This position is a SUPERVISORY FISH BIOLOGIST, GS- 0482-9 working in Lodi, CA for the R8-Lodi Fish and Wildlife Office.
This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R8-24-12222792-LAS-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.
Summary
This position is a SUPERVISORY FISH BIOLOGIST, GS- 0482-9 working in Lodi, CA for the R8-Lodi Fish and Wildlife Office.
This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R8-24-12222792-LAS-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.
As a SUPERVISORY FISH BIOLOGIST your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Supervising and directing the activities of permanent, term and temporary staff. Performing the full range of supervisory duties include preparing and implementing employee performance appraisal plans, conducting performance reviews, preparing schedules for completion of work, developing and initiating personnel actions, hears and resolves employee complaints, etc.
Operating a variety of field equipment commonly used in fishery studies including rotary screw traps, adult fish traps and counting weirs, seines, trawls, fyke nets, electrofishers, cameras, and generators. Performing methods such as seining; trawling; fish marking; sampling of delta smelt at all life stages snorkel surveys; kayak surveys, carcass surveys, adult salmon trapping, juvenile salmonid screw trapping; water velocity and river discharge measurement; habitat typing; habitat surveying, and using total station and GPS hardware.
Coordinating and implementing portions of jointly conducted projects of mutual interest with a variety of partner agencies and entities, including Federal and State fishery resource agencies, private non-government organizations, (NGO's), and Native American Tribes.
Designing and carrying out investigations that reflect the Service's commitment to scientific excellence with sound study design, careful quality assurance and analysis, and written reports that fully disclose the quality of data relied on and identify assumptions or uncertainties present in the analysis. Investigating the influences of land management, river management, and large-scale river and watershed restoration on fishery resources.
Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
Driver's License: Selectees MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
Supervisory Probationary Period: Selectees who have not previously completed a supervisory probationary period will be required to serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period for this position.
Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: This position is subject to a financial disclosure requirement and you will be required to complete either OGE Form 278e or OGE Form 450 as applicable within 30 days of your appointment
Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.
Ability to operate motorboats up to 25' in length. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain Department of Interior Motorboat Operator Certification.
Ability to safely swim and snorkel in cold fast-moving water. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain Swiftwater Safety Certification.
Work Schedule: Work may require working evenings, weekends and holidays.
Qualifications
Only experience and education obtained by 12/13/2023 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.
Basic Requirement:
Possess a degree in biological science that included at least six (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 twelve (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.) Note: If courses in aquatic and the animal sciences are not clearly identified on transcript and knowledge of such subjects was obtained in other coursework, include a description of such courses, to include syllabus as provided in official college catalog; OR
Possess a combination of education and experience. This includes courses equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of six (6) semester hours were in aquatic subjects and twelve (12) semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown in A above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education.
Minimum Qualification [GS-09]
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-07 in the Federal service. Experience includes: ?Conducting field investigations or studies on fish species; 2) Collecting field data using one or more collection techniques to monitor and assess fish populations and habitats; 3) Operating and maintaining various field equipment used for fish studies; 4) Using computers to manage and analyze a variety of fish data using various software packages; and 5) Leading a team by providing project oversight related to biological projects; OR
Possess 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR
A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
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
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
PCS INFORMATION:
-No PCS entitlements authorized
Telework:
This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.
Additional Vacancies: 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 visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/"
Reasonable Accommodation:The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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 for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Knowledge of the principles of fish biology to apply techniques to fish habitat and population investigations (with emphasis on salmonids).
Ability to supervise and direct the activities of permanent, term, and temporary staff participating in a wide array of scientific field investigations to accomplish organizational goals.
Ability to coordinate and work with a variety of partner agencies and entities, including Federal, Tribal, and State fishery resource agencies to implement jointly projects of mutual interest.
Ability to write technical proposals, grant requests, and reports for the purposes of the work, investigation methods, analysis, results, and explicitly address assumptions and uncertainties.
This vacancy will utilize a multiple hurdle assessment process to determine the qualifications of applicants. The first hurdle will consist of applicants completing an occupational questionnaire related to the major duties and competencies of the position. The second hurdle will consist of applicant resumes being reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel for related position competencies against a pre-determined rating schedule. This process will determine the final rating of the applicant for possible referral to the hiring official for hiring consideration.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified
The category rating process protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.
Required Documents:
1. Resume:You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer, supervisor name and telephone number. Additional information on what to include can be found here. Your experience needs to address every required qualification. Note: Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
2. College Transcripts: Please refer to the education section above for additional information. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A copy of your official transcripts may be required if you are selected.
Additional Documentation, if applicable: 1. Cover Letter
2. Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 Member Copy 2 or 4 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, attach an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference in addition to the proof required by that form (i.e. VA letter). You may not be awarded preference if you do not attach the correct Veteran Documentation as specified above.
3. CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section.
Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
Announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET after 100 applications have been received or on the closing date, whichever occurs first.
Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.
Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
US
Next steps
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted by the hiring official.
You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.
Required Documents:
1. Resume:You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer, supervisor name and telephone number. Additional information on what to include can be found here. Your experience needs to address every required qualification. Note: Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
2. College Transcripts: Please refer to the education section above for additional information. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A copy of your official transcripts may be required if you are selected.
Additional Documentation, if applicable: 1. Cover Letter
2. Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 Member Copy 2 or 4 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, attach an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference in addition to the proof required by that form (i.e. VA letter). You may not be awarded preference if you do not attach the correct Veteran Documentation as specified above.
3. CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section.
Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
Announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET after 100 applications have been received or on the closing date, whichever occurs first.
Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.
Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
US
Next steps
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted by the hiring official.
You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
