Biological Science Technician (Plants) (Temporary)

National Park Service • Yosemite National Park, CA

4d

About The Position

Biological Science Technicians perform field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources, including plants, wildlife, aquatic resources, and their habitats. This temporary position is expected to last one year, with possible extension to a maximum of two years based on agency needs and funding. Anticipated entry on duty is February to March 2027.

The technician supports resource-management professionals such as biologists and ecologists. Work may focus on vegetation management; evaluation of invasive, rare, threatened, and endangered plant species; or monitoring vegetation communities. Specific assignments vary by hiring program, including Invasive Plant Management, Revegetation, Plant Ecology, and Front Country Restoration. Duties include monitoring vegetation and surveying for oak wilt disease; collecting and submitting samples for laboratory analysis; implementing established management projects; collecting, organizing, and assessing field data; maintaining project data using GPS and GIS; and assisting with reports, plans, and guidelines.

At the GS-05 level, the employee may implement established natural resource management projects and assist with reports and plans. At GS-06, the employee may also help organize project data for ecological resource management projects. At GS-07, the employee may assist with project implementation and lead field staff, including training and supervising staff, interns, or volunteers; organizing and executing projects; ensuring data quality; and preparing draft project reports.

Work takes place in an office, laboratory, and field settings. Field conditions can be arduous and include heat, steep slopes, uneven footing, elevations up to 10,000 feet, extreme weather, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, poisonous snakes, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve hazardous chemicals. The job may require prolonged standing, walking, and bending, and routinely lifting and carrying packs or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. The position may require wearing a uniform, working on-call or irregular hours, completing training, and operating vehicles or other equipment.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must be at least 18 years old to operate government vehicles; other minimum-age and education or enrollment conditions apply to employment.
• A valid driver's license is required if operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• May be required to complete training, operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• Must be able to meet the qualification requirements for the selected grade level by the announcement closing date.
• GS-05: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04; or four years of post-high-school education leading to a bachelor's degree in a related scientific or technical field, or at least 24 semester hours in relevant courses including at least 6 directly related semester hours; or an equivalent combination.
• GS-06: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05; or 9 semester hours of directly related graduate-level coursework toward a master's degree; or an equivalent combination.
• GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06; or 18 semester hours of directly related graduate-level coursework toward a master's degree; or an equivalent combination.
• Specialized experience may include vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; managing threats to native plants, vegetation, and habitats; vegetation-management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, and weeding; and, at higher grades, organizing data or leading projects and field staff.
• Applicants relying on education for qualification must submit transcripts. Resumes must be no longer than two single-sided pages and clearly show duties, employment dates, and hours worked.

Responsibilities

• Support resource-management professionals, including biologists and ecologists.
• Monitor vegetation and survey for oak wilt disease.
• Collect samples and send them for laboratory analysis.
• Implement natural resource management projects according to established procedures.
• Collect and organize field data and maintain quality control of data and samples.
• Assess and classify data.
• Record and maintain project data using GPS and GIS technology.
• Assist in preparing resource-management reports, plans, and guidelines.
• Organize project data, including data for ecological resource management project implementation.
• At the GS-07 level, assist with ecological resource-management project implementation and lead field staff.
• At the GS-07 level, train, lead, and supervise staff, interns, and/or volunteers conducting fieldwork, including plant and plant-disease identification, data and sample collection, mapping, and tool and equipment use and maintenance.
• At the GS-07 level, organize, schedule, and execute established natural resource management projects, ensure data quality, and prepare draft project reports.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and other factors.
• A uniform allowance will be provided if the employee is required to wear a uniform.
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level