Job Listing: FISHERY BIOLOGIST

Duty Locations

 1 vacancy - Yellowstone Natl Park, WY

Experience your America and build a fulfilling career by joining the National Park Service. The National Park Service preserves unimpaired, the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

This announcement may be used to fill one temporary Fishery Biologist, GS-0482-11, position in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This appointment is expected last 12 months, although the position may be terminated sooner or extended another year depending on management needs.  Management may use this announcement to fill other Fishery Biologist, GS-0482-11, positions including full-time and/or part-time permanent, temporary, and/or term.

VETERANS CLAIMING PREFERENCE must submit appropriate documentation at time of application.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT WHEN APPLYING. You may preview and/or print the entire announcement by scrolling down and selecting the "Print Preview" button.  Yellowstone National Park no longer directly accepts applications/resumes or application materials; please review the announcement to learn how to submit application materials.

Major Duties

This position is in the Yellowstone Center for Resources Division of Yellowstone National Park. The incumbent will be expected to effectively lead the lake trout program on Yellowstone Lake so that annual suppression goals of nonnative trout are met. The employee will supervise multiple crews consisting of Biological Technicians (Fisheries) and Student Conservation Association volunteers. Duties will include training and mentoring subordinate staff to ensure thier safety while working in potentially hazardous conditions. The incumbent will oversee operations of the Fisheries Aquatic Sciences facilities at Lake Village including all equipment, vehicles, and boats. Coordinate with local leadership of other park divisions to ensure safety of staff on Yellowstone Lake and continued maintenence of housing, office and shop facilities, and equipment in the Lake area.  A flexible schedule that includes long days and weekend work can be expected.
Physical Demands:
Normal activities include sitting; standing; working in an office, laboratory, or meeting environment; and travel by motor vehicle or watercraft. Fieldwork will require satnding and maintaining balance for long hors while on a large boat in inclement weather. Bending, lifting objects, and carrying equipment of variable weights will be required. This position requires the ability to carry large containers filled with gillnets weighing over 50 pounds for long periods of time and the ability to pull nets weighing as much as 100 pounds. Applicants selected for these positions will be required to obtain a physical examination from a physician prior to appointment. The government will reimburse the cost of the physical.
Applicants must possess a valid state driver's license. Please provide verification by completing the Yellowstone Driver Information Form (see Required Documents section for web link).
DUE TO BOAT OPERATING DUTIES, TENTATIVE SELECTEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO URINALYSIS TO SCREEN FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT AND THEN MAY BE SUBJECT TO RANDOM ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING DURING THEIR EMPLOYMENT AS DIRECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR GUIDELINES.

How to Apply

Applying for this position requires you to:

1) Complete the Assessment Questionnaire and;

2) Submit a resume and any applicable supporting documentation (see Required Documents section).

We encourage you to complete both of these steps online. Applying online is the most efficient and effective way to ensure your application is received and processed in a timely manner.  If you cannot submit all application materials online, you may submit some documents online and some offline.  For example, you may be able to submit the questionnaire and resume online but do not have an electronic copy of your transcripts.  In this case, you may submit the questionnaire and resume online and send the transcripts via fax. 

 

How to Submit An Online Application

Option 1

The USAJOBS web site provides a "Create a Resume" feature that you may use to develop and submit a resume for this position. The completed resume can be attached to this vacancy announcement and submitted electronically. To do so, scroll down to the end of the vacancy announcement. Click on the "Apply Online" icon. Then follow the USAJOBS web site instructions. If you need to create or edit a resume, you will need to click on the "Apply Online" icon again in order to upload your new or edited resume and answer the questionnaire. Your resume will be attached only to the online Assessment Questionnaire you complete and Submit from this session, not to any Questionnaires you may already have Saved or Submitted. If you do not have all the requested documents stored in the USAJOBS resume builder you will be able to upload the rest of your documents and/or fax the remaining documents, such as veterans preference or transcript documentation. See information below for how to fax supporting documentation. 

