Research Ecologist / Fish Biologist / Wildlife Biologist (Assistant Unit Leader)

DEFINITIONS: Undergraduate: A year of undergraduate education is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent of college study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite. Graduate Education: In the absence of specific graduate program information, a year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of graduate level college course work, or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Experience: One year of work experience is twelve months working full-time (at least 35-40 hours per week). Part-time experience can be pro-rated (i.e., a year at 20 hours per week is credited as 6 months of experience). If your position consisted of mixed duties, experience credit is given for the percentage of time that you spent on qualifying duties (i.e., if you held a position for 2 years, full-time, consisting of 25% personnel work and 75% budget work, and then applied for a budget position you could calculate your experience as follows: 2 years = 24 months. 24 months x 75% [percentage of time spent on budget duties] = 18 months of qualifying experience.) This position is interdisciplinary and may be filled in any of the occupational job series listed. You must meet the educational requirements of at least one of these occupational series, in additional to the Minimum Requirement listed below, in order to be found qualified and referred for consideration. BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Basic Education for Research Ecologist, GS-0408: Applicants must meet the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Ecologist, all grade levels. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree in biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours or the equivalent in ecology, and 12 semester hours or the equivalent in physical and mathematical sciences; OR Basic Education for Research Fish Biologist, GS-0482: Applicants must meet the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Research Fish Biologist, all grade levels. Research Positions: Applicants must show that they have a degree with major study in biology, zoology, or biological oceanography that included at least 30 semester hours in biological and aquatic science and 15 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences. This course work must have included: At least 15 semester hours of preparatory training in zoology beyond introductory biology or zoology in such courses as invertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, advanced vertebrate zoology, genetics, entomology, and parasitology; and At least 6 semester hours of training applicable to fishery biology in such subjects as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, oceanography, algology, planktonology, marine or fresh water ecology, invertebrate ecology, principles of fishery population dynamics, or related course work in the field of fishery biology; and At least 15 semester hours of training in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, or statistics. Basic Education for Research Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486: Applicants must meet the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Research Wildlife Biologist, all grade levels. Research positions: Degree with major in wildlife biology, zoology, or botany that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in biological science and 15 semester hours in the physical, mathematical, and earth sciences. This course work must have included: At least 9 semester hours of training applicable to wildlife biology in such subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, principles of population dynamics, or related course work in the field of wildlife biology; and At least 12 semester hours in zoological subjects such as invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy of the vertebrates, embryology, animal physiology, entomology, herpetology, parasitology, and genetics; and At least 9 semester hours in the field of botany and related plant science; and At least 15 semester hours of training in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, soils, and/or geology. For GS-12: Ph.D. Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic education requirements described above, in order to receive consideration for this position, you must also possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Ecology, Fish Biology, Fisheries Managment, Wildlife Biology, or a closely related field of study appropriate for this position. To verify the Ph.D. requirement, transcripts or verification from the university registrar must be submitted that clearly state: Ph.D. awarded, major, and date of conferral. Failure to provide this information will result in your application receiving no further consideration. QUALITY RANKING FACTOR: This vacancy announcement has a Quality Ranking Factor. Possession of the following factor is not required in order to meet the minimum qualifications. Applicants who possess this factor may be ranked above those who do not: Possession of a (1) A Ph.D. that is directly related to conducting applied field research pertaining to dynamics of aquatic or terrestrial species, communities, and ecosystmes across broad geographical areas. For GS-13: In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirement(s) and the Ph.D. requirement stated above, applicants must possess at least one year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled and is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in Federal service. This experience must have equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of such experience may include: has an established record of obtaining funding and managing an applied, field-based research program focused on spatial ecology, and is relevant to conservation agencies and stakeholders locally, nationally, and internationally; conducts research that provides a scientific basis for decisions on management of aquatic or terrestrial natural resources; serves as subject matter expert in ecology of wildlife or fish, providing leadership and guidance to agencies, organizations, and university representatives through participation in meetings, conferences, and work groups; teach and apply modern quantitative analyses; effectively communicates scientific information to a diverse audience of managers, policy makers, students, and the public through final reports, peer reviewed scientific journals, book chapters, presentations, and other outlets; serves as a graduate faculty member, contributing to the research, student advising (graduate and post-doctorate), mentorship, and the teaching mission of the university. All candidates should include a research statement, and a statement of commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Preferred candidates will have demonstrated ability to: develop and implement innovative approaches to assess the factors influencing the ecology and management of fish and wildlife populations which may include public use, attitudes, and beliefs. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position? Salary: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01. GS-12: $86,962 (Step 01) to $113,047 (Step 10) GS-13: $103,409 (Step 01) to $134,435 (Step 10)