JOB SUMMARY: The employee in this position serves as the Center Director of the San Marcos National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center, San Marcos, Texas. MAJOR DUTIES: The employee directs the establishment and management of refugia for listed fishes, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, and aquatic plants; the development of techniques and equipment to rear all life stages of these organisms; the compilation of life history and environmental requirement information on these organisms; the restoration of critical habitat for these organisms; the production of these organisms and associated non-listed species for restoration purposes; the monitoring of these organisms in the wild; and the monitoring, study, and management of aquatic nuisance species that effect the recovery of these organisms. The primary goal of the Center is the recovery of the listed species associated with the Edwards Aquifer and the San Marcos and Comal Springs. Of secondary concern are the listed organisms associated with west Texas springs, and listed fishes of north Texas, southern Oklahoma, and southern Arkansas. Direct supervision of the Uvalde National Fish Hatchery, located approximately 130 miles from the Center and propagating similar endangered species and sport fish is also under the Director. Center activities are regional in scope but have national and international importance. The San Marcos Center is one of the very few facilities in either federal or state management that has responsibility not just for fish. Its work involves some of the only protection now afforded to little known and difficult to rear or maintain fish, salamanders, plants (it is the only Service facility involved in the propagation of endangered aquatic plants on any scale necessary to support recovery), and beetles. All of these species without exception are dependent upon scarce aquatic resources that have been the subject of lawsuits since the 1950s. These water issues require creative approaches to species management, particularly at San Marcos where the only captive populations of these species exist. The incumbent interacts with regulatory agencies, state and federal courts, and the media in dealing with these species. Your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Plans, directs, coordinates, schedules, and controls the Center's short- and long-term work. Establishes hatchery policies and procedures. Plans, justifies, and administrates the Center's budget of more than $1.3 million annually obtained from multiple federal and state agencies in a complex mosaic of single source or matching funding from a variety of federal, state, and private sources to support the maintenance of endangered aquatic species and the research that is necessary to support the protection and ultimate recovery of those species. Collaborates with engineering and contracting specialists to plan, design, and /or redesign facilities, equipment, and systems to meet changing needs, conditions, and requirements, considering cost effectiveness and practical structural designs. Designs and conducts independent, technical, biological investigations and development work on hatchery methods directed at solving aquatic species culturing problems identified in the Center's work plans. Statistically analyzes data from those laboratory and field studies and reports the results, conclusions, and recommendations in professional fisheries management publications, aquaculture journals, technical bulletins, and trade papers. Supervises, directs, and trains a diverse staff of federal, state, and private scientists (GS-13 and below), technicians, students, administrative, and maintenance personnel. Ensures that all federal and state permits regulating the sensitive work done by Center's personnel are obtained and followed. Ensures quality of work permits, the publication of findings in peer-reviewed journals, and withstands scrutiny in federal and state courts. Serves as a principle technical expert authority in Region 2, responsible for communication, coordination, and activities related to aquatic species technology development, endangered species conservation and propagation, research and refugium coordination and monitoring, and population dynamics in the Region and is the principle representative on multi-state and multi-agency technical committees. Other responsibilities include working with the fish resources agencies in the four states, the Edwards Aquifer Authority and its habitat conservation commitments set forth in the Habitat Conservation Plan and Permit, the Texas Ecological Services Office, and aquaculture operations geographically located within geographic boundaries of the Region. IMPORTANT: Click the 'Apply for this job' button to view a complete job description.
