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Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Denali National Park and Preserve

Summary

This is a temporary position not to exceed 1039 hours.

This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status.

The typical season for this position is April through September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is April 2026.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/05/2026 to 01/16/2026
Salary
$27.34 to - $35.54 per hour

An additional 3% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary above. Pay is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Denali Park, AK
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AK-1537-DENA-26-12853396-LH
Control number
853470100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using the Alaska Nat'l Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), local hiring authority (16 USC 3198). Any U.S. Citizen who has acquired special knowledge or expertise regarding the natural or cultural resources of Denali Nat'l Park and Preserve, by reason of having either lived or worked in or near the unit may apply. To be eligible your resume must show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration (see qualifications section).

Duties

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If selected, you will work as a Biological Science Technician (Wildlife), GS-0404-07, at Denali National Park and Preserve. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Monitor/patrol campgrounds, residences, concessions and construction areas frequently and consistently and ensure that food and garbage are stored in wildlife resistant containers.
  • Present bear safety information to NPS employees, concession, commercial employees and to the general public.
  • Enter updates to Daily Log regarding activities accomplished, wildlife observations, and any other notable events at the end of each work day.
  • Produce end of season report in final form by last day of the season.
  • Enter and review bear and wolf incident data into database.
  • Analyze and report data correctly.
  • Respond to wildlife incidents in a timely and appropriate manner.
  • Implement wildlife closures as needed. Monitor closures and provide updates to Supervisor. Open closures as directed.
  • Update Supervisor continuously of any real or potential wildlife management or safety concerns.
  • Respond to reports of human-bear conflict and deploy wildlife management strategies as needed and outlined in Bear-Human Conflict Management Plan (BMP). Conduct aversive conditioning on grizzly and black bears.
  • Assist with other wildlife related or resources projects as assigned.


Overnight travel can occur up to six nights per month. Backcountry wildlife investigations may involve hiking in wilderness. Close encounters with grizzly bears, black bears, moose, wolves and other wildlife are likely at work locations. Safety training will include living and working in bear, moose, and wolf habitat and traveling in remote wilderness locations. Firearms training will be provided, and firearms qualifications will be required. Training in the use of aversive non-lethal ammunition will be conducted. Incumbent must follow safety protocols and regulations.

Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.

  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.

  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.

  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.

  • This position is subject to drug testing based on the collateral duty requiring firearms in the back-country or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals.

  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.

  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime.

  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to six nights per month.

  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 01/16/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.

-AND-

To be eligible your resume must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraph.

Areas considered "near" Denali National Park and Preserve, Toklat, and Wonder Lake duty stations include only: Anderson, Cantwell, Chulitna, Clear, Curry, Denali Park, Ferry, Healy, Kantishna, Lake Minchumina, McKinley Village, Nenana, Nikolai, Petersville, Talkeetna, Tanana, Telida, and Trapper Creek.

-ALSO-

The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies.

  1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of wildlife biology and wildlife management.
  2. Ability to carry out biological/scientific work in remote locations.
  3. Ability to communicate effectively (interpersonal skills).
  4. Skill with computer use and with computer software programs.
  5. Knowledge of standard Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) procedures and other data management systems relating to natural resource management activities.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the required special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof as outlined in this announcement.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Government housing is not available.

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.

Selectee may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries.

Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may include exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents, responses to the questions in the assessment). If your resume does not reflect having lived / worked within the area of consideration, if your responses to the questions in the assessment do not reflect special knowledge of the natural and/or cultural resources of the park or preserve, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

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.

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