Summary
This position is located within the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division, with one vacancy in Seattle, WA.
Learn more about this agency
Responsibilities
As a Research Fish Biologist, you will perform the following duties:
- Conduct groundfish trawl survey, sample and acquire groundfish stocks data, contribute to the planning and execution of groundfish surveys for commercially valuable species, execute individual groundfish and ecosystem research projects.
- Coordinate logistics for all aspects of Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division (FRAM) charter vessel surveys and participate in survey data collection, editing/back-up mobilization, demobilization and Aberdeen net certification.
- Review and troubleshoot custom software for field operations, set-up virtual wheelhouse for onshore testing of equipment and software and evaluate tools to ensure data acquisition and quality assurance programs are functional.
- Develop protocols for untrawlable habitat survey in northern California Current system and compare various sampling approaches: hook & line, Environmental DNA (eDNA), camera & video methods.
Travel Required
Not required
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 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 may be required.
* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
* This position is in the bargaining unit.
* This is a low risk position.
NOTE:
*This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Research Fish Biologist ZP-0482-3 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.
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.
Basic Requirements: This position 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. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:
Degree: 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.
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 for the ZP-3 or GS-11
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:
- Contributing to the planning and execution of research surveys to support the conservation and management of ecosystems; and
- Assisting in reviewing biological software programs for survey field operations.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of related graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.
NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination of education and experience.
Condition of Employment: Applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver’s license
Physical Requirements: Position requires at sea deployments for up to 60 days per year with individual trips spanning up to 30 days each (operations in remote areas of the NE Pacific Ocean with daily duties conducted in a demanding physical maritime environment that involve sampling operations while exposed to weather and various sea states, over long, odd hours, lifting and moving heavy equipment or biological samples (up to 50 pounds) repeatedly during the day, on an unsteady deck, depending on sea state).
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.
