This position is located in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Auke Bay Laboratories (ABL) with one vacancy in Juneau, AK. This position is also announced under vacancy number AKFSC ABL-24-12173799 ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to all announcements if you want to be considered for both grade levels.

Duties

As a Fish Biologist, you will perform the following duties: Apply established methods, tests, procedures, and techniques used in biology, chemistry, and seawater laboratories. Apply knowledge of marine fish and invertebrate identification and taxonomic classification to work with field and laboratory processing of biological specimens collected. Use analytical software to analyze and report scientific findings, execute quality control auditing procedures, and data extraction and aggregation to facilitate data analysis and reporting. Conduct duties in a demanding physical marine environment that involves fisheries or oceanographic sampling operations. Note: The duties described are at the full performance level of the ZP-3 grade level, and the duties at the ZP-2 grade level are developmental leading to the ZP-3 level.

Requirements

Qualifications

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to conduct repetitive laboratory activities and go on ocean-going vessels for extended periods to conduct fish or ecosystem surveys. Must be able to stand for long periods of time, bend/stoop, and lift up to 40 pounds unassisted. This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle in completion of assigned tasks i.e. deployed site visits, field research, etc Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet the Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with an application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements: 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 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. To qualify at the ZP-2 or GS-07: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Knowledge of identification and taxonomic classification to work with field and laboratory processing of biological specimens; and Assisting in the quality control or quality assurance measures to research and monitor data. SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: One year of graduate-level education. OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: As demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet the provision below: A grade point average (GPA) of 2.9 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study; A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study; Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college; Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience. To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11:SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-02 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Participating in fish ecology and fish habitat surveys, planning and management of associated supplies and gear for laboratory studies and field surveys, sample disposition from collection to processing to final data storage; Utilizing laboratory technical skills and taxonomic expertise for fish and marine invertebrate identification; and Participating in the quality control or quality assurance measures to research and monitor data. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR Combination of education and experience as described above. The total percentage of the combined education and experience must equal at least 100% to qualify.

Education

College Transcript: Submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.

Contacts

• Address NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS) 1315 East West Hwy SSMC4 Silver Spring, MD 20910 US
• Name: Michele Davis
• Email: [email protected]