Field Unit Local Hiring Authority (FUL) - Biologist

US National Park Service; Empire Township (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore seeks a Biologist for a GS-09 term appointment to support natural resource programs with emphasis on habitat restoration and invasive species control. You will coordinate multi-component projects with staff and partners, and use ArcGIS to analyze data and select restoration sites.

The appointment is term-based (over 1 year) with potential extension; a 2-year trial period applies during which performance and public interest alignment are evaluated.

Qualifications

• One full year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, involving habitat restoration or natural resources projects.
• Ability to use ArcGIS to analyze data and select restoration sites.
• Experience coordinating multi-component projects with staff and partners.
• Must meet Time-in-Grade requirements and provide hours worked per week in resume.

Skills

Habitat restoration

Invasive species control

ArcGIS

Data analysis

Project coordination

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Degree in biological sciences or related field

Combination of education and experience

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

Requirements Continued...

You will serve as a Biologist for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of ten years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition at management's discretion.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/17/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements:

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

• A. Degree: A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You must include academic transcripts to support your answer with your application package. You must submit transcripts.

-OR-

• B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Experience at this level must include: organizing, scheduling and executing natural resource projects with multiple components, staff crews, or programs; determining and overseeing habitat restoration and invasive plant control efforts; developing and implementing site restoration plans; using computer software including ArcGIS to analyze data and select suitable sites for restoration; communicating with external agencies and partners to gain knowledge and foster collaboration related to landscape restoration projects. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

• Education: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in the fields described in the requirements above. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

• A Combination of education and experience.

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.