Artificial Reef Coordinator (Biologist / Marine Ecologist)

Clarification from the agency

This is a Merit Promotion announcement for Government employees and those who are eligible under the hiring paths listed. Refer to Required Documents section for more information.

At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Serves as the principal advisor on matters related to artificial reefs, such as Federal and State programs, structure placement, marine conditions, related studies, and national and local issues under the National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984 (NFEA) and other relevant legislation - particularly the National Artificial Reef Plan (NARP) and State artificial reef programs.

2. Oversees office compliance monitoring and verification of operational reports and industry Post Activity Submittals (PAS), which include the requisite documentation submitted after Outer Continental Shelf operations are completed-either in part or in whole - to verify and record compliance with environmental standards.

3. Identifies specific environmental problems related to artificial reefs and the Rigs-to-Reefs Program that may be addressed through research or study efforts; analyzes the nature of these problems; develops study and/or research protocols to resolve them or to provide an information base for better understanding; and recommends the studies or research for funding approval through the proper processes.

4. Briefs and defends BSEE technical programs, policies, and conclusions to Federal, State, and Local governments, industry leaders, and private groups or individuals as the technical authority on artificial reefs.

5. Serves as the Riggs-to-Reef Program Coordinator,leading BSEE's coordination efforts with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), industry contacts, and the individual State agencies responsible for managing their respective programs. Also serves as BSEE's representative on the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) Artificial Reefs Subcommittee and as lead of BSEE's Artificial Reef Committee.

Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable)to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.

This 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable) is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period (as applicable) your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

This is an interdisciplinary position that may be filed as: Marine Ecologist, GS-0408 or Biologist, GS-0401 depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
To qualify for this position, you must meet both the (1) basic educational requirements AND (2) the specialized experience requirements for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Education Qualifications for GS-0408, ECOLOGY:
(1) Degree: biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences (transcripts required).

Basic Education Qualifications for GS-0401, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES:
(A) Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position (transcripts required).
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You must include hours per week on resume and transcripts.

In addition to meeting the basic educational requirements above, your resume must clearly reflect ALL of the experience listed below. You must be clear and concise in describing your experience - HR will not make assumptions.

(2) Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent in complexity in difficulty to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

1. Independently identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex environmental issues which include evaluating scientific, regulatory, and operational challenges; leading technical analyses; and preparing recommendations.

2. Demonstrating authoritative review of highly technical documentation, confirmation of adherence to environmental standards, identification of discrepancies, and preparation of compliance determinations.

3. Coordinating program activities across Federal, State, and regional partners as the designated technical representative. Experience must reflect leading or facilitating collaboration.

4. Interpreting complex environmental and technical data; providing expert guidance to senior leadership; evaluating proposals; participating in policy development; and offering authoritative advice on ecological, operational, and regulatory aspects of artificial reef management.

5. Presenting complex technical analyses to diverse audiences, responding to scrutiny, facilitating discussions, and representing the organization as the recognized technical authority on artificial reef science, environmental compliance, and/or interagency reef coordination.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/19/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

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 additional assessment(s) required for this position. 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 successful completion of a structured resume review. This assessment measures the critical competencies listed below that are required to successfully perform the job.

• Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgements.
• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Identifies appropriate groups of stakeholders and corresponding representatives, build rapport, facilitate the receipt of information related to the perceived or potential impacts, analyze input to determine commensurate course of action for the relevant parties, document the process, and present information and recommendations against the applicable standards at the level suitable for the intended audience.
• Technical Competence: Knowledge of how to perform one's job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience.
• Communication: Expresses ideas and facts to individuals or groups effectively; makes clear and convincing oral/written presentations; listens to others; facilitates an open exchange of ideas.

All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) -08/19/2026-unless otherwise stated.

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed 2 single-sided pages and resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. Resume Builder: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. Performance Appraisals and Awards: All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If the performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months OR no performance appraisal is available, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
4. All College Transcript(s): education is mandatory to qualify for this position.
5. Eligibility Documentation:
   • Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year. Do not submit award SF-50s.
   • Veterans Preference Documentation: Veterans eligible under VEOA hiring eligibility must submit the most recent Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions (e.g. DD-214) as listed on the SF15. If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15. You may request a copy of the VA letter from https://www.va.gov/records. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
   • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA): If you are applying under LMWFA, you must submit ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment verifying the Position Occupied code 1-Competitive Service (block 34); AND Documentation of satisfactory performance for each period of temporary employment claimed, such as, performance evaluations, memorandum of record, whereas the supervisor(s) documented an acceptable performance level for a specified rating/employment period.
   • Special Appointing Authorities: If you are applying under a special appointing authority (i.e. Schedule A and Military Spouses), you must submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration. If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting documentation that's appropriate for that specific authority.
   • Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (I/CTAP): If you are applying under I/CTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility including a copy of the agency notice, most recent performance rating, and most recent SF-50 showing your position, grade level, and duty location. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.

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