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Open: April 13, 2026 — Closes: April 20, 2026
Summary
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), with 6 vacancies in Anchorage, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Kodiak, Alaska; San Diego, California; Miami, Florida; Woods Hole, Massachusetts; Pascagoula, Mississippi; Beaufort, North Carolina; Newport, Oregon; Narragansett, Rhode Island; or Seattle, Washington.
Major Duties
As a Fish Biologist-Survey you will perform the following duties: Participate in studies on distribution, abundance, protected species, ecosystem processes or similar research, and subsequent post-survey laboratory processing of biological specimens collected during fishery-independent surveys. Collect and oversee sample collections, protected species and fishery observations, and data. Support fishery-independent resource operations through survey preparation and mobilization, data collection, demobilization, analysis, and research. Perform quantitative analyses, utilizing statistical procedures and software (e.g., Rstudio, ORACLE, SQL, ArgGIS, Python), related to fishery-independent survey design, assessing sampling gear efficiency, and biological and ecosystems processes. Assist in the preparation and coordination of fishery-independent resource surveys. Contribute to aspects of survey preparation and post-cruise efforts, including supply procurement, administrative tasks, and preparation of cruise instructions and cruise reports. NOTE: These duties are described at the ZP-2; the ZP-2 is developmental leading to the full performance level of the ZP-3. For more information about these positions, please visit the NOAA Fisheries is Hiring Webpage: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/careers-more/noaa-fisheries-hiring This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZA-2 is equivalent to the GS-07/09. This position has promotion potential to the ZA-3, which is equivalent to the GS-11/12. * Positions in Anchorage, AK; Juneau, AK; Kodiak, AK; Newport, OR; and Seattle WA may be covered under bargaining unit 2274. * Positions in Pascagoula, MS may be covered under bargaining unit 5627. * Positions in Miami, Fl; Pascagoula, MS; and Beaufort, NC may be covered under bargaining unit 2194. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle in completion of assigned tasks. Perform tasks such as driving a truck loaded with equipment or loading trucks with gear for transport to vessel(s). This position requires regular at-sea participation in fishery-independent research surveys working on deck of vessels for shifts exceeding 8 hours per day that may be irregular for survey durations. Total annual survey days at sea may range from 20 to possibly exceeding 100 total, depending on the position. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Sea duties are conducted in a demanding physical marine environment that involves sampling operations exposed to weather over long, odd hours, and moving and lifting equipment, up to 50lbs unassisted, or biological samples many times throughout the day, on an unsteady platform depending on sea state. Must be able to frequently stand for long periods of time, ascend and descend ladders, bend, and stoop to perform field operations. Requires ability to lift gear and deliver or pick up equipment from vessels. Incumbent will need to travel to a variety of regional locations to conduct field work, meet with collaborators, collect and evaluate data, and participate in scientific presentations.
