Biological Science Technician (Plants) (Temporary)

National Park Service • Yosemite National Park, CA

5d

About The Position

This temporary Biological Science Technician (Plants) position performs field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources, including plants, wildlife, aquatic resources, and their habitats. The anticipated entry-on-duty period is February to March 2027. The appointment is expected to last one year and may be extended up to a maximum of two years, depending on agency needs and funding. Occupancy of government quarters may be required; government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.

The technician manages invasive plant populations and restores disturbed sites, collects and propagates native plant materials, maintains nursery plants, and plans and monitors vegetation management work. Duties include field data collection and analysis, vegetation sampling in remote wilderness, staff and partner coordination, and reporting. At the GS-9 level, the position also includes technical leadership of complex invasive plant operations, developing propagation techniques and management protocols, preparing analytical reports and future work plans, and leading multi-day backcountry data-collection trips.

Work is partially sedentary but often involves prolonged standing, walking, bending, and routinely carrying packs and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. Work takes place in an office, laboratory, and field settings. Field conditions may include extreme weather and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, wild animals, mountainous terrain, and stream crossings. Laboratory work may involve hazardous chemicals. Backcountry travel is approximately 10–21 days per month, including multi-day trips.

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 Electronics Funds Transfer Program if selected.
• Must be at least 18 years old to operate government vehicles; a valid driver's license is required when operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• A Class A or B Commercial Driver's License may be required.
• Training and operation of a four-wheel-drive vehicle may be required.
• Handling or applying pesticides and/or herbicides may be required.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing may be required; a verified positive drug test prevents appointment.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and/or shift work.
• Must meet the stated minimum age and education or school-status conditions for employment: age 18 or older, or age 16 or older under one of the listed high-school, vocational-training, school-authority, or student-employment conditions.
• For GS-8, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 is required. Examples include native-plant nursery work; site rehabilitation and restoration tasks; field surveys and vegetation mapping; invasive-plant identification, monitoring, and control; and serving as a vegetation or revegetation crew member.
• For GS-9, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-8, at least two years of directly related progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent degree, or an equivalent combination of experience and education is required.
• For GS-9 experience qualification, examples include producing containerized plants; leading site rehabilitation, remote surveys and vegetation mapping, invasive-plant crews, or vegetation research and monitoring projects; managing and summarizing vegetation data with computer software; and training staff in vegetation management and restoration.
• Applicants qualifying based in part on education must submit transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application, but official transcripts are required before work begins if selected and education was used to qualify.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by a qualified credential-interpretation organization and determined equivalent to U.S. education.
• Applicants must submit a resume no longer than two single-sided pages; experience must show duties, employment dates, and hours worked.

Responsibilities

• Manage invasive plant populations and restore disturbed sites using established methods and standards, applying experimental methods when needed.
• Collect, clean, store, and manage native plant materials for propagation, seeding, and transplanting; inventory nursery materials and plants.
• Produce containerized plants from seed collections and cuttings, and maintain plant materials received from government cooperators and private growers.
• Develop annual nursery and plant-propagation work plans based on restoration priorities, species lists, and quantities established by a supervisor.
• Manage and analyze data using spreadsheet, database, statistical, and GIS software.
• Develop seasonal and weekly work plans for vegetation staff and partners in coordination with a supervisor; set daily schedules and train staff in work protocols.
• Collect field data to monitor vegetation management actions, improve protocols as needed, and complete required reporting.
• Conduct vegetation sampling in remote wilderness settings.
• At GS-9, lead complex invasive plant management operations, including identification, monitoring, mapping, treatment implementation, protocol and safety compliance, and evaluation of treatment effectiveness.
• At GS-9, develop field and greenhouse propagation techniques for native species through literature review, consultation with subject matter experts, and experimentation as needed.
• At GS-9, develop future work plans and analytical reports, create vegetation management protocols, and coordinate with partners on resource management strategies.
• At GS-9, collect forest plot data according to established procedures and within a defined scope.
• At GS-9, plan and execute multi-day backcountry field data collection trips and lead crews, making field decisions that support safety and project goals while protecting data quality.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available, subject to position type and benefits eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed