This position is a Fish Biologist, GS- 0482-5/7 working in Vancouver, WA for the R1-Columbia River Fisheries Program Office. This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R1-23-12077640-LAS-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

As a Fish Biologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Assists with the development and review of comprehensive hatchery and fishery management plans and coordinates with other fishery programs that effect biological resources including, but not limited to: fish culture, hatchery quality control, fishery management assistance, sampling for exotic species, assessing fish populations, and recommending habitat restoration/management. Participates in the planning and conduction of a wide variety of investigations including the design, collection, and analysis of biological data to: determine the effects of various fish culture techniques; evaluate the impact of land and water development practices upon the fishery resources of an area; or to assist in implementing hatchery reform initiatives. Plans and conducts a variety of investigations including the design, collection, and analysis of biological data pertaining to species reared and released from National Fish Hatcheries in the assigned area. Monitors the application of techniques for hatchery evaluations and ecological interactions between hatchery and wild fish, including stream ecology studies involving population distribution, abundance, survival, age/length composition, behavior, competition and habitat assessments. Reviews scientific proposals and reports to evaluate hypotheses, study objectives, research design, appropriateness of methods, probability of success, and overall importance to fish/hatchery management or science in order to further develop/enhance his/her professional/technical competencies necessary to ensure that work performed and recommendations made for the hatchery/station/center biological program are consistent with current published literature and other professionally endorsed practices. Uses automated systems and programs to manage large sets of data. Uses standard analytical techniques to design studies and interpret results for hatchery evaluations and evaluations of ecological interactions between hatchery and wild fish populations. Responds to written, telephone, and in-person inquiries from the public and news media, obtaining and providing requested information within established guidelines of the office and in conformance with Service and Departmental policy. Participates in the presentation of project results at public and scientific meetings and conferences. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-09. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.

Requirements

• 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.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform may 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 Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 08/21/2023 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement (and Minimum Qualification for GS-5): Possess a degree with a major in Biological Science from an accredited college or university that included: at least six semester (nine quarter) 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 (18 quarter) 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 courses in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate. Note: If courses in aquatic and the animal sciences are not clearly identified on transcript and knowledge of such subjects was obtained in other coursework, include a description of such courses, to include syllabus as provided in official college catalog. Possess an appropriate 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 six semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown in response A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification [GS-07] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service. Experience includes: (1) Assist with operating and maintaining fish marking/tagging and tag detection equipment; (2) Assist with software programs associated with fish marking/tagging and tag detection equipment (e.g. Autofish trailer, MKIV, HPR plus, Multiplexors, R9500, V detectors, PTAGIS, P4, RMIS); and (3) Assist with implementing and conducting fish marking, sampling, and tag recovery activities; OR 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; OR Possess a Bachelor's degree AND Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) S.A.A. is based on (1) Class Standing, (2) Grade-Point Average, or (3) Honor Society Membership. (1) Class Standing: Upper one-third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses. (2) Grade-Point Average: A grade point average of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) as recorded on the official transcript or as computed based on four years of education, or computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 0 (B+ or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. (3) Election to Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this position; OR Possess a combination of specialized experience and education equivalent to a full year of specialized experience. Only graduate education may be creditable when combining. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Division of Human Resources Division of Human Resources Eastside Federal Complex 911 NE Eleventh Avenue Portland, OR 97232 US
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Phone: 833-512-0482
• Email: [email protected]