What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position? The Government Wide direct hire authority for Biological Science is being used to fill this position. This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 10 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Salaries by grade level and duty location can be found here: General Schedule (opm.gov).

Duties

As a Biologist within the Eastern Ecological Science Center, some of your position's detail and specific duties will include: This position is in the Coastal Wetland, Avian and Recreation Ecology Team at the Eastern Ecological Science Center. The mission of the Center is to provide information needed to restore, enhance, maintain, and protect aquatic and terrestrial organisms and their supporting ecosystems. Activities within the Coastal Wetland, Avian and Recreation Ecology Team focus on providing research for management of federal trust species and habitats at the mid-Atlantic and national scales, with particular emphasis on coastal wetland and adjacent habitat systems and Department of the Interior lands. Conduct Scientific Investigations Plans and conducts studies and investigations concerning the Coastal ecosystems and/or avian communities and their habitats. Collect data on flora and fauna species and associated habitat. Compute/Analyze Data Compiling and analyzing large biological/ecological data sets from a variety of data providers Perform QA/QC of biological/ecological data Laboratory Techniques Leads and executes field and laboratory research campaigns including planning and logistics, coordination with partners and stakeholders. Disseminate Data Assists in writing interpretive scientific articles and reports that document the objectives, scope, approach, results, and conclusions of scientific studies. Scientific Knowledge Apply emerging climate change or ecological research technologies, data management capabilities and innovative approaches for identifying biological and ecological status and trends. Above duties are for the GS-11 level. At the higher-grade levels, less assistance, instruction, guidance, oversight, review, and supervision will be provided.

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Biologist, all grade levels. A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. *OR* B. Combination of education and experience--courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. For GS-11: In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following: Possess 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines. **OR Possess one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience at the GS-09 level work may include: 1) participation in the planning and execution of coastal ecological and/or avian biological studies with limited number of variables; 2) performing established, standardized tests and analyses on a broad range of avian biological or coastal plant samples; 3) conducting coastal ecological and/or avian biological studies using established fact finding procedures. For examples 1-3, assignments were made with the objectives, priorities, and deadlines defined. The work was planned and carried out independently in accordance with proven techniques, methods, and practices. Controversial use of approaches or modifications of standard procedures were typically discussed with a designated person before being carried out. **OR Possess a combination of graduate level education as described in above, beyond the first two years of progressive graduate study, and appropriate professional experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position. For GS-12: In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience at the GS-11 level may include: 1) design, development and conduct protocols to analyze spatial and temporal data relevant to coastal wetland elevation dynamics or avian communities; 2) conduct of sampling, experimental design, statistical analyses and biometrics relative to coastal and inland wetlands ecology; 3) independent planning and conducting of comprehensive coastal wetland or avian habitat ecological studies/investigations and requests for proposals; 4) modifying and adapting standard biological ecological-hydrological techniques and procedures for coastal or inland wetland habitat; 5) serving as a technical resource on coastal wetland or avian ecological issues; 6) design and management of coastal wetland or avian community habitat projects, studies to provide an understanding of the effects of future land use and climate change. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

• 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Contacts

• Address EESC ECOLOGICAL PATTERNS AND PROCESSES 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 22201 US
• Name: Kathy Falino
• Phone: 703-648-7408
• Email: [email protected]