Biologist

**Duties**:
**As a Biologist, you will perform the following duties**:

- Provide guidance and oversight in planning, monitoring, and policy development for the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Incidental Take Program, including QA/QC, management of designated sub-programs, staff training, and development and implementation of measures, processes, and analyses to increase effectiveness of the program.
- Collect, synthesize, and critically evaluate biological and other scientific data and literature to assess impacts of human activities on marine mammals and develop/evaluate mitigation and monitoring to support agency findings and ensure compliance with applicable statutes.
- Process MMPA incidental take authorization (ITA) requests pursuant to Section 101(a)(5) of the MMPA, which includes conducting analysis and drafting documents for the administrative record to ensure science, policy, and statutory standards are met, and ensuring ITA compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
- Communicate scientific analyses, program policies, requirements, and issues to the public and other Federal Agencies, as well as to other NOAA programs and leadership.

**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:
**This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 3 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.**
***
**This position's duty location is being advertised for a location negotiable after selection with remote work. Salary listed above is the base salary for this position. The salary range indicated will be adjusted to include locality payment for selectee's duty station.**

**This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel Systems (CAPS). This system replace the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.**

The ZP-4** is equivalent to the GS-13/14.**
- A one year trial period may be required.
- Payment of relocation expenses **is not** authorized.

** This position is not in in the bargaining unit.**

**Key Requirements**:

- Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
- More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

**Qualifications**:

**EDUCATION**:
**Degree**: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
- **OR**

**Combination of education and experience**: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown 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-4 (GS-13/14) grade level**:
**SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE**: In addition to meeting the basic requirements applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

- Contributing to processes or analyses to achieve compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act or the Endangered Species Act;
- Developing policies or procedures to address compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, or the National Environmental Policy Act; and
- Analyzing scientific data or policies, and preparing technical documentation related to the conservation and protection of marine animals.

**Education**:
**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.**

**Additional information**:
**CTAP** applicants MUST submit the following documents:

- A 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);
- A copy of your SF-5