TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 6109001

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

Biologists perform professional level biological conservation work to help conserve and manage New York States natural resources across diverse habitats. These positions are classified in the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and are assigned to central and regional offices throughout New York State.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

BIOLOGIST 1 (all parenthetic titles): full performance level; typically work under the supervision of a Biologist 2, and perform professional level biological work in all areas of natural resources, within the specialty identified by the parenthetic. Biologists 1 are expected to apply theories and principles of fish, wildlife and marine resources management, protection and restoration of specific species and/or habitats; evaluate environmental conditions; prepare original writing of complex scientific and technical information; recruit, supervise, train and evaluate subordinates; prepare regulatory and management documents; have frequent interaction with the public often on controversial issues; and perform administrative functions related to the expenditure of public resources, including the development and management of grants and contracts.

BIOLOGIST 2 (all parenthetic titles): first supervisory level; when classified in DECs regional offices, positions typically function as regional managers within their specialty; when classified in the central office, positions function as unit managers, overseeing one or more programs within their parenthetic specialty and supervising the work of subordinate Biologists and other professional, technical and/or scientific positions. Positions in the Marine parenthetic are classified in Regions 1 and 2 and function as unit managers, supervising the work of subordinate Biologists and other technical/scientific positions. Biologists 2 are typically supervised by a Biologist 3 within the parenthetic specialty in the central office, or by a Regional Supervisor Natural Resources, in the regions.

BIOLOGIST 3 (all parenthetic titles): second supervisory level; when classified in DECs central office, positions function as section managers within their specialty areas and oversee various units staffed by Biologists 2 and other professional, technical or scientific positions that function as first level supervisors of a unit. Positions in the Marine parenthetic are classified in Regions 1 and 2 and function as section managers, supervising the work of subordinate Biologists 2 and other professional, technical or scientific positions that function as first level supervisors. Biologists 3 are typically supervised by a Biologist 4 within the parenthetic specialty.

BIOLOGIST 4 (all parenthetic titles): management level; when classified in DECs central office, positions function as bureau managers within their specialty areas and oversee various sections and units staffed by Biologists 3 and other professional, technical or scientific positions that function as second level supervisors of units and sections. One position in the Marine parenthetic is classified for Regions 1 and 2 and functions as bureau manager, supervising the work of subordinate Biologists 3 and other professional, technical or scientific positions that function as second level supervisors of units and sections. Biologists 4 typically report to the Director or the Assistant Director of the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources.

RELATED CLASSES

Fish and Wildlife Technicians perform a variety of technical assignments to support the management of New York State fish, wildlife, marine and ecology resources. In addition, they provide information on the management and propagation programs for these resources to the general public. They are generally supervised by Biologists.

Environmental Program Specialists perform professional level program development and support functions in various program areas of the Department of Environmental Conservation. Incumbents work in areas where an engineering or specific scientific background is not required, but where environmental program technical skills will assist the Division in meeting its goals. In this capacity, incumbents in these positions serve as the link between engineering/scientific and administrative program areas.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

BIOLOGIST 1 (AQUATIC), under general supervision, conducts fish population and fish habitat investigations; reviews and proposes ichthyologic research in support of the cultivation, restoration and protection of fish species; summarizes and statistically analyzes data; prepares technical and scientific reports to inform the aquatic policies of the State; provides technical assistance and guidance to fisheries staff; compiles fisheries management plans and assists in the improvement of publicly valued fishery resources; communicates with various public groups concerning fisheries management goals and objectives; reviews and analyzes public groups project proposals, which are likely to alter fish habitat; and acquires public access for use and enjoyment of New York fishery resources.

BIOLOGIST 2 (AQUATIC), typically under the supervision of a Biologist 3 (Aquatic), serves as the head of a unit staffed by Biologists 1 and other professional, scientific and technical staff; provides high level professional and administrative assistance in the coordination of aquatic habitat acquisition and management by the State; coordinates special projects funded by the State and federal agencies; coordinates fishing access and species management programs; participates in and guides public outreach; assists in the compilation of Unit Management Plans and annual work plans;  reviews environmental remediation projects that affect fish populations and habitats; and assists other Biologists in the review of permits affecting the scientific harvest of fish for research, or for the cultivation and keep of fish for commercial or recreational development.

BIOLOGIST 3 (AQUATIC), typically under the supervision of a Biologist 4 (Aquatic), serves as section head and supervises units consisting of Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; assists in the preparation, review, and implementation of policies and procedures for a program area; provides direction and oversight to staff members to ensure compliance with section plans; establishes workload priorities consistent with the annual work plan; performs the full range of supervisory duties for subordinates; and prepares and manage the sections annual budget and control expenditures.

BIOLOGIST 4 (AQUATIC), reports to the Director or the Assistant Director of the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources; serves as bureau chief and supervises several sections managed by Biologists 3, and staffed by Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; has statewide responsibility for the administration, supervision, and direction of the environmental protection program within the Division; develops scientifically sound environmental standards and criteria; designs, conducts, and reviews environmental impact assessments prepared by staff; and recommends action on or establishes conditions for environmental permits.