OR

Option 2

If your resume is going to be one you prepared outside of the USAJOBS Resume Builder, click this link to begin the process: Online Questionnaire.  You will fill out the online Assessment Questionnaire and be able to upload documents through a browse feature.  After the assessment questionnaire is submitted, you will receive a notice that indicates the submission was successful.

 

All resumes must be submitted by midnight Eastern time on the closing date.

 

Note to New Users: The USAJOBS Resume Builder and the online questionnaire utilize two separate software systems (USAJOBS and Application Manager, respectively). Therefore, if you use the resume builder, you will create two accounts with unique user names and passwords for each system.

 

Instructions for answering the questions in the online Assessment Questionnaire:

You may omit any optional information; however, you must provide responses to all required questions. Be sure to double check your application before submission by viewing your answers before submitting your answers.  You must click the "Submit Your Answers" button when you are done.  Follow the instructions that appear on the screen until you receive an acknowledgment that your answers have been successfully submitted. The online Assessment Questionnaire must be completed and submitted by 12:00 midnight Eastern time on Thursday, April 10, 2008.

 

How to properly save and return to complete your online Assessment Questionnaire:

If you want to "Save" an incomplete online Assessment Questionnaire and return later, select the "Save" button at the top or bottom of each of the application pages and click the "Logout" button.

If you have "Saved" an incomplete online Assessment Questionnaire, you may finish it and/or upload documents by clicking on or inserting this link into your internet browser https://www.ApplicationManager.org. Insert your USAStaffing Application Manager User Name and Password and click the "Go" button. Once you are logged in, click on the Vacancy ID number on which you would like to work.

If you submit more than one online Assessment Questionnaire for this position, the most recent one submitted is the one that is used. Therefore, it is important for you to complete it in its entirety.

 

How to Verify Your Application Materials Have Been Successfully Submitted

1. Go to https://www.ApplicationManager.org and log in using your USAStaffing Application Manager User Name and Password.

2. Verify that your questionnaire, resume, and supporting documents were submitted successfully by clicking on the appropriate Vacancy ID.

3. Verify that all of your documents where submitted by reviewing the table.

- If an Item (Type of Document) on the table appears with a status of "OK", that Item was successfully submitted.  Veterans Please Note: Submittal of veteran documentation is REQUIRED.  VETERANS MUST SUBMIT VETERAN DOCUMENTATION AT TIME OF APPLICATION.

 

Faxing Documents OR What To Do If You Cannot Apply Online

Your application and all supporting documents must be submitted online and/or by fax.  Yellowstone National Park will NOT accept mailed applications.  We encourage you to submit your assessment questionnaire, resume, and supporting documentation online. Applying online is the most efficient and effective way to ensure your application is received and processed in a timely manner.

 

If you are able to complete the assessment questionnaire online, as outlined above, but unable to submit your resume/supporting documentation online, you may fax all or part of your other documentation to the Office of Personnel Management office in Macon, GA. If you fax your resume/documentation you must use a special cover page. To print a copy of the required cover page insert this internet address into your browser http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf. The information contained on the cover page must match the information you provided on the assessment questionnaire. The vacancy ID number YL183805, your name, and SSN should be written accurately and neatly in large block letters. This special cover page is used to match your documents with the record you established when you submitted the online assessment questionnaire. If the information is inaccurate or incomplete you may not receive consideration for this position. The fax number to submit your documents is: 1-478-757-3144. Each page of electronically transmitted applications/resume must contain identifying information of the applicant (name, SSN) and the vacancy announcement number.

 

Likewise, you may submit your assessment questionnaire by fax.  To complete the assessment questionnaire in hard copy form, click this link to print a copy of the OPM Form1203-FX or insert or type this internet address into your browser http://www.opm.gov./Forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf   You can also obtain a copy of the OPM Form 1203-FX by calling USAJOBS by phone at (703)724-1850. Print a copy of this job announcement and use the Form 1203-FX as a response sheet when answering the assessment questionnaire portion of this announcement. 

