Ocean Career: Research Fish Biologist at NOAA

Supervisory Research Fish Biologist

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), Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division, Recruitment Processes Program (RPP) with one vacancy located in Seattle, WA.

As a Supervisory Research Fish Biologist, you will performing the following duties:

• Leads and directs the Recruitment Processes Program's (RPP) science contribution to the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) mission.
• Works with Division and Center leadership to vision the future science direction for the Recruitment Processes Program based on management and stakeholder needs.
• Responsible for all management and administrative functions of the RPP.
• Co-leads the Eco-FOCI Program, a joint research program between the AFSC and the Pacific Marine Environmental Lab, which examines the role of physical and biological environmental factors on marine ecosystems and fisheries
• Conducts own research that advances the development of ecosystem-based management of marine resources and understanding of the effects of climate change on Alaska ecosystems.
• Maintains own scientific expertise and literacy through participation in scientific projects, service on scientific steering committees, and national or international working groups.
• Provides supervision and mentoring to RPP staff and oversight of contractors, associates, students and volunteers.
• Works with staff to enhance their abilities and improve our understanding of fisheries, marine ecosystems, and climate change on the marine ecosystems of Alaska.

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
• 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-04 is equivalent to the GS-13/14. The full performance level of the position is ZP-04 or GS-13/14.

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.

To qualify for the 0482 series:

Basic Requirements:
This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified.

You MUST meet the following basic education 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 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, Ameri Corps) 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:

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…