Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)

Full Job Description

You will perform a wide variety of biological science technical support related to fisheries.

You will assist aquatic research biologists with investigations of the biological and physical-chemical components of the park's aquatic ecosystem by carrying out sampling programs that require following established protocols.

Open to the first 50 applicants or until 01/28/2026 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-01/28/2026-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.

GS-04 grade level: To qualify, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications: EXPERIENCE: Six months of general experience AND 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of the position to be filled.

NOTE: Excess specialized experience beyond the required 6 months may be substituted for general experience.

General experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position to be filled and/or shows your familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include assisting in conducting biological field studies and surveys and assembling the information.

Follow standardized procedures to collect data on condition of resources. Use statistical methods and procedures to perform routine testing of field data collected.

water quality sampling; zooplankton sampling; sediment sampling; conducting aquatic environmental monitoring. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.

At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled (i.e., fisheries biology, aquatic ecology, limnology, plankton ecology, microbial ecology, phycology, malacology, aquatic resources management).

You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above.

For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the experience) combined with 1 year of education as outlined above (50% of the education), which included at least 6 semester hours of scientific or technical courses [biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics] and at least 3 semester hours of directly related course.

You must include hours per week worked AND include transcripts.

GS-05 grade level: To qualify, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications: EXPERIENCE: You must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level.

For this position, specialized experience is experience performing biological work relating to the biological and/or physical chemical components of aquatic ecosystems or their subparts such as: water quality sampling; zooplankton sampling; sediment sampling; conducting aquatic environmental monitoring and management activities to document and assess environmental or natural resource conditions; fish or other aquatic animal presence, abundance, reproduction, management issues, and population dynamics; or other similar biological resource management and assessment activities using established protocols and standard scientific equipment; and that has included as a duty and responsibility data entry and data management using Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, ArcGIS, Pathfinder Office, or comparable software programs.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four (4) years of education above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field of scientific or technical study, such as in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, wildlife biology, or other directly related subject matter.

At least six (6) semester hours of courses must be directly related to this position (i.e., fisheries biology, aquatic ecology, limnology, plankton ecology, microbial ecology, phycology, malacology, aquatic resources management).

You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above.

Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements.

Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience.

For example, if you have six (6) months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and three (3) years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework and 3 hours directly related to the position as specified above (50% of the related coursework required).

The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week worked AND include transcripts.

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. Major Duties:

Some of the duties you will perform include but are not limited to: Sample fish by multiple methods in a set of study lakes in the backcountry of Voyageurs National Park Collect data and samples in support of two water quality monitoring programs Participate in research projects focused on fish communities, harmful algal blooms, and aquatic invasive species Assist higher-level specialists/technicians in conducting monitoring to detect aquatic invasive species.

Perform laboratory work associated with this research and monitoring Operate motorboats to travel to work destinations. Motorboat training will be provided.

As assigned, perform resource management tasks and duties supporting the mission of the park.

These may include, but are not limited to, assisting higher-level specialists/technicians in conducting biological aquatic monitoring programs, biological aquatic surveys, and water quality measurements.

Located in the North Woods, Voyageurs National Park is a water-based park, and travel by motorboat is required to conduct fieldwork. Voyageurs National Park is located in northern Minnesota.

The park encompasses over 218,000 acres of boreal forest and water along the Canadian border.

The park is a class one air shed, and the lakes of the park are identified as outstanding resource value waters within the State.

Lakes include Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point; along with 26 smaller remote lakes.

The area made up a portion of the Voyageurs highway that opened the North American Continent to European settlement.

The waterways of the park were integral to the growth and movement of the Ojibwe people of the region.

Within the park there are over 200 campsites, 3 visitor centers; and a concession operated hotel, only accessible by boat, or plane; there are 45 miles of trails; 3 boat launches; and about 15 miles of roads.

The park is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park.

International Falls is the full-service gateway community at the north entrance, offering a hospital, two medical clinics, shopping, schools, community college, movie theater, bowling alley, community center and churches.

International Falls also serves as the gateway to Canada, so those who are visiting may also include a day trip to our sister city, Fort Frances, Ontario Park website: http://www.nps.gov/VOYA Facebook: Voyageurs National Park | Facebook This announcement is clearing Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (I/CTAP) for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.