Supervisory Research Fish Biologist

About the role

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.

What you will do

• 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.

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 (***) 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 you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Additionally, you will be evaluated using a Job Knowledge Test. The Job Knowledge Test is designed to assess technical and professional expertise directly relevant to the requirements of this announcement.

This assessment measures the specialized knowledge and skills accumulated over time, which are critical for successful performance in this position. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Veteran's Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: ***

Documents you must provide

• REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments): 1.
• Resume: Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted.
• Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• Reference the USAJobs Help Center for additional recommendations and instructions.
• You are encouraged to make your resume and profile searchable ***
• You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume.
• If you use your own resume or curriculum vitae, for each work experience at a minimum, your resume should include; job title(s) (including job series and grade, if Federal); description of duties or work performed; starting and ending dates (month and year).
• Part-Time work must be clearly identified and include the number of hours per week; if not identified, then work will be assumed to be Full-Time.
• (NOTE: A full-time work schedule requires most employees to work 33-40 hours during the work week.
• A part-time schedule requires an employee to work less than full-time, typically 16-32 hours per week.) 2.
• Unofficial Transcripts: This position has a positive education requirement and therefore, requires proof of higher education.
• Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities.
• Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.
• You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.
• Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation if applicable (see "Additional Information" section).

What to expect next

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other equivalent positions throughout the Federal government. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, equivalent grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement). Salary ranges will vary based on the location.

Please visit: OPM Salary Charts for specific salary information related to a specific location. You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable.

You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking on "Track Your Online Application." The four points of notification are: Application Received Application assessed for qualification; Referred or Not Referred; and Selected or Not Selected.

By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment.

The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, proof of disability, etc.).

Additional information

During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Salary for selectee's pay may be set at any point within the pay band except for intervals 4 and 5 ($192,332 - $197,200) which is reserved for supervisory performance or for current supervisors within CAPS who already have a salary within intervals 4 and 5. ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that the applicant is well qualified.

Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

NOAA participates in e-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.