Fish Biologist - Survey (Seattle)
Clarification from the agencyOpen to the Public and Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).As a Fish Biologist-Survey, you will perform the following duties:Conduct studies on distribution, abundance, protected species, ecosystem processes or similar research, and subsequent post-survey laboratory processing of biological specimens or data collected during fishery-independent surveys. Collect and oversee sample collections, protected species and fishery observations, and data.Support fishery-independent resource operations through survey preparation and mobilization, data collection, demobilization, analysis, and research. Execute quantitative analyses, utilizing statistical procedures and software (e.g., Rstudio, ORACLE, SQL, ArgGIS, Python), related to fishery-independent survey design, assessing sampling gear efficiency, and biological and ecosystems processes.Prepare and coordinate fishery-independent resource surveys. Perform aspects of survey preparation and post-cruise efforts, including supply procurement, administrative tasks, and preparation of cruise instructions and cruise reports.For more information about these positions, please visit the NOAA Fisheries is Hiring Webpage:This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.* Positions in Seattle, WA, and Newport, OR may be covered under bargaining unit 2274;* Positions in Pascagoula, MS may be covered under bargaining unit 5627* Positions in Miami, FL and Beaufort, NC may be covered under bargaining unit 2194* Positions in Woods Hole, MA, Narragansett, RI, San Diego, CA are not in the bargaining unit.POSITION REQUIREMENTS:This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle in completion of assigned tasks. Perform tasks such as driving a truck loaded with equipment or loading trucks with gear for transport to vessel(s).This position requires regular at-sea participation in fishery-independent research surveys working on deck of vessels for shifts exceeding 8 hours per day that may be irregular for survey durations. Total annual survey days at sea may range from 20 to possibly exceeding 100, depending on the position.CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:Sea duties are conducted in a demanding physical marine environment that involves sampling operations exposed to weather over long, odd hours, and moving and lifting equipment, up to 50lbs unassisted, or biological samples many times throughout the day, on an unsteady platform depending on sea state.Must be able to frequently stand for long periods of time, ascend and descend ladders, bend, and stoop to perform field operations.Requires ability to lift gear and deliver or pick up equipment from vessels.Incumbent will need to travel to a variety of regional locations to conduct field work, meet with collaborators, collect and evaluate data, and participate in scientific presentations.Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.Conditions of employmentKey Requirements:Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable ()Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.Additional Considerations:One year probationary period may be required.Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only.This position requires Low Risk Security Clearance. Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.NOTE: A one year probationary period will be required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee, who has completed their probationary period, and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.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).As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:Your performance and conduct;Needs and interests of the agency;Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; andWhether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.QualificationsQualification 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: BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:To qualify for the 0482 series:A. 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; andAt 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.)ORB. Combination of education and experience: 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.To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11 level: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 the collection, processing, or analysis of fish, fisheries, or oceanographic data;Applying statistical modeling, analytical tools and methods, and software programs (e.g. R, Python) to analyze fish and ecosystem survey or research data collected; andConducting field surveys or research in marine systems using trawl, dredge, hook and line, acoustic, optical (i.e. camera), or similar fishery independent survey methodologies from crewed or uncrewed platforms.ORSUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.ORCOMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements.Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower band level may be combined with experience.EducationCollege 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 th
