Job opening: Fish Biologist
Salary: $59 966 - 94 317 per year
Published at: Nov 18 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is a Fish Biologist, GS- 0482-9/11 working in either Parker, Arizona or Flagstaff, Arizona for the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office-Parker (Region 2).
Duties
Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is part of a network of field stations located throughout the nation that works to conserve fish and aquatic resources. Over 300 biologists from the Arctic Circle to the Florida Keys monitor and control invasive species; protect imperiled species; evaluate native fish stocks and their habitats; and work with our partners to solve problems. Since 1956, the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has worked throughout the state and beyond on projects to monitor and conserve native fish species and aquatic habitats in the American Southwest. The Parker office, which is co-located with the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge, work on conservation efforts on the Lower Colorado River with an emphasis on Razorback Sucker and Bonytail Chub and conduct water quality monitoring on important fish habitat in Arizona.
AZFWCO'S mission is to "work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and other aquatic organisms and their habitats in Arizona." Our daily activities are driven by 3 primary focus areas or goals and include Aquatic Species Conservation and Management, Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Management, and Cooperation with Native American Tribes. AZFWCO is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's lead station for recovery of threatened and endangered fish including Apache trout and Little Colorado spinedace, and also works with loach minnow, Gila topminnow, and the "big river" fish such as razorback sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail that inhabit the Colorado River.
Key duties for this position are:
Assist with the development and review of comprehensive fish management plans and coordinates with other fish programs that effect biological resources including, but not limited to: fish culture, fish management assistance, sampling of aquatic species, assessing fish populations, and recommending habitat restoration/management.
Analyze and review biological implications of environmental assessments or comprehensive resource planning reports to evaluate environmental consequences of proposed actions on Federal projects.
Utilize standard analytical techniques to design studies and interpret results for aquatic evaluations and evaluations of ecological interactions for wild fish populations.
Leads and supervises employees on multi-day, fish sampling and data collection at remote field sites.
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
- Must meet Pathways eligibility requirements
- Must meet the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduate Program. Recent Graduates will enter a formal training program with a mentor and execute an Individual Development Plan outlining training requirements and program expectations.
- Recent Graduates must receive at least 40 hours of formal training directly linked to their employment field.
- Recent Graduates serve a trial period for the duration of their excepted service appointment.
- Recent Graduates will be required to sign a Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement.
- Applicants must provide documentation of completion within the previous 2 years of a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform MAY be required.
- Driver’s License: Selectees may be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
Qualifications
The Pathways Recent Graduate Program is for recently graduated or graduating individuals who are looking for developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service. Recent Graduates will serve on this appointment for one year. During the first year the selectee will perform developmental activities designed to help them acquire the competencies of the target position in which they may be placed upon completion of the program. Participants who successfully complete the Recent College Graduates Program may be eligible for conversion to the target position on a permanent or term (more than one to four years in duration) basis without further competition. For more information on the Pathways Recent Graduate Program, please visit https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads.
Only experience and education obtained by 12/02/2024 will be considered.
OPM's Qualification standard: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/final-groupcoveragequalificationstandardforpathwaysprogramschedule-20d.pdf. Applicants meet the following eligibility requirement, and provide documentation such as a copy of your official transcript and/or veteran's documentation by the closing date of the announcement to be considered:
In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.
Basic Requirement:
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
2. 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.
Minimum Qualification [GS-9]:
One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-7 in the Federal service performing work in the field of fisheries and aquatic conservation. Examples of qualifying specialized experience may include assisting with development of work plans; participating in assessment and/or control of invasive species; ensuring equipment is maintained; completing biological surveys and recording data; managing data to support program delivery; drafting reports; participating on programmatic groups with diverse participants. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR
Completion of two years of progressively higher-level graduate education at an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or a directly related field appropriate to this position. You must provide a copy of your college transcripts to support educational claims. OR
A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
Minimum Qualification [GS-11]:
One year of full-time specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service performing work in the field of fisheries and aquatic conservation. Examples of qualifying specialized experience may include development of work plans; leading field teams in assessment and/or control of invasive species; ensuring standard operating procedures are followed and equipment is maintained; completing biological surveys and recording data; managing and analyzing data to make program recommendations; drafting reports, presenting findings; leading or collaborating with diverse groups on programmatic natural resources issues. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR
Completion of three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, or have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, in fisheries or aquatics. You must provide a copy of your college transcripts tosupport educational claims. 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.
Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-9/11. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-9/11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
(NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.)
Education
PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants 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. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating. 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
- Phone: 000-000-0000
- Email: [email protected]