SUPERVISING BIOLOGIST, FISHERIES

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the direction of a supervisory official in the Department of Environmental Protection, has responsibility for coordinating and implementing Statewide programs related to fisheries management; supervises staff involved in biological research and data analysis related to fisheries management; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Coordinates scientific research, propagation, and other programs relating to fisheries management.
• Supervises staff involved in biological research and data analysis relating to fisheries management.
• Organizes assigned technical and supervisory work, analyzes problems and the possible impacts of activities outside the program or installation, and develops appropriate and coordinated work schedules and procedures for staff.
• Supervises Federal aid projects, to ensure their compliance with Federal and other applicable requirements.
• Establishes parameters for capital improvement and environmental assessment projects.
• Reviews and comments on legislation, proposed regulations, reports, and other material on fisheries matters by governmental and private organizations, and makes recommendations.
• Organizes and drafts annual reports, codes, registers, and other materials.
• Acts as Division representative to State, Federal, and municipal agencies and other concerned groups.
• Reviews staff assignments for technical errors and to ensure compliance with Division objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains and analyzes records and reports of all field work, technical assistance, fish production and stocking, resource inventories, commercial fish landings, and environmental reviews originating from the respective program or installation; assumes responsibility for their accuracy and completeness.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the firing, hiring, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative scientific, statistical, and other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Prepares detailed correspondence.
• Supervises the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units .

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in one of the Biological Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or Environmental Science with a major concentration in Fisheries Science and/or Wildlife Science.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience in fisheries biology, fisheries management, fisheries husbandry, fisheries research, and/or the development of fisheries management programs, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of fisheries biology and biometrics.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of large scale fisheries management including the propagation, feeding, care, distribution of fish, and the structures used in rearing fish.
• Knowledge of the practices and procedures used to measure fish populations, survey of lakes/streams, and other technical biological work.
• Knowledge of modern laboratory and field equipment, routines, procedures, and methods and their application to fisheries biological work.
• Knowledge of the statistical methods used in the evaluation of biological data.
• Knowledge of the signs of the presence of parasites and diseases of fish and of measures to be used in combating such parasites and diseases.
• Knowledge of the methods used to conduct ecological studies of various aquatic and marine environments.
• Knowledge of the Federal and State statutes and regulations dealing with the fisheries resource and its management.
• Knowledge of the federally funded Fisheries programs.
• Knowledge of the division's priorities, programs, objectives, development, and maintenance needs.
• Knowledge of the geography, topography, soils, and vegetation of New Jersey and adjacent coastal and offshore waters, and of the economic and social conditions which affect fisheries populations.
• Knowledge of the waters of New Jersey and their fish populations and fish management problems, including stocking and commercial and recreational exploitation.
• Ability to coordinate statewide scientific research, propagation, and other programs relating to fisheries management.
• Ability to interpret and apply Federal legislation, the laws of New Jersey, and the regulations of the bureau, division, and the Department of Environmental Protection relating to fisheries and programs.
• Ability to organize assigned supervisory and technical fisheries management work and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to design and carryout scientifically sound research and investigative projects.
• Ability to review and edit reports prepared by program staff.
• Ability to coordinate activities among internal and external organizational units.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of Federal, State, and local government and private groups concerned with fisheries resources.
• Ability to analyze the potential impacts upon the State's fishery resources resulting from development projects.
• Ability to analyze the problems involved in improving waters for fish populations and the public.
• Ability to assess properties for acquisition or for the development of fisheries related facilities.
• Ability to recognize program priorities and develop schedules accordingly.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative scientific, statistical, and other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to prepare detailed correspondence.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

A Master's degree in Fisheries Management or a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of non-supervisory experience.