Biological Science Technician (Bears) (Seasonal)

US National Park Service; Wyoming (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The US National Park Service is seeking Biological Science Technicians for seasonal work in the Intermountain Region. This role supports monitoring, managing, and protecting natural resources, with emphasis on bears and their habitats.

Qualified applicants will have specialized bear-related experience or graduate education in biology or wildlife management, and must document hours per week. Entry on duty is anticipated April 2027.

Qualifications

• Specialized bear-related experience or graduate study in biology/wildlife management.
• Hours per week must be shown on resume to reflect qualified experience.
• Experience with bear management, hazing, or related field activities is required or strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist with bear management operations and field data collection.
• Coordinate field activities and support data quality for bear monitoring.

Skills

Bear management

Field safety

Data collection

Education

Graduate study or 18 semester hours in biology/wildlife management

Job description

Biological Science Technicians perform field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources, including plants, wildlife, aquatic resources, and their habitats.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Seasonal Staffing Office-Intermountain Region is April-October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April, 2027. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/13/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page 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 (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position performs bear hazing (GS-6/7) and chemical immobilization (GS-7). Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level,

• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes experience associated with the biology, habitat, ecology, and/or behavior of bears, including bear-human conflict resolution management. For example, experience managing human activities near bears and bear activity near humans, and identifying and addressing bear management concerns; managing people and traffic at roadside bear-jams; investigating wildlife carcasses located near trails and campsites that might attract bears; maintaining bear culvert traps; conducting bear observation flights from fixed-wing aircraft; radio telemetry tracking of grizzly bears and/or black bears; assisting team leaders with bear hazing and capture operations; setting culvert traps for the live capture of bears; hazing bears with 12 gauge hazing rounds. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year (18 semester hours hours) of graduate education in courses in a field of study directly related to the position to be filled (for example, biology or wildlife management). You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level,

• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes experience associated with the biology, habitat, ecology, and/or behavior of bears, including bear-human conflict resolution management. Experience associated with the biology, habitat, ecology, and/or behavior of bears, including bear-human conflict resolution management. For example, experience managing human activities near bears and bear activity near humans, and identifying and addressing bear management concerns; managing people and traffic at roadside bear-jams; investigating wildlife carcasses located near trails and campsites that might attract bears; maintaining bear culvert traps; overseeing data collection by the Biological Science Technicians, and assuring the quality of data collected; conducting bear observation flights from fixed-wing aircraft; radio telemetry tracking of grizzly bears and/or black bears; setting culvert traps for the live capture of bears; assisting in chemical immobilization procedures to safely capture, handle, mark, and monitor vital signs of captured grizzly and/or black bears; serving as a hazing team member to haze bears with 12-gauge hazing rounds; organizing and scheduling field activities in consultation with the Bear Management Biologist; assisting with or preparing sections of bear management reports; serving as a safety role model and assisting less experienced workers in field operations. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• EDUCATION: One year (18 semesters) of graduate education in courses in a field of study directly related to the position to be filled (for example, biology or wildlife management). You must include transcripts. -OR-
• Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience and half a year of directly related graduate level education. You must include transcripts.

NOTE: If you are qualifying based in part on education, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards

Volunteer Experience:

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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.