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Supervisory Fish Biologist, ZP-0482-5 (DE/CR)

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

Summary

This position is located in the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), in Galveston, Texas Laboratory and oversees the Lafayette, Louisiana Laboratory. This position has one vacancy in Galveston, Texas.

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-5 is equivalent to the GS-15.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NMFS-SEFSC-2018-0012, which is open to status candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

* A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit

NOTES:

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Supervisory Fish Biologist, ZP-0482-5 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).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/02/2018 to 05/15/2018
Salary
$138,489 to - $164,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZP 5
Location
Galveston, TX
1 vacancy
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 20% of domestic travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time - Career Conditional/Career
Service
Promotion potential
5
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Announcement number
NMFS-SEFSC-2018-0013
Control number
498451400

This job is open to

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Duties

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

  • Research planning and execution pertaining to the conservation and management of fisheries and protected resources (e.g., shrimp, fish habitats, coastal wetlands restoration, observer oil platforms removal, etc.).
  • Guide the design and implementation of fishery observer programs, ensuring they follow sound sampling protocols. Ensure that all relevant data are interpreted, evaluated, organized and summarized in a statistically sound and timely manner.
  • Direct or advise on the strategic and budgetary planning over laboratory science programs related to the conservation and management of fisheries and protected resources (e.g., shrimp, fish habitats, coastal wetlands restoration, observer oil platforms removal, etc.).
  • Direct the administration and management of operations and maintenance of the lab for safety and environmental compliance.
  • Direct staff resources and supervise laboratory staff. Resolve technical and resource issues.
  • Exercise effective administration and maintenance of a personal property control and accountability system.
  • Evaluate the feasibility and technical merits of research proposals and conclusions.

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)
  • Qualifications requirements 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 in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

A. Degree: major in biological science that included:

  1. 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
  2. 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-

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-5 or GS-15 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, the applicant must have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-4 or GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Experience designing and managing large, multifaceted research and/or survey programs;
  • Knowledge of statistical theories, techniques and survey methods for the gathering and/or interpretation of data;
  • Overseeing research pertaining to the conservation and management of fisheries and protected resources (e.g., shrimp, fish habitats, coastal wetlands restoration, observer oil platforms removal, etc.) in order to improve ecosystem modeling or management;
  • Directing strategic and budgetary planning over laboratory science programs related to the conservation and management of fisheries and protected resources (e.g., shrimp, fish habitats, coastal wetlands restoration, observer oil platforms removal, etc.) to ensure adequate planning for future lab operations; and
  • Determining the direction of staff resources and supervising laboratory staff.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized 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 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: 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) 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. Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. 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 the theories, principles, and concepts of the biological sciences as applied to the conservation and management of fisheries and protected resources in order to plan and execute fisheries and protected resources research.
  • Knowledge in statistics and administering survey programs.
  • Ability to perform strategic and budgetary planning over a laboratory science program(s) related to the conservation and management of fisheries and protected resources.
  • Ability to oversee operations and management activities, and biological or chemical laboratory inspections for safety and environmental compliance.
  • Ability to motivate and supervise employees, including assigning work and timelines, evaluating performance, effecting minor disciplinary measures, and identifying training needs.
  • Ability to organize physical inventory of personal property and to reconcile within a Personal Property Management System.
  • Ability to conduct technical reviews of proposals and reports.

To preview questions please click here.

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