Fish Biologist
Fish Biologist
- Open & closing dates
09/11/2024 to 10/01/2024
- Salary
$80,217 - $124,988 per year
Salary Range for GS-11 is $80,217 thru $104,280; Salary Range for GS-12 is $96,148 thru $124,988
- Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
- Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Duties
Serves as a senior fish biologist for the Bay-Delta Office (BDO) in the identification and evaluation of scientific resources issues, particularly those related to water quality, fisheries, and other aquatic organisms.
-Prepares and/or oversees the preparation of highly technical and/or programmatic input into complex environmental evaluations, including environmental compliance documents, environmental chapters in planning reports, and related appendices as requested by the BDO and Regional divisions and area offices.
-Prepares budget projections and tracks group expenditures.
-Performs the duties of a contracting and grants officers' representative (COR/GOR) to obtain additional resources to support BDO and Regional efforts.
-Communicates and coordinates with BDO and Regional staff responsible for budget and accounting activities and presents budget or accounting issues identified to the BDO Manager with proposed resolutions.
-Maintains state-of-the-art knowledge on the technical aspects of fishery science, Bay-Delta and California Great Basin (CGB) Region operational issues, implementation of the Endangered Species Act, and other environmental statues that affect fishery/operational interactions in the Bay-Delta and Mid-Pacific Region.
-Oversees highly complex data gathering and interagency efforts in the areas of water quality and biological resources assessment, correlates efforts with a wide variety of other Federal, State, and local interests in an efficient and effective manner.
-Under supervision of the Branch Chief, conducts original applied scientific research in support of the BDO and Reclamation's CGB regional information needs; These needs include improved understanding of the ecology, natural history, and population dynamics of fishes that reside in or migrate through the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Bay-Delta) and the development of statistical or mathematical models to describe and predict their distribution and abundance.
-Conducts continuing liaison with other divisions and offices within the BDO and Region; local public and private organizations; and other Federal and State agencies involved in land and water resource development and biological resources management; represents BDO and Regional interests in obtaining the widest possible participation and assistance for the BDO and Region's scientific resource work, and relates the BDO and Region's priorities and programs to programs being considered or conducted by other agencies, including BDO, Reclamation-wide, and Regional policies and objectives.
-Prepares and/or oversees the preparation and review of technical and policy-related comments on water quality, fisheries, and other aquatic biological aspects of technical and management reports dealing with a broad array of resources development and/or management prepared by numerous other Federal, State, and local agencies, particularly related to the Sacramento, American and San Joaquin rivers and the Bay-Delta.
-Consults with the BDO Manager and Science Division Chief in the formulation of policies, programs, standards, and procedures associated with fishery-related environmental compliance requirements, particularly the Endangered Species Act, relative to the Region's project operations that affect water quality, fisheries, and aquatic biology, and in establishing priorities and deadlines for the completion of work assignments.
-Assists the BDO Manager in administration of an effective safety program by promoting on-the-job-safety through discussions and distribution of literature.
RequirementsConditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
You will be required to complete a Financial Disclosure Form.
Must obtain and maintain certification as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and Grants Officer's Representative (GOR).
Travel is required approximately 15% of the time.
Travel via auto or small boat is required.
Qualifications
To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position, having the following -
Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) 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, or excess course work (beyond the required 6 semester hours) in aquatic subjects.
OR
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.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.
To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 level in federal service having demonstrated experience developing and conducting biological assessments and studies of migrating fish populations, aquatic organisms and water quality assessments with emphasis on anadromous fish. Work demonstrates familiarly with computerized ecological models of fisheries data and fish population responses to water flow, water operations and water quality parameters. These examples are not all inclusive.
OR
Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
To qualify at the GS-12, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in federal service having demonstrated experience performing professional Fishery Biology work in support of complex and difficult restoration programs/projects involving conserving, enhancing and protecting fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitants; maintaining contact and collaborative working relationships with state, federal, local agencies, and Water Districts in implementing natural resources projects. These examples are not all inclusive.
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.
You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 10/01/2024.
Education
This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-11 grade level only. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position.
This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.
You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.