USAJOBS · 8 hours ago
(SEASONAL) Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)
Multiple Locations, USA
Full-time
Onsite
Entry Level
$19.52/hr - $25.37/hr
1+ years expGreat Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking a seasonal Biological Science Technician to manage black bears and reduce wildlife human interactions. The role involves collecting and organizing field data and biological samples while working in mountainous terrain and areas with high public visitation.
ConsultingGovernmentHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologyInternetStaffing Agency
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Management of black bears to reduce wildlife human interactions
Collect and organize field data and biological samples
Work in mountainous terrain
Work in areas with high public visitation
Installs, operates, and maintains resource management equipment
Qualification
Required
U.S. Citizenship required
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program
You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties
You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle
You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards
You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work
You may be required to travel overnight away from home
Applicants must be at least (1) 18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/05/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience
To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service
This experience includes activities such as: Capture/handle large wild mammals (e.g., wild hogs, black bears, elk, etc.), Management of black bears to reduce wildlife human interactions, Collecting and organizing wildlife biological data, and Performing wildlife duties in a field environment
Specialized experience also includes research activity or control program work; nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice
You must include hours per week worked
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics
At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled
The successful completion of a full course of study of at least 12 months in a school for clinical laboratory technicians may be substituted for the 1 year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level for positions involving microbiology and biochemistry technician work
You must include transcripts
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above
To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a bachelor's degree, in excess of 60 semester hours, and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent)
Then take the number of months of full time experience and divide by 12 months
Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify
You must include transcripts
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations
Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience
Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection
Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies
Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP
This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location
Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible
If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation
Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work
Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001)
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking
Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected
The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate
Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1559 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year
Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS)
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1559 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply
However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1559 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility
The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1559 hours
The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1559 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM
The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required
Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis
The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field
Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals
Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
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