Biologist

Summary This position is a Biologist, GS-0401-9/11 working in Onalaska, Wisconsin for the R3-La Crosse Fish Health Center. Responsibilities As a Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Provide oversight and technical direction to part of the field and laboratory programs at the La Crosse Fish Health Center, including scheduling, planning and/or conducting hatchery inspections and laboratory work, directing technical staff, and inventorying supplies and reagents. Perform aquatic animal health inspections at fish hatcheries and other aquatic animal rearing facilities. Aquatic animal health inspection work is completed as required by the Services Aquatic Animal Health Policy, by state, Federal and tribal regulations, or by regional fish health guidelines. Consult and coordinate with fish biologists and other professionals to perform aquatic animal pathogen surveys on wild populations of aquatic animals and aquatic animal health inspections at fish hatcheries and other rearing facilities. Document samples collected and laboratory test results on the appropriate forms. Prepares Fish Health Inspection Reports, Laboratory Results reports, and Diagnostic Case Summary reports. Provide recommendations to hatchery personnel for the treatment of aquatic animal diseases, including therapeutic treatments and environmental modifications essential for the control or prevent aquatic animal diseases. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 10/08/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Possess a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Possess a combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification [GS-9] Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Assisting in performing field surveys and laboratory work to determine the health and status of aquatic animals (e.g., performing post-mortem diagnostic testing of aquatic animals, aquatic animal health inspections, and/or laboratory techniques to detect pathogens); 2) Participating in the development of reports, briefings, presentations, or training materials related to scientific studies and assessments for data collection, and testing for aquatic animal health; and 3) Working with partners, stakeholders or the general public to coordinate and implement aquatic animal health programs to identify and resolve technical and administrative issues of regional and national significance NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Possess two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a masters degree or masters or equivalent graduate degree in a field directly related to the work of the position. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. OR Possess a combination of education and experience as described in A and B above that when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. NOTE: To qualify under this option you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. Minimum Qualification [GS-11] Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1) Performing field surveys and laboratory work to determine the health and status of aquatic animals (e.g., performing post-mortem diagnostic testing of aquatic animals, aquatic animal health inspections, and/or laboratory techniques to detect pathogens); 2) Developing reports, briefings, presentations, or training materials related to scientific studies and assessments for data collection, and testing for aquatic animal health; and 3) Working with partners, stakeholders or the general public to plan, develop, coordinate, and implement aquatic animal health programs to identify and resolve technical and administrative issues of regional and national significance. NOTE: Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified. OR Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR an LL.M. (if related), with a major study that directly reflects the job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to satisfy the minimum qualification requirement and perform the duties of this position. OR Possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education (beyond the second year) that, in combination, satisfies 100% of the minimum requirement. 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. Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPMs Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements Performance rating of record review: All applicants must provide a copy of their current performance rating dated within the past 18 months verifying their performance is at a fully successful level or higher. Applicants who do not have a current rating of record available must provide a reason and certify that their performance is acceptable, and they have not been advised that their performance is currently at an unacceptable level. Applicants who have an unsuccessful performance rating, or who have certified that their performance is not at an acceptable level will not be eligible for hiring consideration. 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 institutions 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 schools 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): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. See “How to Apply” for more information on CTAP. The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures. Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s). Current appointees: Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND Must have performed at an acceptable level. Former appointees: Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; Must apply for position within 2 years after separation; Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND Must have performed at an acceptable level. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.