Fish Biologist

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: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Uncommon Hours: This position is subject to work on an uncommon tour, including some weekend or holidays hours to meet mission requirements. Overtime, premium pay, or holiday pay may apply. Physical Requirements: Lifts heavy objects up to 50 pounds, enters large fish culture tanks, and carries buckets full of water and nets full of fish. 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: To qualify for the 0482 Series: 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.)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. Specialized experience: To qualify for the ZP-2 or (GS-07/09):Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or (GS-05) in the public or private sector. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Participating in salmon spawning and rearing activities; Collecting and analyzing data; and Assisting in reporting of research outcomes. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 1 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. 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. 2. 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. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above
This position is located in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), with one vacancy in Manchester, WA. This is a term appointment not to exceed 10 years with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.