Biological Science Technician (Seasonal)

US National Park Service; Boulder City (NV); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The US National Park Service seeks Biological Science Technicians to support field and technical work monitoring and protecting plants, wildlife, aquatic resources and habitats.

Seasonal work lasts roughly November through May with a target entry in November 2026; open to the first 80 applicants or until 10/23/2026. Qualifications include an established path of education or experience in natural sciences, with transcripts required for education-based qualifications.

Qualifications

• Six months general experience and six months specialized experience total one year.
• Two years of college study with 12 semester hours including 6 related to this position.
• Note: transcripts required for education-based qualifications.
• Volunteer experience may be credited.
• Qualifying experience may be in private or public sectors.

Responsibilities

• Assist with plant/vegetation inventories and surveys.
• Collect field data related to plants, vegetation, or habitats.
• Assist with vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, and weeding.

Education

Two years college study

Bachelor's degree related field

Experience + education mix

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 is November - May, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: November 2026.

Open to the first 80 applicants or until 10/23/2026 whichever comes first. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/23/2026-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.

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:

1. Assisting with basic plant or vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys;
2. collecting and recording field data related to plants, vegetation, or associated habitats; and
3. assisting with routine vegetation management activities such as seed collection, planting, propagation, weeding, or other plant maintenance activities.

-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.

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.

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:

1. Applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage threats to native plants, vegetation, and associated habitats;
2. performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; and
3. 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.