Fish Biologist

• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

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.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to conduct repetitive laboratory activities and go on ocean-going vessels for extended periods to conduct fish or ecosystem surveys. Must be able to stand for long periods of time, bend/stoop, and lift up to 50 pounds, safely enter and exit large fish culture tanks, and carry buckets full of water and nets full of fish. Incumbent must be able to work in wet conditions without climate control and outdoors.
Uncommon Hours: This position is subject to work on an uncommon tour, including some weekend or holidays hours to meet mission requirements. Incumbent must be available for work on 1 to 2 weekends per month.
Overtime, premium pay, or holiday pay may apply.
Driver's License Required: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle in completion of assigned tasks i.e. deployed site visits, field research, fish transport, etc.

To qualify for the 0482 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:

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

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet:

Specialized experience:

To qualify at the ZP-02 (GS-7/9) grade level:
Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-01 (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Participating in fish spawning activities;
• Collecting and analyzing data; and
• Assisting in reporting of research outcomes.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: One year of graduate-level education.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify at the ZP-03 (GS-11/12) grade level:
Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-02 (GS-9) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Participating in planning and coordination of broodstock rearing;
• Assisting in project management and development or tracking of budgets;
• Developing content and disseminating information; and
• Participating in safety and environmental compliance processes related to fish culture and laboratory facilities.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.