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Fish Biologist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This announcement may be used to fill more than one position at this duty location.

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.

This position is located in Elko, NV. Information about Elko, NV and the surrounding location area can be found at Elko Chamber of Commerce.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/31/2019 to 11/21/2019
Salary
$51,440 to - $80,912 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Elko, NV
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent position.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full-time.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NV-DEU-2020-0012
Control number
550054900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens – No previous Federal Service is required.

Duties

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At the GS-09/11 Level:

The incumbent works closely with senior specialists in coordinating and consulting with local Tribal, State, special interest groups and other federal agencies concerned with the proper protection and conservation of aquatic and fish habitats. The incumbent participates in monitoring on-going aquatic habitat development projects and the implementation of new projects within the Field Office. The incumbent assists in the development, implementation, and maintenance of resource management plans for the Field Office. The employee serves on interdisciplinary teams, where he/she is responsible for writing and reviewing the aquatic biological input to Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, Section 7 Biological Assessments, development of protective stipulations, and Resource Management Plans.

Physical Demands: The individual works in an office setting at this level, however, in order to gather samples and complete monitoring activities, the individual may be frequently required to walk or ride vehicles over rough terrain, perform duties that require recurring bending, crouching, stooping, reaching or lifting. Work may also include lifting of moderately heavy items, such equipment and samples.

Work Environment:  The work is performed in an office setting. However, when necessary to complete the work, there is outdoor exposure. Outdoor exposure requires some discomfort in extremes of temperature or inclement weather. The incumbent may subjected to hostile wildlife, chemical and physical hazards.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you
  • have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land
  • Direct Deposit Required
  • Background Investigation Required

This position falls under the Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions and has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR)-Fishery Biology Series, 0482-located on the OPM website.

You will need to clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and submit your college transcripts or a listing of your college courses that includes hours and grades.

If selected for this position you will need to complete the Federal Information Systems Security Awareness (FISSA) training prior to start date (if applicable).

Qualifications

This position has a Basic Education Requirement: A degee in a biological science that included: (A) 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 (B) At least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, celluar biology, genetics, or research in these fields--OR--(C) A combination of education and experience that includes 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 aqautic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 

Qualification Requirement Using Specialized Experience or Education: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume.  To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade.

To qualify at GS-09: Meet the Basic Requirement AND one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is further defined as: Assisted higher graded fishery biologist by conducting moderately difficult evaluations; used your knowledge of fishery biology to: identify resources; analyze and evaluate conditions; evaluate overall resource needs; identify local impacts and mitigation measures; enter and manipulate data; generate queries & reports & lead lower graded technicians--OR--Meet the basic requirement AND have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master`s degree or equivalent graduate degree in fishery biology or directly related biological science with emphasis in aquatic subjects--OR--Meet the basic requirement AND have an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above

To qualify at GS-11: Meet the Basic Requirement AND one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal Service. At this level, you performed difficult work requiring professional knowledge of the science involved. Specialized experience is further defined as: Assess fishery habitat, riparian or land health conditions/riparian functioning condition; develops policies, agreements and restrictions for the conservation & management of fishery habitat; designs projects to protect/improve riparian habitat conditions; analyze data--OR--Meet the basic requirement AND have a Ph.D. degree or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent graduate degree in fishery biology or directly related biological science with emphasis in aquatic subjects--OR--Meet the basic requirement AND I have an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. 

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.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. See qualification section for description of the Basic Education Requirement (BER). Additionally you must submit copies of transcripts or a list of all college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university, with your application. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution, See Foreign Education

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they fall within the Well or Best Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position.

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.  To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

May require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

How you will be evaluated

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

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

At the GS-09/11 Level:

KSA 1: Skill in Interdisciplinary coordination through a variety of communication means in order to make effective technical, fishery program and/or project related presentations.

KSA 2: Ability to utilize a variety of computer related software, remote sensing, geographic information systems, and database management applications.

KSA 3: Knowledge of major policy guidance, such as National Environmental Policy Act, Threatened and Endangered Species Act, and other related Bureau and Federal issuances.

KSA 4: Knowledge of fish biology, aquatic ecology and population dynamics to manage habitat restoration, construction and program management issues that may adversely impact certain species.

KSA 5: Knowledge of Federal and Bureau contracting and budgeting polices and practices.


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