Job Title: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Department: Department Of The Interior
Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Job Announcement Number: PH-NM-11-500390

JOB SUMMARY:

 



Back to top  DutiesAdditional Duty Location Info:

1 vacancy - STAMFORD, CT

 

As a Fish & Wildlife Biologist, you will serve as the liaison to the Southern New England-New York Bight Coastal Program (SNEP) in Stamford, CT.  Duties include:

• Designing, implementing, and managing biological programs involving natural resources of national or international significance;
• Serving as the core team member for developing and supporting strategic landscape conservation through GIS applications;
• Delivering briefings and making recommendations to higher level management on the technical aspects of assigned projects; and
• Interpreting and applying Federal laws and regulations related to the conservation of wetlands, fish and wildlife habitats, and endangered species

Back to top  Qualifications and EvaluationsQUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

In order to be qualified for this position, you must meet the basic requirement:

A. Have Bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.  - OR -

B. Have a combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

 

In addition, in order to qualify at the GS-11 level, you must possess one of the following:

A.  One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service assisting in the creation of or independently modifying a Geographic Information System for the analysis of natural resource or similar scientific data; applying a variety of conservation and environmental protection laws in order to carryout resource management projects;  analyzing data to provide recommendations to management on the need for conservation/protection of wildlife or natural resources; drafting summary reports of study findings for review by management; and delivering technical briefings to internal and external audiences. - OR - 

B.  A PhD in biology, natural resource management, or a closely related field. - OR -

C. A combination of experience as described in “A” and graduate education as described in “B” that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement.  (Please note that only graduate education in excess of the first two years (36 semester hours) may be used in this calculation.)

In addition, in order to be qualified at the GS-12 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 or higher grade level in the Federal service developing and maintaining a Geographic Information System for the analysis of natural resource or similar scientific data; interpreting and applying a variety of conservation and environmental protection laws in order to carryout resource management projects;  analyzing data to provide recommendations to management on the need for conservation/protection of wildlife or natural resources; coordinating research activities with a multi-organization, interdisciplinary team; and preparing technical papers and presentations for publication and presentation to the public.

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.  Unless otherwise stated: (1) unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Foreign Education: For education completed in foreign colleges or universities to be used to meet qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Only experience obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

All new employees of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay prior to appointment.

New employees who are expected to travel on official business are required to apply for a Government travel charge card within 30 days of their appointment.

A background security investigation MAY be required for all new hires.  Appointment 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.

Appointment to this position may require a one-year probationary period.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

To determine if you are among the best qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire.  Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.  The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position.  Please follow the instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect your category assignment.  Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Knowledge of ecological principles and ecosystem practices

  Skill in the use of Geographic Information Systems

  Skill in oral communication

Back to top  Benefits and Other Info

BENEFITS:

The Federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits to its employees. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees. http://www.usajobs.gov/EI/benefits.asp

OTHER INFORMATION:

1.  If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.  For more information on veterans’ preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

 

2.  Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see www.sss.gov ).

3.  Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):  For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap.  To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. 

4.  If you are eligible for a special appointment authority, such as those authorized for the severely disabled and certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans, and you meet the qualification requirements for this position, you may be able to receive additional consideration for this position under a non-competitive hiring authority. Please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5, Human Resources Office in Hadley, MA.   (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ma/ro.html)

For information regarding eligibility for special appointment authorities, refer to the following OPM website: http://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp.

Back to top  How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Résumé

2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire

3. Other supporting documents:

         - Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable

   - College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Thursday, August 04, 2011.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

Note: To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application you may use the following link: https://applicationmanager.gov/.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID 500390.   Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the assessment questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaireand
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the assessment questionnaire http://www.opm.gov./forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf and
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144. Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

For this job announcement the following documents are required: 

• Resume
• Transcripts, if qualifying based on education 
• Qualifications Questionnaire
• Veterans documentation, if applicable

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Philadelphia Services Branch Phone: (215)861-3074 Email: PHILADELPHIA@OPM.GOV

Agency Information: Philadelphia Services Branch US Office of Personnel Management 600 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 USA

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.