Biological Science Technician

National Park Service • Yellowstone National Park, WY

8h

About The Position

The Biological Science Technician serves with the National Park Service at Yellowstone National Park as a lead technician in the park’s wolf program. The role involves leading or participating in wolf management, monitoring, and research, including wolf immobilization and capture, collaring, and telemetry/GPS tracking. The technician manages wildlife capture drugs and agonists, maintains a DEA research license, coordinates wolf-program aviation activities, and maintains program databases.

This is a career-seasonal appointment: a permanent position with benefits, but not year-round work. The position provides approximately 25 pay periods of work, followed by non-pay status for the remainder of the year; the non-pay period is described as occurring from late March to early April. Duties may be developmental when the position is filled below the full-performance level. The position may be filled at the GS-0404-08 or GS-0404-09 level, subject to the qualifications for that grade. Telework may be allowed with supervisor approval.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit and pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• Must complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority; a government charge card is required for travel.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DEA Research License, a UAS Operator License, and Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) Certification.
• Must be able to perform aerial wildlife capture and handling.
• May be required to travel overnight away from home up to two nights per month.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period; continued employment requires written certification by the agency.
• Must meet the stated qualifications by the announcement closing date of 11/05/2026 and meet applicable time-in-grade requirements.
• For GS-0404-08, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, two full years of directly related graduate education or a directly related master's/equivalent degree, or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes field wildlife observation and scientific data collection, natural resource management techniques, preparing wildlife plans and reports, using computers, radio telemetry and specialized software for data summaries and statistical tests, helicopter management oversight, and handling wolves or other canids in the field.
• For GS-0404-09, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-08, two full years of directly related graduate education or a directly related master's/equivalent degree, or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes field wildlife observation and scientific data collection, natural resource management, wildlife plans and reports, computer/radio telemetry/software use and statistical analysis, helicopter oversight, fixed-wing flight planning and crew qualifications, UAS piloting and missions, handling wolves, other canids and ungulates, pneumatic dart guns, aviation contract statements of work, and wildlife tranquilizing drugs.
• Applicants claiming education in place of experience or a combination must provide transcripts. Experience claims must be documented in the resume, including hours worked per week. Current federal employees may need to submit a non-award SF-50 to validate work schedule; military service may be documented with a DD-214 or Statement of Service.
• Qualifying experience may include paid or unpaid volunteer experience, including service through programs such as Peace Corps or AmeriCorps.

Responsibilities

• Lead or participate in facets of wolf management, monitoring, and research in Yellowstone National Park.
• Lead the park wolf immobilization and capture program, including collaring and telemetry/GPS tracking of collared wolves.
• Acquire, manage, use, track, and account for wildlife capture drugs and agonists.
• Maintain a DEA research license.
• Coordinate wolf-program aviation activities, including aerial wildlife gunning, capture, and handling.
• Maintain Helicopter Crew Member (HECM-R) qualification and a UAS operator license.
• Coordinate fixed-wing aircraft use for the program and execute program aviation contracting.
• Maintain a variety of databases.
• Observe wildlife, record and collect scientific data, and apply natural resource management principles and techniques, as applicable to qualifying experience.
• Prepare wildlife management plans and reports, as applicable to qualifying experience.
• Perform aerial wildlife capture and handling.

Benefits

• Career-seasonal appointments include the same benefits as career appointments.
• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families subject to position eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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