Location: Iron River,WI, USA
Summary This position is a Fish Biologist, GS- 0482-11/12 working in Iron River, WI, for the Iron River National Fish Hatchery. Responsibilities As a Fish Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Hatchery Operations: providing technical and operational oversight, training, guidance, and assistance to staff and volunteers engaged in station operations and maintenance; monitoring fish health, growth, and quality, and implementing corrective measures or administering therapeutic and prophylactic treatments; assisting with formulation, implementation, and evaluation of production and distribution plans; collaborating to identify and overcome obstacles to successfully culture and propagate aquatic species in a challenging rearing environment. Projects and Investigations: planning, developing, and conducting studies and investigations, developing diagnostic protocols, and recording experimental fish culture data such as those related to using hormones and testing new and modified pharmaceuticals, fungicides, and other pesticides. Supervision: working with the Hatchery Manager to hire, direct, assign, promote, reward, suspend, discipline, or remove employees; scheduling, assigning, and directing work; administering supervisory personnel functions; evaluating work performance; taking necessary action to ensure work meets quality and quantity standards. Outreach: working in conjunction with the Project Leader to develop and implement the hatchery outreach program by providing tours, making presentations, speaking to various organizations and groups, maintaining the hatchery visitor center, and conducting fishing events; planning, scheduling, attending, and conducting meetings with elected officials (local, county, state, Congressional), varying levels of government units (local, state, federal), interest groups (landowners, county, state bureaus, state and national environmental groups). Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 11/18/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Degree with a 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; AND at 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.). OR A combination of education and experience that includes 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. This combination of education and experience is comparable to that which would be normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study as described above. Minimum Qualification [GS-11] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service performing work in or directly related to Fish Biology. Specialized experience includes carrying out daily activities of hatchery production operations; propagating cold, cool and/or warm water aquatic species; assisting in program planning and budget preparation; observing fish for signs of stress or disease and initiating the appropriate steps to alleviate stress or treat disease; maintaining records of fish production and distribution. OR Three years of progressively higher-level graduate level education leading to a Ph.D. -OR- possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major study in or directly related to fisheries/aquatics.. OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Minimum Qualification [GS-12] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing work in or directly related to Fish Biology. Specialized experience includes planning and carrying out daily activities of hatchery production operations; propagating cold, cool and warm water aquatic species; program planning and budget preparation; developing and carrying out hatchery work plans; planning and conducting fisheries studies, including design, collection, and analysis of biological data related to fish culture, fishery resources, and fish health. 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. Education PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information PCS INFORMATION: Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable. In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale. Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP or ICTAP applicants must be determined to be well-qualified for this position in order to receive special selection priority. To be well-qualified, a CTAP or ICTAP applicant must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least 85 on the questionnaire. For more information visit: OPM's Employee Guide to Career Transition Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.