Supervisory Research Fish Biologist

Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), with 1 vacancy in Miami, FL; or Beaufort, NC.

Duties

• As a Supervisory Research Fish Biologist, you will perform the following duties: Serve as Division Director of the Sustainable Fisheries Division (SFD) at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). Responsible for developing and coordinating scientific advice in support of the Gulf of Fishery Management Council, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Highly Migratory Species (HMS), and the International Commission for the Conversation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Serve as a member of the SEFSC Senior Management Team, engaging in productive and collaborative discussions to achieve the SEFSC mission. Participate on inter-agency and intra-agency planning and coordination teams. Serve as agency spokesperson and foster cooperation within the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and with outside agencies, including constituents. Exercise delegated managerial authority for the development of annual activity and staffing plans, with the aim of executing priority activities in support of the Department's Strategic Goals and SEFSC Director's Annual Guidance Memorandum. Provide leadership in planning and executing a multi-million-dollar annual budget. Ensure the division complies with legal and reporting obligations, the Privacy Act, and other applicable statutes, including the requirements of governmental and other suppliers of data to the Agency, to ensure the confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information and Business Identifiable Information. Direct the completion of stock assessments, management strategy evaluations, related research and other special projects. Identify important issues relating to science-based management of marine resources and ecosystems, and engage in research to address them, either individually or as part of a team. Ensure SFD is responsive to information needs of the Councils and their subsidiary bodies and the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office. Guide development of research reports, manuscripts, and peer-review publications by staff. Participate on inter-agency and intra-agency planning and coordination teams. Serve as agency spokesperson and foster cooperation within the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and with outside agencies, including constituents. Serve as the reviewing official on evaluations of nonsupervisory employees rated by subordinate supervisors. Make or approve selections for subordinate nonsupervisory positions and recommend selections for subordinate supervisory positions and for work leader, group leader, or project director positions responsible for coordinating the work of others. Hear and resolve grievances or employee complaints and review and approve serious disciplinary actions involving nonsupervisory subordinates. Maximize employee performance through leveraging individual talent and maintaining a culture of performance, accountability and collaboration. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZP-5 is equivalent to the GS-15. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

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. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements: To qualify for the 0482 series: EDUCATION: A. Degree: 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 B. 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. -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, 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. To qualify at the ZP-5 or GS-15 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-4 or GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Coordinating or directing a research program or project involving marine ecosystem or fisheries science; and Coordinating the sharing of scientific information or guidance between stakeholders.

Requirements

Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Additional Considerations: One year probationary period may be required. Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized. A one year supervisory probationary period may be required (probationary period can be served concurrently). Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only. This position requires Moderate Risk Security Clearance. Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Therefore, Current Federal employees would be given new appointments to the civil service and may have to serve a new probationary period under CFR 315.802 (b). NOTE: A one year probationary period will be required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee; and are in the same line of work; have previously completed a probationary period; and with no more than a 30 day break in service. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; Needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy. College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), name of accredited institution, course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken. Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty. Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the blue "Apply Online" button. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.