Physical Scientist

National Park Service; American Fork (UT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

National Park Service in Utah seeks a Physical Scientist for Timpanogos Cave National Monument. The position supports geology, caves and karst, soils, hydrology, air quality, acoustics, paleontology, and related fields and activities.

The incumbent will develop and implement scientific programs, prepare management reports, and work with education staff to translate findings into park programming and public outreach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a physical science or related field.
• Experience conducting field-based geologic or hydrologic studies.
• Ability to prepare technical reports.

Responsibilities

• Advise on geology, caves, karst, soils, hydrology, and related fields.
• Develop and implement park scientific programs.
• Prepare management and scientific reports on protection, mitigation, restoration, and research.
• Collaborate with park education staff to integrate information into programs.

Skills

Geology

Hydrology

Paleontology

Soils

Air quality

Acoustics

Job description

Open: September 4, 2026 — Closes: September 17, 2026

Summary

You will serve as a Physical Scientist with National Park Service. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work from approximately mid-January through mid-December, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year (2 pay periods / 4 weeks).

Major Duties

Serve as a technical advisor in the physical sciences for Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Responsible for program development and implementation related to geology, caves and karst formations, soils, hydrology, hydrogeology, air quality, acoustics, paleontology, and related fields and activities. Prepare management and scientific reports regarding the results of protection, mitigation, restoration, inventory, monitoring, and research activities. Following established procedures and within a defined scope, conduct scientifically credible protection, mitigation, and restoration projects needed to prevent resource damage and to minimize human impacts. Work closely with park education staff to incorporate new information into park and partner education programs. Area/Housing Information: Timpanogos Cave National Monument is located on Utah State Hwy 92 in American Fork Canyon, 10 miles east of exit 284, I-15. The monument is surrounded by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, which includes several wilderness areas. It is located 10 minutes away from nearby cities of Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi, Pleasant Grove, and American Fork. There are plenty of premier outdoor activities that can be experienced near the monument such as camping, hunting, fishing, snow skiing, boating, rock-climbing, mountaineering, caving, and hiking. Schools with grades kindergarten through 12 are in all of the nearby cities. A wide selection of housing options, shopping facilities, hospitals, movie theaters, banks, churches, and universities are available all along the Wasatch Front. The State's main metropolitan population cities including Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden are all within a 1-hour drive radius. The Headquarters office elevation is 5,600 feet. Temperatures can range from below 0 in the winter to above 100 degrees F in the summer. Government housing is not available. For more information about Timpanogos Cave National Monument, please visit: Timpanogos Cave National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).