BIOLOGIST 1 (ECOLOGY), under general supervision, conducts and coordinates impact analysis reviews and recommends mitigation solutions; assesses natural resources damage; identifies, quantifies and evaluates potential resource impacts; conducts field investigations to compile information pertaining to resource impacts of various projects; identifies mitigation action plans and evaluates the effectiveness of mitigation; monitors environmental conditions for the protection of natural habitats; quantifies and evaluates the effects of contaminants on fish and wildlife, and the damage caused by pollution and environmental contamination; secures the conservation of landscapes; assesses a monetary value to physical damages to habitat and wildlife; monitors and reviews industrial activities that require the intake of water from the States waterways, its discharge into State waterways, or the effects of the harnessing of wind for power generation; tests and monitors various habitat contaminants, and evaluates their impact on the environment; and prepares for and participates in public hearings.

BIOLOGIST 2 (ECOLOGY), typically under the supervision of a Biologist 3 (Ecology), serves as the head of a unit staffed by Biologists 1 and other professional, scientific  and technical staff; provides high level professional and administrative assistance in the coordination of wildlife ecological habitat monitoring and management by the State, with special emphasis on the supervision of programs focused on pollution monitoring, environmental impact assessments, and compliance with environmental standards; provides coordination of special projects funded by the State and federal agencies; and has responsibility for planning, budgeting and personnel functions.

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BIOLOGIST 3 (ECOLOGY), under the direction of the Biologist 4 (Ecology), serves as section head and supervises units consisting of Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; responsible for the administration, supervision and direction of pollution monitoring programs, environmental impact assessment and environmental standards programs; performs final reviews of environmental impact statements; assists in the training, recruitment and evaluation of staff; assists in the preparation, review, and implementation of policies and procedures for the program area; provides direction and oversight to staff members to ensure compliance with program goals; establishes workload priorities consistent with the annual work plan; performs the full range of supervisory duties for subordinates; and prepares and manages the sections annual budget and control expenditures.

BIOLOGISTS 4 (ECOLOGY), reports to the Director or the Assistant Director of the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources; serves as bureau chief and supervises several sections managed by Biologists 3, and a staff of Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; has statewide responsibility for the administration, supervision, and direction of the environmental protection program in the Division; develops scientifically sound environmental standards and criteria; designs, conducts, and reviews environmental impact assessments prepared by staff; and recommends action on or establishes conditions for environmental permits and mitigation solutions.

BIOLOGIST 1 (WILDLIFE), under general supervision, designs, conducts and assesses scientific research and management programs to evaluate health, status and distribution of wildlife populations; monitors contaminant levels and wildlife diseases; inventories and documents the condition of wildlife habitats; develops and implements wildlife management plans on Bureau administered lands; promotes public appreciation and recreational use of wildlife resources; assists in the resolution of wildlife management problems; reviews, analyzes and makes recommendations on project proposals to minimize impacts on wildlife populations and critical habitats; recommends regulatory actions to secure wildlife populations and habitats; and provides public opportunities for the use and enjoyment of wildlife resources.

BIOLOGIST 2 (WILDLIFE), typically under the supervision of a Biologist 3 (Wildlife), serves as the head of a unit staffed by Biologists 1 and other technical staff; provides high level professional and administrative assistance in the coordination of wildlife habitat acquisition and management by the State; provides coordination of special projects funded by the State and federal agencies; coordinates hunting, trapping and species management programs; in smaller regions, may be responsible for regional fish and wildlife programs within specialty; reviews local environmental impact statements; and has responsibility for planning, budgeting and personnel functions.

          BIOLOGISTS 3 (WILDLIFE), typically under the supervision of a Biologist 4 (Wildlife), serves as section head and supervises units consisting of Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; develops, implements and directs major program areas for wildlife, with responsibility for program planning, budgeting and personnel management; in larger regional offices, may be responsible for regional fish and wildlife programs, reviewing local environmental impact statements; in DECs central office, positions are responsible for statewide wildlife programs; assist in the development of rules and regulations; review and control licensing and permit programs; manage land acquisition programs; coordinate public input and user training; assist in the development of a statewide comprehensive fish and wildlife plan; assist in the preparation, review, and implementation of policies and procedures for a program area; provide direction and oversight to staff members to ensure compliance with goals; establish workload priorities consistent with the annual work plan; perform the full range of supervisory duties for subordinates; and prepare and manage the sections annual budget and control expenditures.

BIOLOGIST 4 (WILDLIFE), reports to the Director or the Assistant Director of the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources; serves as bureau chief and supervises several sections managed by Biologists 3, and a staff of Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; has statewide responsibility for the administration, supervision, and direction of the environmental protection program in the Division; supervises and directs wildlife management, research and propagation programs, as well as bureau planning, programming and budgeting; recommends hunting and trapping rules regulations; responsible for personnel management, training, recruitment and evaluation; and represents the bureau in departmental meetings, public meetings, or in communications with other governmental agencies and the public.

