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Seasonal Biologist

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
This job announcement has closed

Summary

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

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

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
03/03/2026 to 03/09/2026
Salary
$33.44 to - $43.47 per hour

An additional 1.49% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary above. Pay is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Juneau, AK
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% 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
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AK-1537-GLBA-26-12898398-LH
Control number
859160900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using the Alaska National 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 Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, by reason of having either lived or worked in or near the unit may apply. See Qualifications section for eligibility requirements.

Duties

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Duties of the position include but are not limited to the following:

  • Positions involved with research and monitoring of seabirds, marine mammals, intertidal communities, and/or oceanography or in the determination, establishment, and application of biological facts, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary for research, monitoring conservation of park resources.
  • Organizes, schedules, and executes a wide variety of established natural resource management projects, including both field and office work. Plans field projects, independently choosing from among several possible courses of
  • action at different stages of each project (e.g., selects site locations, sampling techniques, appropriate equipment, logistics, etc.). Collects and organizes field data using standardized data collection procedures and equipment; uses judgment to apply precedents and established techniques to new situations. Ensures adequate quality control of data collected. Performs field and laboratory analysis of collected samples. Records all data collected and provides preliminary analysis and classification of the information.
  • Makes field observations of natural resource conditions. Evaluates observed conditions and problems, and interprets variables, trends, correlations, and interrelationships among data and conditions.
  • Prepares draft project reports which include literature research, descriptions of methods, preliminary data analysis, graphs and charts, results, and recommendations for planning, protection, and mitigation activities.
  • Provides logistical support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientists; provides technical information, ensures quality control, and solves logistical or operational problems within the scope of the incumbent's authority.
  • Installs, operates, and maintains resource management equipment (e.g., binoculars, sampling equipment, GPS devices, tools, sampling, monitoring, photographic, and oceanographic equipment). Inventories equipment, evaluates quality assurance compliance and calibrates equipment as necessary.
  • Provides advice, assistance, and training to students, student conservation assistants, and volunteers involved in resource management projects and field research.
  • Utilizes a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, analyze, and report data and other resource management information, including research and long-term monitoring projects. Maintains and organizes computer databases.
  • Provides information to other employees and visitors about the natural resource management program. May develop and present related interpretive programs to the public.

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.
  • 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, overtime and shift work.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 12 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/16/2026-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 application package 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" Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is the area within the State of Alaska that extends from Dixon Entrance on the south to Icy Bay on the north. (See map of local hire geographic area)

-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:

  • Substantial practical and technical knowledge of the methods, procedures, and technology of one or more of the biological and/or marine sciences including but not limited to the study of marine birds, marine mammals, intertidal communities, oceanography, and/or marine ecosystems and the skill to apply that knowledge with only general supervision in order to solve practical problems in a wide range of functions.
  • Knowledge of data collection techniques, including operation of testing and sampling equipment, biological and physical analysis methods, and conducting observations of biological systems, etc.
  • Knowledge and experience using GIS, excel, access, and other mapping and database formats.
  • Knowledge and experience using basic statistics and sampling design.
  • Experience working in the marine environment and in remote regions from vessels and/or aircraft.
  • Ability to follow detailed sampling and laboratory procedures, train others to accurately follow procedures, and recognize departures from established quality control/quality assurance guidelines.
  • Ability to recognize, record, and adapt to unusual conditions or data encountered in the normal course of work.
  • Basic understanding of resource management principles and techniques to support the broader natural resource function.
  • Ability to communicate information in a clear and concise manner, including the ability to develop reports and present information.
  • Knowledge of database management, word processing, and specialized software programs essential to 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.
  • All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee.
  • Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.
  • Selectee may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries.
Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying of heavy objects. Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time.

Work Environment: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep rocky terrain, arctic environments, and forests. Flying in fixed and rotary wing aircraft is possible.

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 application package does not clearly reflect having lived / worked within the area of consideration, does not clearly 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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