Biological Science Technician (Plants) (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Luray, VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Biological Science Technicians perform field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources and their habitats. This seasonal position with the Seasonal Staffing Office at Shenandoah National Park assists the park Botanist with plant identification, detailed plant monitoring, data entry, equipment management, and specimen processing. Projects include long-term forest monitoring, rare plant monitoring, meadow monitoring, and plant protection activities. Technicians collect and organize natural resources data, enter it into spreadsheets and databases, and prepare data summaries and basic reports. The role may also include documenting whether project work complies with natural and cultural resource impact mitigations and helping resolve resource protection and compliance issues related to NEPA, NHPA, and the ESA.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is March through September, though timing may vary due to weather, project needs, or funding. Anticipated entry on duty is March through July 2027. The position may be a temporary seasonal appointment not to exceed 1,560 hours, depending on the park and program, and employment may end due to funding, project needs, performance, or other considerations. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed, and occupancy of government quarters may be required.

Work takes place in an office, laboratory, and field setting. Fieldwork may involve extreme weather and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals; laboratory work may involve hazardous chemicals. The work is partly sedentary but often requires prolonged standing, walking, and bending, and routinely lifting and carrying packs or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. Employees may need to wear a uniform, use chemical tick-prevention measures on clothing and equipment, perform regular basic office cleaning, and work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, or shifts.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet the Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• Must participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.
• Must be at least 18 years old to operate government vehicles.
• A valid driver's license is required for operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• Must meet one of the GS-07 qualification pathways: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-06; one full year of related graduate-level coursework (18 semester or 27 quarter hours) toward a master's degree; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Specialized experience may include leading vegetation or ecological-resource surveys and management, organizing and compiling field and program data, applying manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage threats to native plants and habitats, conducting vegetation inventories and surveys, and carrying out seed collection, planting, propagation, and weeding.
• If qualifying in part based on education, submit transcripts; foreign education must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency or credit.
• A resume must not exceed two single-sided pages and must clearly state duties and responsibilities, employment dates, and hours worked; only the latest submitted resume will be reviewed.
• May be required to occupy government quarters, wear a uniform and comply with NPS uniform standards, work on-call or irregular hours, complete training, operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and obtain and maintain a government credit card.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with compliance or mitigation under NEPA, NHPA, and the ESA.

Responsibilities

• Measure and monitor vegetation, including live and dead vegetation, vigor, and disease.
• Collect, preserve, and maintain the integrity of samples according to protocols and handling guidance; ship samples to laboratory or storage facilities as required.
• Record and maintain project data in paper and digital, local and virtual formats.
• Use electronic survey and data-collection equipment, including GPS, GIS, tablets, sensors, data loggers, and field computers.
• Conduct fieldwork, including plant identification, data collection, and equipment use and maintenance.
• Assist the park Botanist with plant identification, detailed plant monitoring, data entry, equipment management, and specimen processing.
• Support long-term forest monitoring, rare plant monitoring, meadow monitoring, and plant protection projects.
• Collect and organize natural resources data and enter it into computer spreadsheets and databases daily or weekly.
• Prepare data summaries and basic reports.
• Use chemical tick-bite prevention measures (Permanone) on the exterior of clothing and equipment.
• Participate in basic office cleaning tasks on a regular basis.
• Conduct site visits to document project-work compliance with natural and cultural resource impact mitigations, collecting photographs, notes, and spatial data and helping resolve resource protection and compliance issues related to NEPA, NHPA, and the ESA.
• Complete training and operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle if required; operate a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• Complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority if required.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; specific eligibility depends on position type and other factors.

What This Job Offers

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