Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)(Seasonal)

National Park Service•Yosemite National Park, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Biological Science Technicians perform field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources, including wildlife and their habitats. This seasonal position supports field operations and natural-resource monitoring, with likely entry on duty from March to May 2027. The typical seasonal work period is April through November, but timing can vary with weather, project needs, and funding. The position coordinates field logistics and schedules with park staff and field crews; collects, organizes, and enters resource data; makes field observations; installs, operates, and maintains equipment; and uses computer programs to compile, analyze, and report resource information. Fieldwork may take place in remote backcountry and difficult conditions, using four-wheel-drive vehicles and off-trail hiking to reach monitoring sites. GS-09 duties also include overseeing and training crew members, assisting with protocol revisions, preparing reports and publications, and communicating results. Assignments may involve wildlife specialties such as owls, bats, insects, large mammals or carnivores, and birds. Work may take place in an office, laboratory, and field setting. Depending on the location and assignment, fieldwork can include strenuous hiking, overnight backcountry trips, water-related work, and exposure to challenging weather, terrain, wildlife, and other environmental hazards. Employment may end early because of funding, project needs, performance, or other considerations.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
A background investigation and favorable adjudication are required.
Meet the applicable Selective Service registration requirement for males.
Meet the stated minimum age requirement for vehicle operation and employment; certain 16- and 17-year-old applicants must meet the specified education or student-work conditions.
For GS-08: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level; education cannot substitute for experience at this grade.
For GS-09: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level, or two full years of directly related progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent degree, or an equivalent combination of qualifying experience and education.
Submit a resume of no more than two single-sided pages that clearly states duties, employment dates, and hours worked; submit transcripts if qualifying in part on education.
For wildlife assignments, demonstrate the ability to safely perform relevant fieldwork; the announcement requires relevant field experience to be demonstrated in the resume.
A valid driver's license is required when operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
Complete required training and operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle when required.
Participate in Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer.
For specific specialties involving non-law-enforcement firearms, submit to required pre-employment drug testing and receive a negative result; the position may also be subject to random illegal-drug testing.
For assignments involving handling wildlife at some locations, have or be willing to receive a current rabies vaccination.
For the Large Mammals/Carnivores specialty, have experience with large mammals or carnivores; firearm experience and willingness to complete required pre-employment drug testing are also required. Duties may involve strenuous fieldwork.
For the Owl specialty, have experience working with and handling live owls.
For the Bat specialty, have experience working with and handling live bats and be willing to receive required rabies vaccination.
For the Insect specialty, have experience working with and handling live insects.
For the Avian specialty, have experience working with and handling live birds; qualifying work may include surveys, data collection, bird banding, measurement, identification, research, monitoring, or control.
For the Yosemite National Park Wildlife-Avian selective factor, be proficient in ornithology; have experience surveying native Sierra Nevada passerines using point counts and area searches; accurately identify at least 50 native passerine species by sight and sound; and be able to hike up to 16 miles over rough terrain carrying a backpack weighing up to one-third of body weight.
For qualifying graduate education, submit legible transcripts; foreign education must be evaluated as described in the announcement.
Temporary seasonal employees must observe the National Park Service's applicable 1,039-hour limit to retain noncompetitive rehire eligibility.

Responsibilities

Coordinate field operations, logistics, and schedules with park staff and field crews, and communicate activities clearly.
Collect and organize natural-resource field data using monitoring protocols, standardized procedures, and equipment.
Make field observations of natural-resource conditions.
Install, operate, and maintain equipment.
Enter data and follow quality-assurance procedures to ensure accurate data entry and transcription in established databases.
Use computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, analyze, and report data and resource-management information.
Conduct fieldwork safely and efficiently in remote backcountry settings and difficult conditions; use four-wheel-drive vehicles and off-trail hiking to access sites.
For GS-09 assignments, oversee and train field crew members in data collection and verification.
For GS-09 assignments, assist with protocol revisions, prepare reports and publications, and communicate results to various audiences.

Benefits

A uniform allowance is provided when a uniform is required.
Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
Federal employees have access to a benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and other factors.

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