Fish Biologist Job

Vacancy No. R2-25-12609405-LL-PLC Department U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Salary $59,966.00 to $94,317.00 Grade 9 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/18/2024 Close Date 12/2/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Flagstaff, AZParker, AZ


Summary

This position is a Fish Biologist, GS- 0482-9/11 working in either Parker, Arizona or Flagstaff, Arizona for the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office-Parker (Region 2).

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to Public Land Corps (Department of the Interior only); VEOA; and CTAP eligible candidates only. Public Land Corps (PLC) is a work and education program that allows individuals aged 16-30 opportunities to work on the rehabilitation and restoration of public lands. Successful completion of a qualifying PLC project and at least 640 hours of work may qualify applicants for a permanent position in the Department of the Interior.

Duties

Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is part of a network of field stations located throughout the nation that works to conserve fish and aquatic resources. Over 300 biologists from the Arctic Circle to the Florida Keys monitor and control invasive species ; protect imperiled species; evaluate native fish stocks and their habitats; and work with our partners to solve problems. Since 1956, the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has worked throughout the state and beyond on projects to monitor and conserve native fish species and aquatic habitats in the American Southwest. The Parker office, which is co-located with the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge, work on conservation efforts on the Lower Colorado River with an emphasis on Razorback Sucker and Bonytail Chub and conduct water quality monitoring on important fish habitat in Arizona.

AZFWCO'S mission is to "work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and other aquatic organisms and their habitats in Arizona." Our daily activities are driven by 3 primary focus areas or goals and include Aquatic Species Conservation and Management, Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Management, and Cooperation with Native American Tribes. AZFWCO is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's lead station for recovery of threatened and endangered fish including Apache trout and Little Colorado spinedace, and also works with loach minnow, Gila topminnow, and the "big river" fish such as razorback sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail that inhabit the Colorado River.Key duties for this position are:

  • Assist with the development and review of comprehensive fish management plans and coordinates with other fish programs that effect biological resources including, but not limited to: fish culture, fish management assistance, sampling of aquatic species, assessing fish populations, and recommending habitat restoration/management.
  • Analyze and review biological implications of environmental assessments or comprehensive resource planning reports to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions on Federal projects.
  • Utilize standard analytical techniques to design studies and interpret results for aquatic evaluations and evaluations of ecological interactions for wild fish populations.
  • Leads and supervises employees on multi-day, fish sampling and data collection at remote field sites.???????

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.
  • 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: Selectees MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform may be required.
  • 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 12/02/2024 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement:
  1. 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

2. 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.

Minimum Qualification [GS-9]:
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-7 in the Federal service performing work in the field of fisheries and aquatic conservation. Examples of qualifying specialized experience may include assisting with development of work plans; participating in assessment and/or control of invasive species; ensuring equipment is maintained; completing biological surveys and recording data; managing data to support program delivery; drafting reports; participating on programmatic groups with diverse participants. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR
  2. Completion of two years of progressively higher-level graduate education at an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or a directly related field appropriate to this position. You must provide a copy of your college transcripts to support educational claims. OR
  3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
Minimum Qualification [GS-11]:
  1. One year of full-time specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service performing work in the field of fisheries and aquatic conservation. Examples of qualifying specialized experience may include development of work plans; leading field teams in assessment and/or control of invasive species; ensuring standard operating procedures are followed and equipment is maintained; completing biological surveys and recording data; managing and analyzing data to make program recommendations; drafting reports, presenting findings; leading or collaborating with diverse groups on programmatic natural resources issues. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR
  2. Completion of three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, or have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, in fisheries or aquatics. You must provide a copy of your college transcripts to support educational claims. OR
  3. 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.

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

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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

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):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP 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, 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 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.

Benefits

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.

Review our 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 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, concepts, and theories in fishery biology and related disciplines to determine the effect of various fish culture techniques, land and water development projects, and fish health on the fishery resources of an area.
  • Ability to supervise a subordinate staff.
  • Ability to interpret and communicate technical information.
  • Skill in data compilation, relational database structure, and statistical data analysis.

Required Documents

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.

3. Certificate of Eligibility For Public Land Corp eligibility: Applicants must submit a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (dated within 2 yearsof completing the program) for Non-Compliance Hiring Based for Public Land Corps Service is required for verification of eligibility.

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 Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP, 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 eligible.

4. Performance Appraisal: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

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.
  1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12609405.
  2. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
  3. Applications must be received by 12/02/2024 , 11:59pm ET to receive consideration.
  4. 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.

Agency contact information

Human Resources Staffing Division
Address
Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
500 Gold Avenue, SW Room 5222
Albuquerque, NM 87103
US
Learn more about this agency

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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


© 2006-2024, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements