Fish Biologist Job in Ellsworth, ME

Vacancy No. R5-25-12653406-SC-MP Department U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Salary $49,025.00 to $77,955.00 Grade 7 to 9
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/23/2024 Close Date 12/30/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Ellsworth, ME


Summary

This position is a Fish Biologist, GS- 0482-7/9 working in Hadley, Massachusetts for the R5-Green Lake National Fish Hatchery.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This position is only open to those who are eligible for ICTAP/CTAP; Veterans eligible for VEOA; and Public Land Corp Eligibles.

Duties

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

  • Performs a variety of operational tasks and applies standard methods and practices relating to daily hatchery operational activities including fish cultural activities, disease control, collection, care, treatment, and spawning of brood stock; incubation of eggs; feeding, cleaning, and sample counting of fry and fingerlings; cleaning of raceways and tanks; distribution of eggs, fry, and fingerlings; and the tagging and marking programs.
  • Conducts visual and microscopic examinations of fish for diseases and parasites.
  • Collects, monitors and analyzes a wide variety of water management parameters and biological data including but not limited to: nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, alkalinity, pH, hardness, dissolved oxygen, total gas pressure, nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, temperature, turbidity, zoo plankton, phytoplankton, and aquatic insects levels inside production ponds.
  • Participates in and assists in the development of project plans and methods to conduct assessments of aquatic species populations and/or their habitats using a wide variety of conventional methods.
  • Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with personnel from other Federal, State, Tribal, and local government agencies; conservation partners and organizations; and other civic entities to coordinate fish production activities (i.e. releasing juvenile fish, exchanging gametes from various stocks of listed fish, and transferring fish, etc.), and to disseminate information.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
  • Commercial Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a valid commercial driver’s license during their employment in this position.
  • Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is 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 12/30/2024 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: 1) 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 2) 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-07]
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is described as: assisting with biological initiatives related to the management of fish and aquatic resources; collecting data and biological information concerning fish populations or fish culture techniques; and assisting with the preparation and presentation of data relative to fishery resources.OR
  2. A bachelor's degree AND meet one of the Superior Academic Achievement Provisions. 1. Maintained a grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. - OR - 2. Maintained a grade-point average "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. -OR- 3. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision. -OR- 4. Am a member of a national honor (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Please submit a college transcript(s) showing your grade point average for all four years of undergraduate study, including all transferred courses. NOTE: GPA's are rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society. OR
  3. One year (18 semester hours) of graduate education in biology or a closely related field which provided me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully complete the work of the position.
Minimum Qualification [GS-09]
  1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: 1) Performs a variety of operational tasks and applies standard methods and practices relating to daily hatchery operational activities; 2) Assists in the development of diagnostic protocols and recording experimental fish culture data; 3) Writes reports on study findings and recommendations for peer-reviewed publications; 4) Assists with the implementation of the hatchery outreach program by providing tours, maintaining the hatchery visitor center, and conducting fishing events on and off-site. OR
  2. 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a discipline directly related to the position. OR
  3. A combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above that, when combined, equals 100% of the total 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 programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. 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) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. 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.
For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.


Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2 year period.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible, or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

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 a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, your score may be lowered, or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  1. Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and theories in fish biology and a working knowledge of related disciplines (e.g., ecology, conservation science, wildlife biology, and botany) sufficient to participate in the full range of functions associated with fish hatchery operations and management and to conduct biological studies.

  2. Working knowledge of fish pathology, disease diagnoses, and treatment in order to assist in monitoring fish health and quality and to implement corrective measures as directed.

  3. Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy when interacting with Federal, state, Tribal, civic entities, local agencies, private and national organizations, private landowners, and the general public.

  4. Ability to verbally communicate technical information to a variety of audiences with varying levels of understanding of hatchery operations.

  5. Ability to use the scientific method to design, implement and conduct limited aspects of fishery studies.

Required Documents

You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.

Required Documents:

1. Resume: Your resume must describe your job-related qualifications (paid and non-paid work experience) that includes job title, beginning and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and description of job duties. You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form, you must ensure this information is provided. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. Note: Current and former Federal employees should include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience.

  • Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
    • Classified or government sensitive information
    • Social Security Number (SSN)
    • Photos of yourself
    • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
    • Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

2. Proof of Eligibility:

  • CTAP/ICTAP Documentation:
  1. Certification of Expected Separation or Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice or Notice of Proposed Removal AND
  2. Most recent Performance Rating AND
  3. Most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location or SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action.
OR
  • 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, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus 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.
OR
  • Public Land Corps (PLC) Documentation: Certificate showing you served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2 year period.
College Transcripts: A copy of your transcripts must be submitted. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A copy of your official transcripts will be required if you are selected.

Additional Documentation if applicable:

  • Cover Letter

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:

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. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement.

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 previous the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12653406.
  2. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
  3. Applications must be received by 12/30/2024, 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
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