About this role
Job Summary
Biological Science Technicians perform field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources, including plants, wildlife, aquatic resources, and their habitats. Likely Entry on Duty: March - May 2027. Open to the first 700 applicants.
Qualifications
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.
Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. Six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience, for a total of one year of experience.
General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or provides familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad biological sciences field. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting with basic plant or vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; collecting and recording field data related to plants, vegetation, or associated habitats; and assisting with routine vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, weeding, or other plant maintenance activities.
Excess specialized experience may substitute for general experience; however, excess general experience may not substitute for the required specialized experience. -OR- B. Successfully completed at least two (2) full years of college level study that includes at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, etc. At least six (6) semester hours were directly related to this position (i.e. plant taxonomy, botany, forestry, plant ecology, etc.). -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
For example, six (6) months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education above), along with 50% of the course-specific education stated above. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.
Examples of specialized experience may include: Applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage threats to native plants, vegetation, and associated habitats; performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; and participating in vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, and weeding. -OR- B. Successfully completed at least four years of education above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study in a related field of scientific or technical study, such as in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or other directly related subject matter; or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as those shown above.
At least 6 semester hours must be directly related to this position (i.e., plant taxonomy, botany, forestry, plant ecology, etc.). -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector).
Specialized experience is experience that equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: Organizing and maintaining program data and information; independently applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage threats to native plants, vegetation, and associated habitats; conducting vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys and recording field data; and carrying out vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, and weeding. -OR- B. Successfully completed a half year (9 semester hours or 13.5 quarter hours) of graduate level course work, from an accredited college or university, leading to a Master's degree with a major study directly related to the position to be filled.
Graduate study must have been in a field of study that is directly related to the work of this position such as plant taxonomy, botany, forestry, plant ecology, etc. -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector).
Examples of specialized experience include: Serving as a project or field lead in implementing vegetation or ecological resource surveys and management activities; organizing, maintaining, and compiling program and field data and information; independently applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage threats to native plants, vegetation, and associated habitats; conducting vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys, including collecting and recording field data; and implementing vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, and weeding. -OR- B. Successfully completed one full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate level course work, from an accredited college or university, leading to a Master's degree with a major study directly related to the position to be filled.
Major Duties
- These positions may be filled for a six month seasonal period, but can be vary due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Defined Season Per Park: March - October: Haleakalā National Park, Klamath Network April - October: Craters Of The Moon National Monument and Preserve, Crater Lake National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Yosemite National Park April - November: Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Mount Rainier National Park May - October: Lassen Volcanic National Park May - November: Nez Perce National Historical Park, North Cascades National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Great Basin National Park Some of the Biological Science Technician (Plants) Standard Duties include but are not limited to: Monitor vegetation and survey for oak wilt disease Collect and send samples for laboratory analysis Record and maintain project data using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Organize project data Additional duties for GS-05: You may implement established natural resource management projects and assist in the preparation of reports and plans. Additional duties for GS-06: The position includes assisting with the organization of project data for ecological resource management project implementation. You may implement established natural resource management projects and assist in the preparation of reports and plans. Additional duties for GS-07: The primary duties of the position include assisting with ecological resource management project implementation, and leading field staff. You may train, lead, and supervise staff, interns, and/or volunteers conducting ecological resource management fieldwork, including but not limited to plant and plant disease identification, data collection, sample collection, mapping, and tool and equipment use and maintenance. You may organize, schedule, and execute a variety of established natural resource management projects, ensure adequate quality control of data, and prepare draft project reports.
Requirements
U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Occupancy of government quarters may be required. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed. Use find a park to contact specific parks for more information on government housing. You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards.
A uniform allowance will be provided. Pre-employment and random drug testing may be required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license will be required in such cases.
You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. You may be required to possess a Class A or B Commercial Driver's License. You may be required to handle/apply pesticide and/or herbicide. You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and:
- (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or
- (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or
- (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or
- (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.