Overview

  • Accepting applications

Duties

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

This position is located within the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML) with one vacancy in Seattle, WA.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As Supervisory Research Biologist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Manage marine mammal research projects and stock assessments involving the determination of abundance, stock structure, and habitat use utilizing vessel surveys, acoustic studies, tagging, and genetic studies.
  • Develop and implement a scientific research program focused on high-priority information needs for the conservation and management of marine mammals.
  • Provide leadership to staff for analytical and writing activities leading to the publication of the program’s research results in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Plan and distribute work to be accomplished by subordinates; set and adjust short and long term priorities and prepare schedules for the completion of work; evaluate the work performance of subordinates.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

Salary for selectee’s pay may be set at any point within the pay band except for intervals 4 and 5 ($155,063 – $164,505) which is reserved for supervisory performance or for current supervisors within CAPS who already have a salary within intervals 4 and 5.

The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.  The full performance level of this position is ZP-4.

Category Rating, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this Public Notice.

* A three year probationary period for research positions may be required.

* A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.

* These probationary periods may be served concurrently.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit.

* This position requires a Public Trust (Moderate Risk) Security Clearance.

NOTE:

*This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Supervisory Biologist, ZP-0401-4 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g. within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: Incumbent must possess a valid driver’s license, as this position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle

Qualifications

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.

EDUCATION:  This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

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.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Assisting in overseeing scientific programs aimed at supporting the management of living marine resources;
  • Contributing to developing and conducting research projects focused on the conservation of marine mammals; and
  • Contributing to management reports and/or scientific journals.

Education

College Transcript:  If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume.   You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work.  An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.