This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: The incumbent serves as a fish biologist for project activities with the Chicago District Fisheries Assessment and Monitoring Section.

Duties

Conduct and lead standardized fish sampling in the field for a wide variety of projects under various conditions throughout the Chicago Region. Safely operate and manage boat operations, equipment deployment, data management, and fish identification. Lead and assist in the development and implementation of fish and habitat monitoring plans utilizing region-specific protocols and standards for a wide variety of projects based on the goals, objectives and outcomes expected from each project. Assists with maintenance and operation of numerous fisheries related equipment. Leads coordination with internal project delivery teams, external partners, and stakeholders on a number of projects to ensure open communication and clear expectations for project delivery. Prepare and deliver technical/scientific presentations to Service personnel, other agency personnel, stakeholders, and the public.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• The incumbent must be able to lift up to and including 50 pounds on a regular and recurring basis.
• This position may require Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) over 50% of the duty time.
• The incumbent is responsible for performing the duties inherent in this position in a manner consistent with the policy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as set forth in the Safety Manual and the Safety Creed.
• Shift work may be required.
• Overnight travel may be required.
• Possession of a Valid Driver’s license.
• Emergency overtime may be required.
• The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Fish Biologist (0482): Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) 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, or excess course work (beyond the required 6 semester hours) in aquatic subjects. 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position at the GS-07 or GS-09 level you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience for GS-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service which includes: 1) Making observations on fish health, behavior, growth and/or maturation status. 2) Conducting fish handling activities such as rearing, tagging, trapping, releasing, and/or spawning. OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology. OR Superior Academic Achievement: In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) 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; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your 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 (b) 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 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience for GS-09: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service which includes: 1) Making observations on fish health, behavior, growth and/or maturation status. 2) Collecting data on fish handling activities such as rearing, tagging, trapping, releasing, and/or spawning. 3) Identifying solutions to resolve common problems encountered in a fisheries program in a hatchery, field, and/or lab setting. 4) Providing data summaries to senior biologists and/or other federal, state, and local agencies. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Education

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 programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Contacts

• Address RE-W2SM06 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-CHICAGO DO NOT MAIL Chicago, IL 60604 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk