Merakey Jobs

Summary This position is a Fish Biologist, GS- 0482-11 working in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for the R3-La Crosse Fish Health Center. Responsibilities As a Fish Biologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Incumbent provides 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. Incumbent performs aquatic animal health inspections at National Fish Hatcheries and other aquatic animal rearing facilities operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Midwest Region. Aquatic animal health inspection work is completed as required by the Service's Aquatic Animal Health Policy, by state, Federal and tribal regulations, and by regional fish health guidelines such as the Great Lakes Model Program for Fish Health. Works with fish biologists and other professionals to perform aquatic animal pathogen surveys on wild populations of aquatic animals. Consults and cooperates with external partners to complete aquatic animal fish health inspections and examinations on non-Service hatcheries and rearing facilities, as appropriate. Conducts diagnostic investigations into disease outbreaks of aquatic animals at National Fish Hatcheries and other aquatic animal rearing facilities operated by the Service, at aquatic animal rearing facilities operated by Service partners, as appropriate, and in wild populations of aquatic animals. Prepares and/or reviews Health Management Plans for National Fish Hatcheries and/or tribal fish hatcheries. Documents the samples collected on the appropriate forms. Prepares reports of laboratory test results. Provides written and verbal summary reports of diagnostic cases. Reports are provided to the Project Leader, hatchery staff, and other appropriate staff, as necessary. Provides technical advice and assistance to hatchery personnel for the treatment of aquatic animal diseases. Recommends therapeutic treatments and environmental modifications essential for the control of fish diseases at National Fish Hatcheries or other aquatic animal rearing facilities operated by the Service, and at aquatic animal rearing facilities operated by Service partners, as appropriate. Works closely with hatchery managers and staff to prevent and control aquatic animal diseases by developing integrated management programs to solve production problems, to improve the quality and survival of aquatic animals reared at rearing facilities, and to evaluate aquatic animal health operations fish hatcheries and other rearing facilities. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 06/03/2024 will be considered. IIn order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: A degree with a 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. OR 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. Minimum Qualification GS-11 One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience includes fish biology work that provides the opportunity to apply professional knowledge and skill carrying out daily activities of aquatic animal health operations, including performing fish health inspections at fish hatcheries, performing post-mortem diagnostics of aquatic animals, performing and interpreting assays for the detection and identification of aquatic animal pathogens, making treatment recommendations based on the results of post-mortem diagnostic necropsy of aquatic animals and/or laboratory tests. OR Three years of progressively higher-level graduate level education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a major study related to fisheries/aquatics. OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the 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. 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 institution's 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 school's 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. For teleworkers, their official duty station is the agency worksite (e.g., Main Interior Building) as they are expected to report to the regular worksite at least twice a pay period. 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) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP or ICTAP applicants must be determined to be well-qualified for this position in order to receive special selection priority. To be well-qualified, a CTAP or ICTAP applicant must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least 85 on the questionnaire. For more information visit: OPM's Employee Guide to Career Transition Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.