Fish Biologist

This is a fish biologist position located in the mountains of beautiful White Sulphur Springs, WV working with rainbow trout at a National Broodstock Facility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The hatchery provides 3-8 million eggs annually to federal, state and tribal partners across the nation. The primary responsibilities will be to provide support for hatchery operations, outreach and a variety of issues relating to the management and conservation of fish and aquatic species.

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5 , White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. At the full performance level (GS-11) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Develop and review comprehensive hatchery management plans and coordinate with other fishery programs that affect biological resources such as fish culture, hatchery quality control, fishery management assistance, and assessing fish populations. Plan and conduct a wide variety of complex investigations, including data design, collection and analysis of biological data to evaluate fish culture techniques, land and water impacts and assist with implementing hatchery reform initiatives. Plan and conduct a wide variety of complex investigations, including the design, collection and analysis of biological data pertaining to species reared and released from National Fish Hatcheries. Plan and conduct inspections and evaluations of existing projects to ensure legal standards and other requirements are met. Communicate and coordinate with the public, partners, agencies and Tribes; present project results at meetings and respond to inquiries consistent with Service policies. The White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. Salary Information GS-07: Step 1: $50,460 - Step 10: $65,599 per annum. GS-09: $61,722 - Step 10: $80,243 per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

You must be a U.S. Citizen. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the 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 the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. 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: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements. Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. 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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4