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Biologist

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

Summary

This position is a Biologist, GS- 0401-11/12 with the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Science Applications Program. The positions will support collaborative landscape-scale conservation efforts in various parts of the country.

This position is also open to the public under announcement MR-22-11327964-IS-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/15/2021 to 12/29/2021
Salary
$55,756 to - $86,881 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Locations
10 vacancies in the following locations:
Anchorage, AK
Fairbanks, AK
Homer, AK
Conway, AR
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
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
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MR-22-11328373-IS-MP
Control number
627184400

Duties

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As a Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

  • Independently coordinate activities with involved agencies, researchers, and other stakeholders, including state and county officials, Native American tribes and special interest groups and or/ private organizations to identify and resolve technical and administrative issues of local and national significance.
  • Maintain contact and communication with biologists throughout the assigned organization and the Service, as needed, and with other agencies (federal, tribal, and state) with similar programs; and provide technical biological guidance to requestors implementing programs for the program area of the assigned organization.
  • Analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data using a wide variety of methods and software in ways that support project needs.
  • Develop and maintain computer databases; and gather, analyze, tabulate and summarize scientific, programmatic, and/or budgetary data.
  • Utilize a wide variety of data visualization methods and techniques to accurately and effectively communicate data and data analyses findings to various audiences including Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) management and staff, stakeholders, and partners.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
  • Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Driver?s License: Depending on the location, the incumbent may be required to possess a valid state driver's license.
  • Depending on the location, the incumbent may be required to wear a uniform in accordance with USFWS policy.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 12/29/2021 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:

  1. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
  2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Minimum Qualification [GS-11]
1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. Experience may include: 1) Participated in a collaboration with representatives of other federal agencies, state, tribal and local organizations (e.g., Tribal liaison), conservation organizations, private entities, and/or the general public to help those representatives access and use complex scientific information from online conservation tools, GIS data, databases, scientific papers, and other sources; 2) Participated in a group with participants from multiple different organizations responsible for creating a single product or report on natural resource management; 3) Applied the theories, principles, and practices of biology and ecology to support complex projects and experience using GIS and other tools to support complex projects; and 4) Prepared scientific, administrative reports, management plans, and/or similar documents and primary responsible for the report/plan to make complex scientific information more understandable for the general public. Examples of plans/reports include management plans for parks or natural areas, reports for users of conservation tools, and online articles. OR
2. Successfully completed at least three full years of graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to fire science, fire management, biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or related disciplines. OR
3. Combination of graduate education and experience that when combined equals 100% of the requirements.

Minimum Qualification [GS-12]
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Experience may include: 1) Led a collaboration with representatives of other federal agencies, state, tribal and local organizations (e.g., Tribal liaison), conservation organizations, private entities, and/or the general public to help those representatives access and use complex scientific information from online conservation tools, GIS data, databases, scientific papers, and other sources; 2) Led a group with participants from multiple different organizations responsible for creating a single product or report on natural resource management; 3) Applied the theories, principles, and practices of biology and ecology to support complex projects and experience using GIS and other tools to support complex projects; and 4) Prepared scientific, administrative reports, management plans, and/or similar documents and primary responsible for the report/plan to make complex scientific information more understandable for the general public. Examples of plans/reports include management plans for parks or natural areas, reports for users of conservation tools, and online articles.

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.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method
Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements

Reasonable Accommodation Requests:
If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

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), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. 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

Salary will be based upon duty station and locality pay once selected.

Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable. In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale.

This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

For information on CTAP and ICTAP click here

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.

For Eligibility Information click here: USAJOBS Help Center | Land Management

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: 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 and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2 year period.

Alaska Positions: The salary range given above includes base pay and locality pay, you will receive a 2.86% cost of living allowance for Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, or 5.80% for all other Alaska locations. This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment and grade decrease.

Applicants are ineligible for this position if ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside or the applicant receives a pardon.

Alaska Return Rights: If you are a current U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee and you are transferring from a Region outside of Alaska, you will be eligible to return to a position in your home Region upon completion of a minimum 3-year tour of duty in Alaska. If you exercise this option, your home Region will place you in a position of equivalent grade in the same general occupational classification series that you occupied in Alaska.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Competencies for GS-12 and GS-11:
Attention to Detail, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, Teamwork

KSAs for GS-12 and GS-11:
--Professional knowledge of the theories, principles, practices, concepts methodologies and techniques of biology and an in depth working knowledge of related biological and ecological fields (e.g., fish biology, ecology, conservation science, wildlife biology, botany, chemistry, toxicology, hydrology, entomology, limnology, and parasitology) in order to serve as a technical specialist, undertake complex, cross-program and multi-agency biological studies and projects and to evaluate policy and programs.
--Knowledge of database management concepts, principles, and methods.
--Ability to establish positive working relationships/partnerships and exercise tact and diplomacy in coordinating activities with co-workers, and as needed, with representatives of other Federal agencies, state, tribal and local organizations, conservation organizations, private entities, and the general public.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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