Biological Science Technician (Plants)

National Park Service; United States; On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

National Park Service is recruiting Biological Science Technicians to support field and technical work for monitoring, managing, and protecting natural resources across U.S. national parks.

Roles span GS-04 to GS-06 levels, with pathways based on experience or education in biology or related sciences. The position emphasizes collecting field data, conducting vegetation inventories, seed collection, propagation, and habitat maintenance.

Qualifications

• GS-04 level requires 6 months general experience and 6 months specialized experience in basic plant inventories, data collection, and vegetation activities.
• GS-05 level requires one year of specialized experience or 4 years of education with relevant coursework.
• GS-06 level requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in Federal service.

Skills

Vegetation inventories

Field data collection

Habitat management

Education

Two years of college with 12 semester hours in biology/chemistry/statistics or related fields

Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific/technical field

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. Likely Entry on Duty: March - May 2027. Open to the first 700 applicants.

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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess one of the following:

• A. Six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience, for a total of one year of experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or provides familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad biological sciences field. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting with basic plant or vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; collecting and recording field data related to plants, vegetation, or associated habitats; and assisting with routine vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, weeding, or other plant maintenance activities. Excess specialized experience may substitute for general experience; however, excess general experience may not substitute for the required specialized experience.
• -OR- B. Successfully completed at least two (2) full years of college level study that includes at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, etc. At least six (6) semester hours were directly related to this position (i.e. plant taxonomy, botany, forestry, plant ecology, etc.).
• -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. For example, six (6) months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education above), along with 50% of the course-specific education stated above.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following:

• A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience may include: Applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage threats to native plants, vegetation, and associated habitats; performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; and participating in vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, and weeding.
• -OR- B. Successfully completed at least four years of education above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study in a related field of scientific or technical study, such as in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or other directly related subject matter; or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as those shown above. At least 6 semester hours must be directly related to this position (i.e., plant taxonomy, botany, forestry, plant ecology, etc.).
• -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. For example, six (6) months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education above), along with 50% of the course-specific education stated above.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess one of the following:

• A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is experience that equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abil