This position is located within the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) with two vacancies located in Newport, OR. This position is also announced under vacancy number NWFSC FRAMD-24-12478644-MAP, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Duties

As a MARINE BIOLOGIST, you will perform the following duties: Carry out limited professional assignments for the scientific fishery-dependent data collection program, whose data is used in stock assessments, marine research, and management. Performs standard tasks related to the conservation and management of marine resources off the west coast (including groundfish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and other marine species) such as conducting observer debriefings for the observer program and providing sampling and data documentation feedback for multiple observers under program established timelines. Works with a senior staff member, performing tasks related to supporting the training team to ensure logistics for briefing and training classes run smoothly. Performs routines actions related to collection, validation, processing, storage and review of at-sea commercial fishery data, including video and other data generated through electronic monitoring systems, to be used in scientific investigation and management

Requirements

Qualifications

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. To qualify at the 0401 series: BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive 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 your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements: 1. Degree biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR 2. Combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the education requirement applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the ZP-2 or GS-7/9: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Executing biological data collection, marine species identification (e.g., protected species, seabirds, fish, or marine mammals) or verifying the accuracy of collected data; Participating in training sessions on fishery-dependent sampling protocols, fish species identification, or marine safety; AND Reviewing observer data to ensure data quality integrity for fisheries management for producing detailed reports. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 1 full year of graduate level education OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (S.A.A): S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership: Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 2.9 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("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 2years of the curriculum. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies listed below. Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. Special Placement Factor Experience in collecting and processing data and biological information from fisheries, as a fisheries observer at-sea aboard commercial fishing vessels for a minimum of one year amassing at least 120 sea days.

Education

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, 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: Applicant Inquiries
• Email: [email protected]