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Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Wildlife)

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.

Selectees may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries. Positions and grade levels 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 1.49% (Juneau & Fairbanks) and 3% (all other locations) Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Locations
Bartlett Cove, AK
3 vacancies
Copper Center, AK
1 vacancy
Denali Park, AK
7 vacancies
Fairbanks, AK
9 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
76% or greater - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AK-1537-AKRO-26-12840515-DE
Control number
851759200

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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The parks and duty stations hiring for these positions are below, as is each park's anticipated seasonal period. The typical seasonal period may vary during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

  • Denali National Park & Preserve (Denali Park): April - September
  • Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (Bartlett Cove): April - October
  • Katmai National Park & Preserve (King Salmon & Lake & Peninsula County. Applicants that apply to and are selected for Lake & Peninsula County will be duty stationed at Brooks Camp, AK): May - October
  • Kenai Fjords National Park (Seward): April - September
  • Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (Skagway): April - September
  • Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (Port Alsworth): May - October
  • Sitka National Historical Park (Sitka): May - September
  • Southeast Alaska Network (Juneau): May - October
  • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (Copper Center): May - September
  • Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve & Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve (Fairbanks): May - October
Work includes, but is not limited to the following:
Assists professional staff in implementing wildlife inventory and monitoring programs for a variety of possible species including seabirds, water birds, passerine birds, amphibians, small mammals, ungulates, bears, raptors, etc. in the front country and the remote backcountry areas of Alaskan National Parks. (For bird positions, must identify all birds in the study areas by sight and sound (calls and songs)). Assists in planning, logistical arrangements, field work, data entry and result summarization. Selectees will typically be stationed in the front country, but may be expected to live in primitive, remote backcountry camps in remote portions of the park for up to two weeks at a time, collecting natural resource data. Work includes field surveys to document and assess animal presence, abundance, reproduction, management issues, and population dynamics in various areas of the park using established protocols and standard equipment (including GPS).

Selectees will be required to: 1) safely hike long distances through mountainous terrain (on and off trail) in adverse weather conditions with a heavy backpack; 2) work and communicate closely with team members on extended field trips; and 3) navigate to plots off trail over rugged terrain, snowfields, dense vegetation, and streams. Work may be performed in areas frequented by bears (training on how to handle bear encounters will be given). Selectees will use computer software applications (e.g., Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, ArcGIS, Pathfinder Office, etc.) to store, retrieve, manage and analyze data, generate maps, and assist with creating reports and recommendations for natural resources projects.

Additional clarification/duties for the GS-06 and GS-07 levels:
  • Assists in analysis of data and completing reports or other documents related to the project.
  • GPS mapping, GIS data management, map production, managing and manipulating digital images and web or journal-based research.
  • Assists with other natural resource management projects, maintains and repairs field equipment, prepares for field trips, communicates resource management topics to park staff and visitors, implements bear-human interaction, including conducting/leading aversive conditioning on black or brown bears.
Additional clarification/duties for the GS-07 level:
  • Participates in planning, managing, conducting, analyzing data and writing reports on a variety of wildlife oriented biological surveys, monitoring and research activities.
  • Weather data collection, water quality data collection, and web or journal-based research and training other employees and volunteers to efficiently conduct these tasks.
At least one position at Bartlett Cove may be filled with the following additional duties:
This is primarily an office-based position to assist professional staff with data management for a humpback whale research and monitoring program in a remote backcountry setting. Keeping up with incoming data during a busy field season will require that you: 1) download, label and manage photographs and observation data daily, 2) use fluke identification photographs to identify individual whales, and 3) assist once per week on whale surveys which involve long hours out on the water in a small boat in rain, sun, cold, and wind. During weekly fieldwork you will 1) assist with documenting whale observations under standardized protocols and 2) assist with driving the research vessel after initial training.

Government housing is available at King Salmon, Lake and Peninsula County (Brooks Camp), Seward, and Port Alsworth. It may be available at Denali Park, Bartlett Cove, Skagway, Sitka, and Copper Center. It is not available at Juneau and Fairbanks.

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.
  • The following duties require drug testing for certain positions as described below:
    • Carrying a firearm in the back-country, or other locations, for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals for positions atKing Salmon, Lake and Peninsula County (Brooks Camp), Seward, Port Alsworth, and Fairbanks. Some positions at Denali Park require this duty. You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
    • Operation of small watercraft less than 26 feet in length (transporting of personnel (including visitors), tools, and materials/supplies to job/work sites) for positions at King Salmon, Lake and Peninsula County (Brooks Camp), Seward, and Port Alsworth. Some positions at Bartlett Cove and Fairbanks require this duty.
    • In the positions described above, you will be required to submit a drug test and receive negative drug test results prior to appointment and are subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • 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 25 nights per month.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Selectees for Skagway are required to obtain and maintain a valid US Passport or US Passport Card to enter Canada.

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.

Your resume must indicate the types of wildlife (birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and/or amphibians) that you have experience inventorying and monitoring.

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:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector) participating in wildlife inventory and monitoring activities for birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and/or amphibians. This experience includes participating in field surveys in remote locations to document and assess animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics using established protocols and standard scientific equipment, or similar. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION:
At least four years of education above high school (120 semester hours, 180 quarter hours, or equivalent) leading to a bachelor's degree with 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, 9 quarter hours, or equivalent, must be directly related to Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Management, or similar. You must submit transcripts and include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

A COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION 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 semester hours, 90 quarter hours, 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 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:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector) participating in wildlife inventory and monitoring activities for birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and/or amphibians. This experience includes assisting in field surveys in remote locations to document and assess animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics using established protocols and standard scientific equipment; collecting and entering wildlife data using computer software (such as Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, ArcGIS, Pathfinder Office, or comparable). 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:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector) conducting wildlife inventory and monitoring activities for birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and/or amphibians. This experience includes leading field surveys in remote locations to document and assess animal presence, abundance, reproduction, and population dynamics using established protocols and standard scientific equipment; managing, summarizing, or reporting wildlife data using computer software (such as Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, ArcGIS, Pathfinder Office, or comparable) to recommend wildlife management actions. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION:
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 Wildlife Biology and Wildlife Management. You must submit transcripts and include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

A COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION 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 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.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-06 level of 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.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. Salary and COLA subject to annual review and adjustment.

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 those selected.

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

Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment 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 involve exposure to hazardous chemicals.

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.

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. 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.

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:
  • Applies Technology to Tasks
  • Technical Competence
  • Technology Application
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Writing (GS-06 and GS-07 only)
  • Project Management (GS-07 only)
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

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