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Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Alaska Region

Summary

Open to the first 350 applicants or until 12/12/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

These positions are temporary and may not exceed 1039 hours (six months) in a service year. They may be terminated sooner or extended depending on management needs.

Selectees may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries. Positions/grades may not be filled at every duty station.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/08/2025 to 12/12/2025
This job will close when we have received 350 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$21.85 to - $35.19 per hour

Plus a 3% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), which is subject to annual adjustment and review.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Locations
Bartlett Cove, AK
1 vacancy
Copper Center, AK
3 vacancies
Port Alsworth, AK
8 vacancies
Sitka, AK
6 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - Not to Exceed 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
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-AKRO-26-12804580-DE
Control number
851687300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL).

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Duties

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Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selected employees.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for each duty station is listed below. These employment periods can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA) - Bartlett Cove, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is May - Oct. Anticipated Entrance on Duty: May 2026.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (LACL) - Port Alsworth, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is May - Oct. Anticipated Entrance on Duty: May 2026.

Sitka National Historical Park (SITK) - Sitka, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is May - Sept. Anticipated Entrance on Duty: May 2026.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST) - Copper Center and Slana, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is April - Sept. Anticipated Entrance on Duty: April 2026.

Duties of the positions include, but are not limited to the following:
Install, operate, and maintain resource management equipment (e.g., tools, traps, and sampling, monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment), inventory equipment, evaluate quality assurance compliance, and calibrate equipment as necessary to assist biologists in executing and reporting of fishery activities.

Collect and report fishery data using standardized data collection procedures and equipment, utilizing a variety of computer programs to compile and report data and other resource management information, including research and long-term monitoring projects.

Provide information to other employees and visitors about the natural resource management program.

In addition to the above duties at the GS-6 and GS-7 level you will also: analyze fishery data and test conditions; may develop and present related interpretive programs to the public; provide advice, assistance and training to students, and volunteers; and prepare diagrams, charts and graphs.

In addition to the above duties at the GS-7 level you will also: prepare reports and act as a crew leader on a variety of fisheries projects.

Additional Position Information:

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.

Work Environment: 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 involve exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Government Housing is available at - Port Alsworth, Alaska duty station.

Government Housing may be available at - Bartlett Cove, Copper Center, Sitka, and Slana, Alaska duty stations.

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.
  • At the Port Alsworth duty station, you will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • At the Port Alsworth duty station, you will be required to submit to a drug test 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 may 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 20 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • At the Port Alsworth duty station, you will be required to operate a small watercraft less than 26 feet in length. This position is subject to drug testing.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/12/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the number of hours worked per week, full-time, or part-time. If you indicate part-time, you MUST indicate the number of hours worked per week so that your qualifying experience can be prorated for credit.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full 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: assisting in field or laboratory assignments in support of fisheries-biology related activities; participating in fisheries-biology related tests or tasks such as: fish counts, sampling fish or trapping fish. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successfully completed at least four years of education above high school (120 semester hours, 180 quarter hours, or equivalent) leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study or at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours), or equivalent, in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or other directly related subject matter. At least 6 semester hours must be directly related to Ichthyology. You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

-OR-

A COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours, or equivalent, earned, in excess of the first 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours), or equivalent, and divide by 60 (or 90), or the equivalent. Take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the two percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must submit a copy of your transcripts and include hours worked per week in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 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: executing field or laboratory assignments in support of fisheries-biology related activities; performing fisheries-biology related tests and tasks such as: fish counts, sampling fish and trapping fish to record scientific data. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 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: planning and executing field or laboratory assignments in support of fisheries-biology related activities; performing fisheries-biology related tests to make recommendations for planning, protection and mitigation activities; conducting tasks such as fish counts, sampling fish and trapping fish to record scientific data to prepare reports. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION:
Successfully completed at least one full year (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or equivalent) of graduate level course work, that is directly related to the work of the position from an accredited college or university. Examples of directly related studies include ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology. You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

-OR-

A COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent, earned towards a graduate degree that are directly related to the work of the position, and divide by 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours), or the equivalent. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must submit copies of your transcripts and include hours worked per week in your resume.

Volunteer 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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

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.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1039 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Fishery Biology
  • Technical Competence
  • Technical Application
  • Applies Technology to Task (GS-6 and GS-7 only)
  • Writing (GS-7 only)
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

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