Biological Science Technician (Plants) (Seasonal)

Full Job Description

These positions are located in Inventory and Monitoring Data Networks, in the Inventory and Monitoring Division.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is May-September, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2026 Open to the first 200 applicants or until 03/13/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/13/2026-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 resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time).

If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least two or more of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes must include at least two or more of the following: 1) executing field studies on plants and plant ecology; 2) working with field crews in non-native plant eradication; 3) implementing vegetation management and monitoring or ecological restoration; 4) reporting data and other resource management information; and 5) providing advice, assistance, and training to lower graded employees and volunteers.

You must include hours per week worked. There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least two or more of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes must include at least two or more of the following: 1) collecting monitoring data on assorted physical restoration and vegetation management projects using specified sampling techniques and procedures; 2) monitoring rare, threatened or endangered plants and updating plant maps and files; 3) coordinating ecological restoration projects; 4) using standard statistical methods in the preparation of draft reports; and 5) providing work direction and guidance to field crews in vegetation monitoring, exotic plant control, or restoration projects.

You must include hours worked per week.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week.

Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

Experience listed as full-time will be credited at 40 hours per week. Major Duties:

The major duties of the Biological Science Technician include but are not limited to: Collect plant and soil data from remote sites across national park units in the intermountain west (CO, OK, NM, TX or ID, MT, WY) and identify perennial plants to species using latin binomials.

Carefully follow established network monitoring protocols.

Manage data throughout the life cycle, from pre-season preparation through active field data collection and season close-out including certification procedures.

Conduct fieldwork in remote backcountry settings and under difficult conditions in a safe and efficient manner.

Coordinate logistics such as daily and weekly work schedules, housing and camping arrangements, email communications to park staff, gear organization or purchase, and basic vehicle maintenance.

Maintain equipment, electronic data collection devices, and navigation devices.