Research Fish Biologist - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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 in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Fish Ecology Division (FEC), with 1 vacancy in Seattle, WA. Salary: ZP-3: $81,242 - $126,585 (Step 1 - Step 3) ZP-4: $115,793 - $177,885 (Step 1 - Step 3) NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01. Responsibilities Research Fish Biologist, you will perform the following duties: Serve as lead researcher of the development and application of life cycle models (LCM) for Pacific salmon and steelhead. Provides responsibility for all phases of research work using LCMs model survival and capacity for each life stage and follow population dynamics to estimate potential outcomes under a suite of stressors and mitigation activities across freshwater, estuary, and ocean habitats. Establish and nurture effective partnerships with internal and external scientists and resource managers from other National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offices, Federal and State agencies, academic institutions, Tribes and international institutions. As a senior expert, provides an authoritative source of technical guidance to other functional specialists both internal and external to the organization. Note: The duties above are described at the full performance level of ZP-4; the ZP-3 is developmental grade level leading to such performance. Requirements Conditions of Employment This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel Systems (CAPS). This system replace the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZP-03 is equivalent to the GS-11/12. The ZP-04 is equivalent to the GS 13/14. ZP-3 is a low risk security position. ZP-4 is a moderate risk security position. Relocation incentives may be authorized. Recruitment incentives may be authorized. This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is covered by #2274. Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Selectee may be subject to serving a three-year probationary period. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record. Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position? A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. 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. 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. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to travel regionally to meetings to coordinate research, field work site visits, field trips. 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: 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. 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet: Specialized experience: To qualify at the ZP-3 (GS-11/12) grade level: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 (GS-9) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Participating in research involving Pacific salmonids, in freshwater, estuary, or ocean habitats; Collecting and analyzing freshwater, estuary or ocean fish or habitat data using quantitative methods; and Assisting in reporting of research outcomes in reports and peer reviewed publications. 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. To qualify at the ZP-4 (GS-13/14) grade level: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Leading research projects developing and running life cycles models (LCM's) of Pacific salmon populations, in freshwater, estuary, or ocean habitats; Presenting and publishing results in peer reviewed journals as lead and co-author; and Working with diverse local, regional, tribal, and other agencies to plan, design and collaborate on LCM research. 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. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation. Additional Information CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. 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 uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. The Department of the Commerce (DOC) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.