Duties

Summary

If you are ready to begin your new career or are looking for a place to make an impact, what better place than a top ranked agency in the federal government? We are looking for the best and brightest to join our team of dedicated professionals here at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where we are ranked in the top 5 in the Best Places to Work in the federal government rankings.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is seeking a highly motivated and qualified candidate for an exciting full-time permanent position within the Division of Hydropower Licensing in the Office of Energy Projects. The incumbent will serve as a Fish Biologist in the Washington, DC Office. To learn more about the Commission, please visit www.ferc.gov.
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Major duties include:

• Analyze moderately complex data on freshwater and/or marine fisheries, resident and anadromous fish, fish passage, water quality, instream flow and related aquatic biology matters as they relate to the construction, modification, operation, and maintenance of hydropower projects.
• Serve on multidisciplinary teams assigned to prepare staff environmental documents.
• Participate in meetings on complex marine and freshwater resident and anadromous fish biology, fish passage, instream flow, water quality, and related aquatic biology matters with attorneys, engineers, hydrologists, and biologists from licensees, applicants for license, and local, state, and federal agencies.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Moderate travel is required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must meet specialized experience.
• One year probationary period may be required.
• Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
• A background investigation is required.

Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Transcripts must be submitted at time of application. All required documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: If selected for this position, you will be required to: - Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment. - Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer. - Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program ( E-Verify ). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify .

Qualifications

Candidates must meet the educational requirements for Fish Biologist. Additionally, candidates at the GS-11 level must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-9 level or have completed requirements for a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; candidates at the GS-12 level must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level; candidates at the GS-13 level must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level.

Specialized Experience for the GS-11 is defined as experience preparing documents that assess fisheries issues.

Specialized Experience for the GS-12 is defined as experience preparing documents that assess moderately complex fisheries issues related to existing or proposed infrastructure projects.

Specialized Experience for the GS-13 is defined as experience preparing documents that assess complex fisheries issues related to existing or proposed infrastructure projects.


This position is INCLUDED in the bargaining unit.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement, and the office for that selection may vary.
Please note - only your resume and cover letter will be forwarded to the selecting official.

*This announcement will be used to fill vacancies through OPM-Authorized Government-Wide Direct Hire Authority. Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants DO NOT APPLY for this vacancy. For more information on OPM's Authorization of Direct Hire Authority, please visit the link below*:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Governmentwide-Authority

Education

For additional information on the education requirements of a Fish Biologist, please click the link below:

http://www.ferc.gov/careers/qualifications/0482.asp

Additional information

FERC is ranked in the top 5 among mid-size agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings. FERC has consistently ranked number 1 in Work/Life Balance, as well. As a leader in Work/Life Balance FERC is proud to offer telework flexibilities in accordance with agency policy. Telework is not guaranteed and is offered on a case-by-case basis. FERC does not currently have any 100 percent telework positions.

You must submit all required information by the closing date. If materials are not received, your resume will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. The materials you send with your resume will not be returned. If you are selected at a grade lower than the highest shown in this listing, you will be placed under a career development plan and can be non-competitively promoted when you successfully complete the requirements for the higher grade. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. You must submit all required information by the closing date. The materials you send with your resume will not be returned. If you are selected at a grade lower than the highest shown in this listing, you will be placed under a career development plan and can be non-competitively promoted when you successfully complete the requirements for the higher grade. Before entering on duty, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. Please use the following link for additional information: Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link" href="https://hru.gov/Studio_Recruitment/tools/Mythbuster_on_Federal_Hiring_Policies.pdf">Mythbusters of Federal Hiring Policies .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume, responses to the questionnaire and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your resume must address the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the Qualifications Section. If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. We will evaluate your qualifications and eligibility and notify you if you meet minimum qualification requirements. NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the competencies, also referred to as Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies:

• Demonstrated knowledge of marine and freshwater resident and anadromous fish, water quality, and related aquatic resources.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and present clear, concise and well-organized environmental documents, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated skills in analyzing complex marine and freshwater resident and anadromous fish biology, fish passage, instream flow, water quality, and related aquatic biology matters.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Please note that if you do not provide all required information by the closing of the announcement, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration, for which you may be eligible).

CTAP/ICTAP PRIORITY PROVISIONS: Current or former Federal employees who are or were on career or career conditional appointments may have special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To receive this consideration, applicants must be well qualified for the position to which applying. You will need to provide the Federal Agency Name and date of your Reduction in Force notice, what your most recent performance rating was and your position, grade level and duty location of your last SF-50. At time of appointment, you will be required to provide a copy of agency Reduction in Force notice, a copy of most recent performance rating and a copy of most recent SF-50. You must provide a statement of eligibility at the point of application.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION If you are Selected for the position and claiming veterans' preference, upon appointment you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. For more information on veterans' preference, go to the Vet Guide here.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.