BIOLOGIST 1 (MARINE), under general supervision, conducts the review, inspection and submission of reports on projects, including permit applications that would damage, modify or restore marine habitat; prepares and provides testimony at adjudicatory hearings; investigates potential violations, and recommends solutions for violations and/or applications; designs and conducts surveys, investigations and field projects in marine fish or shellfish management and/or sanitation or marine habitat restoration; proposes regulatory amendments; designs and conducts studies of marine fish or shellfish from waters suspected of pollution; responds to environmental emergencies - oil spills, fish kills, sewage bypasses, chemical spills and harmful algal blooms; supervises and trains technicians and/or laborers; compiles, analyzes, and interprets statistical data; prepares technical reports and resource management plans; conducts laboratory analyses of specimens; disseminates information on New York's marine resources; and develop and carries out projects to improve access to and enhance the condition of marine resources.

BIOLOGIST 2 (MARINE), typically under the supervision of a Biologist 3 (Marine), serves as the head of a unit staffed by Biologists 1 and other professional, scientific and technical staff, engaged in various marine programs, including shellfish sanitation, the sanitation inspection of shippers, and shellfish stock management and assessment; develops sanitation guidelines and procedures for shellfish harvesting, storage and transport, processing, and handling, to ensure that federal public health standards are met by the shellfish industry; performs or reviews bacteriological testing of shellfish and seawater to determine the levels of contamination; ensures that federal standards for testing and examination are maintained; oversees the collection of field samples and field research to assess stock population and health of various species of fish; monitors and enhance fishing access opportunities for commercial and recreational marine fishing; monitors commercial compliance with fishing regulations and reviews data from commercial sources regarding species health and population; oversees the research and review of the States marine resource habitat assets obtained through GIS and field data to assess the overall status of the marine ecosystem, including tidal wetlands and estuaries; develops plans with other State and federal agencies, including the Department of State, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency, to protect tidal and coastal habitats as required by the Tidal Wetlands Act of 1974 and the Clean Water Act; and reviews construction and other development applications within the coastal and tidal wetlands area, to assess and minimize the environmental impact on marine habitat.

BIOLOGIST 3 (MARINE), typically under the supervision of a Biologist 4 (Marine), serves as section head and supervises units consisting of Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; develops, implements and directs major program areas for marine resources, with responsibility for program planning, budgeting and personnel management; manages programs aimed at marine finfish and crustacean species, including those in the Hudson River; oversees field management and investigation of species; conducts public outreach; facilitates access to commercial and recreational fishing; monitors marine habitat protection and rehabilitation; oversees tidal wetlands mapping, inventory, monitoring and assessment; coordinates field units conducting surveys, scientific studies, research, and data collection; establishes workload priorities consistent with the annual work plan; performs the full range of supervisory duties for subordinates; and prepares and manage the sections annual budget and control expenditures.

BIOLOGIST 4 (MARINE), one position responsible for the Bureau of Marine Resources, located in the Long Island region; supervises several sections managed by Biologists 3, and containing Biologists 2, and Biologists 1; has statewide responsibility for the administration, supervision, and direction of the environmental protection program within the Division; develops scientifically sound environmental standards and criteria; coordinates DECs participation in the consortium of Atlantic-Coast states for marine species, including New Yorks marine resource allocation; serves on advisory boards and councils for the management of Atlantic Coast marine resources, such as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); represents New York State with interstate entities and develops New Yorks resource allotment; monitors marine resource data from multiple sources, including commercial fishing, scientific research, and marine biology expertise, to inform negotiations between states for species allotments important to New Yorks commercial or recreational fishing; responsible for personnel management, training, recruitment and evaluation; and represents the bureau in departmental meetings, public meetings, or in communications with other governmental agencies and the public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Open-Competitive: A Bachelor's Degree including or supplemented by 30 semester credit hours in the biological sciences. These 30 credit hours must have included the following:

BIOLOGIST 1 (AQUATIC): 18 semester credit hours in fish or aquatic courses such as fishery resource management, limnology, fish diseases, aquaculture, ichthyology, aquatic ecology, fishery science, and fish population dynamics.

BIOLOGIST 1 (ECOLOGY): 18 semester credit hours in field biology or ecology courses such as fishery or wildlife science, fishery or wildlife management, environmental impact analysis, limnology, toxicology, plant or animal taxonomy, habitat ecology or management, fish or wildlife pathology; population dynamics, and zoology and botany and any of their subspecialties.

BIOLOGIST 1 (MARINE): 18 semester credit hours in marine courses such as fisheries biology, fisheries management, mariculture, marine biology, marine ecology, marine resources management, or biological oceanography.

BIOLOGIST 1 (WILDLIFE): 18 semester credit hours in wildlife courses that address the study monitoring, modeling, management, interrelationships or characteristics of wild animals and their habitats.

Promotion:

          BIOLOGIST 2 (all parenthetic titles):

One year of service as a Biologist 1 (any parenthetic)

Promotion:

          BIOLOGIST 3 (all parenthetic titles):

One year of service as a Biologist 2 (any parenthetic)

Promotion:

          BIOLOGIST 4 (all parenthetic titles):

One year of service as a Biologist 3 (any parenthetic) or Regional Supervisor of Natural Resources

Date:  12/14

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualifications requirements for appointment or examination.