 

Social Security Number

Enter your Social Security Number in the space provided.  Providing your Social Security Number is voluntary; however, we cannot process your application without it.

Vacancy Identification Number

Enter the Vacancy Identification Number: YL183805

1. Title of Job

Enter Position Title: FISHERY BIOLOGIST

2. Biographic Data

All biographic data is required, except for your telephone number and the contact time.

3. E-Mail Address

Optional. You may be notified of results by e-mail.  If your e-mail blocks unfamiliar incoming e-mail messages, you may not receive important notifications regarding this job announcement.

4. Work Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

5. Employment Availability

Check all that apply to you.  Please leave section E blank.

6. Citizenship

Are you a citizen of the United States?
7. Background Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

8. Other Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

9. Languages

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

10. Lowest Grade

Enter the lowest grade level that you will accept.

11
11. Miscellaneous Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

12. Special Knowledge

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

13. Test Location

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

14. Veteran Preference Claim

Required. Enter your claim for veterans' preference.

Claimed veterans' preference must be substantiated at the time of application to a federal position. Therefore, you must submit the following documentation with your application to ensure you receive proper preference and consideration.

For 5-point preference - A copy of your DD-214 will be required to support your claim for 5-point preference based on active duty service in the armed forces.

For 10-point preference - A copy of your DD-214, a Standard Form 15 (SF-15, Claim for 10-point Veterans' Preference), AND all required proof listed on the reverse side of the SF-15 are required to support your claim for 10-point preference.

30% or more disabled veteran: A copy of your DD-214 must be submitted along with verification of percent of disability (current letter from the Veterans' Administration).

15. Dates of Active Duty - Military Service

These dates are required if you have claimed veterans' preference unless you have claimed derived preference (i.e., widow, spouse, etc.)  Please use this format: mm/dd/yyyy.  You may leave this blank if you are not claiming veteran's preference.

16. Availability Date

You may omit the availability date if you can begin work immediately.  Otherwise, you must provide the date that you will be available for employment.  Please use this format:  mm/dd/yyyy.

17. Service Computation Date

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

18. Other Date Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

19. Job Preference

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

20. Occupational Specialties

Enter the following occupational specialty code for this position, if it hasn't already been entered for you.

001 Gillnetting Program Management
21. Geographic Availability

Enter the following geographic availability code for this position, if it hasn't already been entered for you.

0469 Yellowstone Natl Park, WY
22. Transition Assistance Plan

In this section indicate if you are a surplus or displaced federal employee requesting special priority consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP).

Note:  Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection.  CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified by attaining an eligibility rating of 85 or higher, not including points for veterans' preference.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP.  This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of the most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty station.  Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.

23. Job Related Experience

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

24. Personal Background Information

The following information is needed to determine if our recruitment efforts are reaching all segments of the country, as required by federal law.  Your voluntary responses are treated in a highly confidential manner.  They are not released to the selecting official, to anyone else who can affect your application, or to the public.  Thank you for helping us provide better service.

Please identify yourself by checking all that apply:

01 I am of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.02 My ethnic race is American Indian or Alaska Native. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.03 My ethnic race is Asian. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.04 My ethnic race is Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.05 My ethnic race is Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.06 My ethnic race is White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
25. Occupational/Assessment Questions:

1. This is a professional position and the following minimum education is required to be considered qualified for this position. From the descriptions below, select the one response that best describes how your background meets the basic education requirements for the Fishery Biologist, GS-0482-11 position. Read all the responses before making your selection. If you leave this question blank, you will be rated ineligible.

A. I have a degree in a 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.)

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of college courses taken that identify for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed.

B. I have a combination of education and experience--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.

C. I do not have the education or combination of education and experience described above.

2. From the descriptions below, select the one response that best describes how your background meets the basic experience or education requirements for the Fishery Biologist, GS-0482-11 position. Read all the responses before making your selection. If you leave this question blank, you will be rated ineligible.

