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), Pacific Islands Fisheries Service Center (PIFSC), Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division with two vacancies in Honolulu, HI.
Responsibilities
IMPORTANT APPLICATION DEADLINE: This is an open continuous announcement. The first referral of candidates from this announcement will be made from applications received by 11:59 PM ET, June 15th. All applications received by this date will be eligible for referral provided candidates meet all eligibility and qualification requirements and provided the responses to the assessment questions place the candidate in the best qualified group of candidates referred. Subsequent cut off dates are August 3rd, October 2nd, and December 2nd.
As an Interdisciplinary Research Fish Biologist OR Research Mathematical Statistician, you will perform the following duties (Official Title will be determined based on the qualifications of the selectee):
- Design, conduct, and support stock assessment analyses, and develop and lead a research program that focuses on stock assessments, fish population dynamics, and ecosystem-based management.
- Conduct research on fishery topics that include the creation of new and improved mathematical and statistical models and the incorporation of environmental covariates in stock assessments and forecasts.
- Provide consulting on mathematical methods and statistical techniques.
- Prepare, develop, and present written results, specialized reports, peer-reviewed papers, and publications detailing the data, research products, methods, and outcomes of the assessments to fishery management councils and scientific meetings.
NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4, the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance.
Travel Required
Occasional travel – Up to 20% of domestic and foreign travel may be required.
Supervisory status
No
Promotion Potential
4 – If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.
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. The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12. The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.
The full performance level of the position is ZP-4 or GS-13/14.
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.
* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
* Payment of relocation incentive may be authorized.
* Payment of recruitment incentive may be authorized.
* This position is not in the bargaining unit.
* This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.
NOTE:
*This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Research Fish Biologist OR Research Mathematical Statistician, ZP-0482/1529-3/4 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.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (MANDATORY): In addition to meeting the above, applicants must possess the following selective placement factor: Experience leading 1) a stock assessment, or 2) research project that included modeling the population dynamics of a real or simulated population, that was either 1) used for management or 2) published in a peer-reviewed journal. Failure to submit proof in your resume will result in your application being marked as ineligible.
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 may be filled in either of the below series (0482 or 1529). Each series requires applicants to meet a Basic 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 application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:
To qualify at the 0482 series:
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.
OR
To qualify at the 1529 series:
A. Degree: that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience — at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, 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-3 or GS-11:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
- Assisting in population dynamics modeling of stock assessments for marine fish population; and
- Supporting quantitative statistical analyses on marine fish populations.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master’s or equivalent graduate degree.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.
NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination.
To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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:
- Developing of population dynamics modeling of stock assessments for marine fish population;
- Implementing quantitative statistical analyses on fish population dynamics or stock assessments;
- Contributing to peer-reviewed publications on fishery science.
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.
Additional information
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have met the minimum qualifications for the position. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
- A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
- A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
- A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
- A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
Veteran’s Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures.
Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Therefore, Current Federal employees would be given new appointments to the civil service and may have to serve a new probationary period under CFR 315.802 (b).
NOTE: A one year probationary period will be required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.
To preview questions please go to this site – https://careerconnector.jobs.treas.gov/doc/vacancy/previewVacancyQuestions.hms?orgId=16&jnum=133461.
Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance
Other: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/job-announcement/security-clearances/
Drug test required
No
Required Documents
- Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume must indicate your citizenship and if you are registered for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/59. Your resume must include information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position including: job title, duration of employment (mm/dd/yy – mm/dd/yy), hours per week, duties and accomplishments, salary, and your education. For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position/s.
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation if applicable (see other information).
- College Transcript (if applicable) 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.
- Selective Placement Factor: Publication/document example(s) showing proof of experience in leading 1) a stock assessment, or 2) research project that included modeling the population dynamics of a real or simulated population, that was either 1) used for management or 2) published in a peer-reviewed journal. Your application materials must clearly demonstrate this experience. Failure to do so will result in your application being marked as ineligible.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Benefits
-
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/.
NOAA offers a comprehensive benefits package. Explore the benefits offered to most Federal employees at: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How to Apply
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/569767200#new_tab To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on “Application Status.” Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at (866) 656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the number listed in this vacancy announcement.