Videos

As a Fish Biologist, you will perform the following duties:
• Review, gather, analyze, interpret, and synthesize scientific data and technical information for the purpose of determining environmental impacts on biological resources and aquatic habitats.
• Conduct technical natural resource evaluations regarding effects of water management, forestry, and other federally approved or funded activities on the conservation and/or protection of fish, other aquatic species, and their habitats.
• Write regulatory documents required by various Federal environmental laws (including the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and other applicable laws), provide input and comment to natural resource management plans for stream, river, riparian, estuarine, coastal and marine environments.
• Interact collaboratively with a variety of communities, local government representatives, non-governmental organizations, and the scientific community on fisheries, protected species, or water resource management.
• Interpret and assess the protection or restoration of natural resources to project the potential effects of actions on viability and attainment of program objectives.

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.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. NOAA received notice of reintegration to occur on April 25, 2022.  As employees are permitted to return to the office, you will need to follow management’s guidelines on the expectation of reporting to the duty station listed on this announcement. You may be eligible to request to telework depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.

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-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12. 

The full performance level of this position is ZP-3.

Category Rating, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this Public Notice.

NOTE:

* A one year trial period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit.

* This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.

* This is a TERM appointment. Appointments to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service and will be for a period not to exceed (NTE) 13 months and may be extended up to 4 years without further competition.

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

ADDITIONAL NOTE: 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: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet the Basic 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 one of the following basic education requirements.

EDUCATION:   

To qualify for the 0482 series:

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-3 or GS-11 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-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Assisting in the gathering and analysis of scientific data and technical information to determine environmental impacts on biological resources and aquatic habitats;
• Participating in an evaluation on the effects of land management actions or water project operations on fish and other aquatic species; and
• Contributing to drafting regulatory documents in prescribed formats pursuant to the Endangered Species Act or other similar statutes.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.

Note: Only graduate education in excess of two full years is qualifying for combination.

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.

Veteran’s Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures.

Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Therefore, Current Federal employees would be given new appointments to the civil service and may have to serve a new probationary period under CFR 315.802 (b).

NOTE: A one year probationary period will be required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.