Biologist

National Park Service•Luray, VA

About The Position

The Biologist serves with the National Park Service at Shenandoah National Park. The position develops and implements long-term resource management plans, including invasive plant control, forest health restoration, and monitoring protocols. It manages invasive plant treatments, forest pest management, and vegetation restoration; applies herbicides and uses chemical and biological pest-treatment methods; develops species lists; manages nursery stock; and conducts planting and ongoing maintenance. The Biologist designs and conducts ecological inventories and monitoring, ensures compliance with pesticide-use requirements, drafts cooperative agreements, and participates in inter-park initiatives. The role prepares technical reports, proposals, and presentations; represents leadership in professional forums; and oversees project logistics, including contracting, budgeting, volunteer coordination, and compliance with environmental regulations. This is a supervisory position. Work is performed indoors and outdoors and may involve strenuous physical activity and field assignments in steep slopes, rocky terrain, or forests. The duties are suitable for telework, which may be allowed with supervisor approval. Overnight travel away from home may be required up to one night per month. Employees must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards; a uniform allowance is provided. Training and obtaining and maintaining a government credit card with travel and purchase authority are required.

Requirements

Meet the basic education requirement for the 0401 series: a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline appropriate to the position, or equivalent coursework combined with appropriate experience or additional education; transcripts are required.
For the GS-11 level, have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 developing and implementing resource management plans addressing biotic resources, designing and executing scientific monitoring protocols for long-term natural-resource monitoring, and identifying research needs and preparing or overseeing research projects; alternatively, meet the stated graduate-education or education-and-experience combination pathway.
Meet applicable Time-in-Grade requirements if a current Federal employee.
Include hours worked per week in the resume; current Federal employees whose resume omits this must submit a non-award SF-50, while other applicants must state full-time or part-time hours.
Be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
Participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
Wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
Complete required training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
May be required to serve a one-year probationary period; the supervisory position may also require completion of a supervisory probationary period.
Submit transcripts when required to support claimed education; foreign education must be evaluated as described in the announcement.
Meet all qualifications by the announcement closing date of 10/28/2026.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement long-term resource management plans, including invasive plant control, forest health restoration, and monitoring protocols.
Manage invasive plant treatment, forest pest management, and vegetation restoration.
Apply herbicides and use chemical and biological methods to treat pests.
Develop species lists, manage nursery stock, and conduct planting and ongoing maintenance.
Design and conduct ecological inventory and monitoring.
Ensure compliance with pesticide-use requirements.
Draft cooperative agreements and participate in inter-park initiatives.
Prepare technical reports, proposals, and presentations.
Represent leadership in professional forums.
Oversee project logistics, including contracting, budgeting, volunteer coordination, and compliance with environmental regulations.