A. I have at least one full year of specialized experience that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been related to the work of the position and equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal service.

B. I have successfully completed at least three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in fishery biology or other appropriate degree for this position. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

C. I have a qualifying combination of education and experience. NOTE: You must first determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience requirement (A), then determine your education as a percentage of the required graduate education requirement (B). The combination of education and experience must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for this grade level.

D. I do not have the experience, education, or combination of education and experience described above.

3. SELECTIVE FACTOR: This vacancy will be filled with an individual who has demonstrated gillnetting program leadership skills in maximizing harvest of an alien fish species while minimizing harvest of a native fish species. Applicants must demonstrate experience with this requirement and document it in their resume to be considered qualified for the position. If you do not meet the requirements of this selective factor, you will be rated ineligible.

A. YES, I possess gillnetting program leadership skills, including experience in maximizing harvest of an alien fish species while at the same time ensuring continued survival of a native fish species and have documented this in my resume.

B. NO, I do not possess these skills.

Indicate your level of experience, education, and/or training as it relates to your ability to perform fishery biology functions.

For each task listed below, select the statement from A through E that best describes your level of experience, education, and/or training. If you leave any question blank, your score will be negatively impacted.

A- I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B- I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C- I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D- I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

E- I am considered an expert in performing this task; or I have supervised performance of this task or am normally an individual who is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise

4. Leading projects involving multiple trout species.

5. Implementing a rigorous fish removal effort.

6. Sampling fishes on high elevation (>6000') lakes using gill nets.

7. Removing otoliths (ear-bones) from fish and prepping for age analysis.

8. Maintaining data integrity by using Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) methods.

9. Operating boats exceeding 30' length.

10. Use of sonar and radar for navigation on large water bodies.

11. Deployment, retrieval, assembly, and repair of large gillnets (>1800') in deep (>150') water.

12. Altering sampling design to maximize fish harvest.

13. Working on a large lake in extreme snow and freezing rain conditions.

14. Ensuring staff safety in extremely remote locations.

15. Arrange/facilitate and assign housing for subordinate staff.

16. Supervising crew leaders of a complex fish removal program.

17. Independently planning, organizing and scheduling tasks and work schedules.

18. Facilitating the participation of volunteer workers with a wide range of abilities and needs.

19. Coordinating with national park support staff to ensure fisheries program facilities are maintained.

20. Communicating controversial issues to the public.

21. Representing a fisheries program at interagency meetings.

22. Collaborating with university scientists on mission critical fisheries research projects.

23. Authoring technical fisheries reports.

 

Faxed applications to Yellowstone National Park will not be accepted. Mailed (including e-mailed) applications will not be considered.

If you submit materials by one method (i.e., online or fax) do not submit the same material by another method. If you do, it creates duplicate records that delay the processing of your application.

 

Your application materials will not be returned, so please do not submit original documents that you may need in the future. Also, do not submit position descriptions.

Required Documents:

The following documents are REQUIRED in addition to completion of the Assessment Questionnaire.

Resume
Yellowstone Driver's Form (requested) see web link below for form
Transcripts
For Veterans: DD-214
For Disabled Veterans: DD-214, SF-15, and appropriate Veterans' Affairs letter  

Yellowstone Employment Forms

Contact Information:
Melanie Moroney

Phone: (307)344-2052

Email: yell_usastaffing@nps.gov


Or write:
Human Resources Office
MAILED APPLICATIONS NOT ACCEPTED
PO Box 168
Yellowstone NP, WY 82190


What To Expect Next:

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made, and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. The rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. This score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of this position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your score may be adjusted to accurately reflect your abilities.

 

Once the online assessment questionnaire is accepted, you will receive an acknowledgment e-mail that your submission was successful. After a review of your completed application is made, you will be notified of your rating. If your name is among the best qualified candidates, your name will be referred to the agency hiring official for consideration. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted by the agency.