• Knowledge of established concepts, principles, methods, tests, and procedures in biological specimen collection and verification.
• Knowledge of groundfish observer programs.
• Ability to identify groundfish species.
• Knowledge of commercial fishing regulations and management.
• Ability to communicate technical information orally.
• Ability to work with observer data and databases.