Fish Biologist

Clarification from the agency

This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.

Duties

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

Serving as a senior fish biologist implementing the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Anadromous Fish Restoration Program and National Fish Passage Program in the Central Valley of California. Facilitation/implementation of restoration projects and associated monitoring related to improving aquatic and terrestrial habitat (e.g., stream restoration, fish passage improvement, stream flow needs); serving as an expert on resource issues relative to fish management, habitat protection and enhancement, fish passage, and endangered species; providing input on long- and short-term budget needs to support fish restoration and monitoring aspects of fish habitat restoration. Ensuring that fish habitat restoration programs, projects, studies, and monitoring activities are fully coordinated within the Service and the CVPIA co-implementer, Bureau of Reclamation, and the appropriate divisions and branches within those agencies/organizations. This coordination is focused within Service's Region 8 Central Valley/San Francisco Bay Ecoregion and is completed in a timely and consistent manner. Coordinating with other Federal and State agencies; counties and municipalities; industries; public and private utilities and irrigation and water districts; urban, agricultural, industrial, and environmental organizations; local watershed workgroups and technical advisory committees; and other interest groups to express Service policy and negotiate positions and projects that will provide increased protection and enhancement of fish and their habitats. Developing, coordinating, negotiating and managing contracts, grants, task orders, purchase orders, reimbursable agreements, and cooperative agreements necessary to implement activities in support of increased protection and enhancement of fish populations and their habitats. Planning and implementing program initiatives, including adaptive resource management, and participation in a science integration team.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. 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. Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 05/24/2024 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement: Degree in 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, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate.). OR Combination of education and experience that included 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 above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. This combination of education and experience is comparable to successful completion of a full 4-year course of study as described above.
Minimum Qualification [GS-12]: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing work in or directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must include at least three of the following: (1) conducting biological or ecological investigations into the status of fish species and their habitats; (2) providing input on fish and wildlife resource management issues, including habitat protection and enhancement; (3) training and leading work crews in conducting field studies or projects designed to promote naturally-reproducing or hatchery-sustained population of fish; (4) providing technical expertise and assistance regarding aquatic habitat restoration to fish and wildlife habitat and other multi-agency conservation partnership and fisheries resources; (5) preparing biological reports to inform representatives of other government agencies, staff members, private interest groups, and the general public; (6) project management of anadromous or other fish monitoring effects, riverine habitat restoration, and/or fish passage.
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:

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