This position is a Fish Biologist, GS- 0482-9 working in Parker, Arizona for the R2-Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery.

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 broodstock; 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. Identifies issues and makes recommendation regarding appropriate course of action. As directed, administers prophylactic and therapeutic treatment for control of fish diseases. Performs monthly chemical analysis of hatchery water supply. Maintains electronic records and generates reports of ongoing hatchery operation activities including feeding records; water quality; incidence of disease/stress and treatment; brood stock inventory; and production records. 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. Implements corrective measures and develops the correct pond fertilization rates from the results of the biological data and utilizes control mechanisms for aquatic insects. Performs repairs and periodic maintenance on dissolved oxygen and flow meters. Assists the Hatchery Manager with a variety of technical and administrative duties associated with hatchery management and operations, e.g. develops annual hatchery report detailing all station operations, resource issues, hatchery production, planning, facility and infrastructure management and maintenance, safety, training, budget, partnerships, outreach, public relations, and resource needs. 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. Assists in the development of diagnostic protocols and recording experimental fish culture data such as those related to using hormones and testing new and modified pharmaceuticals, fungicides, and other pesticides. Assists with Aquatic Nuisance Species assessments and control programs. Writes reports on study findings and recommendations for peer-reviewed publications. Reviews reports prepared by others. 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 to promote Connecting People With Nature and to raise awareness of threats to aquatic species including Aquatic Nuisance or Invasive Species.

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.
• 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 04/08/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Possess a Bachelor's or higher degree with a 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 animal science subjects such as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. (Excess coursework in aquatic subjects may be used to satisfy the animal science coursework requirement when appropriate.). OR Possess a combination of education and experience that includes coursework 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] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-7 in the Federal service. Experience may include (1) setting up rearing systems for aquatic species utilizing recirculating, heated, chilled, or filtered water; (2) spawning aquatic species and rearing eggs and embryos; (3) monitoring water quality or quantity data; (4) collecting, processing, and transporting live organisms (including weighing, measuring, counting, marking, tagging, etc.); (5) monitoring organisms for disease or mortality; (6) administering treatment or anesthetizing organisms, as appropriate; and/or (7) calculating feeding rates for various species at multiple life stages. OR Two years of progressively higher-level graduate-level education leading to a master's degree OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree with a major study in or directly related to fisheries and/or aquatics.. OR 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)

Contacts

• Address Division of Human Resources Division of Human Resources 500 Gold Avenue, SW Room 5222 Albuquerque, NM 87103 US
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Email: [email protected]