Biological Science Technician (Seasonal)

Clarification from the agency

Under this announcement, we are accepting applications from: 1. All United States Citizens (U.S. Citizens) 2. CTAP/ICTAP Eligibles.

National Park Service is recruiting for Temporary seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 or 1560 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary between sites depending on funding, weather conditions, and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending upon work availability and funding.

Biological Science Technician Standard Duties: Utilizes databases to enter and organize collected field data and uses standard statistical methods in the preparation of draft reports; enters and retrieves data from a geographic information system (GIS) and other information management systems; uses a variety of computer software programs to prepare graphs, charts and illustrations for reports and technical publications. Recommends modifications to field activity procedures to accomplish project objectives; and prepares draft reports and correspondence relating to field activities and results. Provides logistic support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientists; and provides technical information to cooperators regarding past and ongoing field activities in their specialty area. Provides advice, assistance, and training to lower graded technicians, volunteers, and/or YCC enrollees in gathering field data, including proper and safe handling of equipment and tools and operation of motorized vehicles and water craft. Assists in preparing draft news releases concerning biological resource issues and in providing information to individuals, local organizations and schools. Interacts with visitors, the general public and attends and participates in meetings with landowners, interest groups and local units of government. Adheres to established control/quality assurance protocols and safety procedures.

Additional Duties for the Biological Science Technician Specialties:

• Biological Science Technician (Fisheries) Duties: Positions involved with research, conservation, production, and management of fishes, fishery resources, or determination, establishment, and application of biological facts, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary for research, conservation, and management of fishes and other aquatic animals, such as crustaceans and mollusks, where the work does not principally involve management responsibility for the operation of fish hatcheries

• Biological Science Technician (Wildlife) Duties: Positions concerned with research, conservation, and management of wildlife; the control of wildlife; or determination, establishment, and application of the biological facts, principles, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary for the conservation, management, and control of wildlife.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Depending on location, occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Depending on location, government housing may be available.
• You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally.
• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid state-issued driver's license.
• Applicants 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/17/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 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.

For more information on education; OR combining education and experience, reference the "Education Section."

GS-05: Must possess 1 year of specialized experience. Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work of the position. Creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience to qualify at the GS-5 level include: assisting with basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; participating in site rehabilitation through soil preparation, native seed dispersal, live planting and weeding; conducting environmental monitoring and management activities, related to fishery, plants and/or wildlife by making field observations; applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, chemical, and/or bio-control methods in planned management of plants including: exotics (non-natives/weeds), and/or native species, etc.

For more information on education; OR combining education and experience, reference the "Education Section."

GS-06: Must possess 1 year of specialized experience. Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work of the position. Creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience to qualify at the GS-6 level include: assisting with basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; participating in site rehabilitation through soil preparation, native seed dispersal, live planting and weeding; conducting environmental monitoring and management activities, related to fishery, plants and/or wildlife by making field observations; applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, chemical, and/or bio-control methods in planned management of plants including: exotics (non-natives/weeds), and/or native species, etc.

For more information on education; Or combining education and experience, reference the "Education Section."

GS-07: Must possess 1 year of specialized experience. Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work of the position. Creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience to qualify at the GS-7 level include: assisting with basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; participating in site rehabilitation through soil preparation, native seed dispersal, live planting and weeding; conducting environmental monitoring and management activities, related to fishery, plants and/or wildlife by making field observations; applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, chemical, and/or bio-control methods in planned management of plants including: exotics (non-natives/weeds), and/or native species, etc.

For more information on education; Or combining education and experience, reference the "Education Section. "Specialty Experience and Education Statements for the Biological Science Technician (Fisheries and Wildlife):

• Biological Science Technician (Fisheries): Must possess the minimum qualifications as depicted above, which includes experience and/or education directly related to research, conservation, production, and management of fishes, fishery resources, or in the determination, establishment, and application of biological facts, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary for research, conservation, and management of fishes and other aquatic animals, such as crustaceans and mollusks, where the work does not principally involve management responsibility for the operation of fish hatcheries.

• Biological Science Technician (Wildlife): Must possess the minimum qualifications as depicted above, which includes experience and/or education directly related to applying knowledge of research, conservation, and management of wildlife; the control of wildlife; or the determination, establishment, and application of the biological facts, principles, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary for the conservation, management, and control of wildlife.

• Biological Science Technician Individual Occupation Requirements
• Group Coverage Qualification Standards

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.

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.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

• Fisheries
• Research
• Technical Documentation
• Technology Application
• Wildlife

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/17/2026:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade in a federal position. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
   • Veterans Preference Documentation:
     • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
     • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
     • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
4. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
5. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above on the rating criteria for this position.

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