Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Water)

Full Job Description

The purpose of the position is to perform a wide variety of complex biological science technical support functions.

This position is expected to facilitate the aquatic invasive species monitoring and response program; however, you will also regularly assist the park's water quality monitoring program with a variety of projects.

This position is located within the Division of Natural Resource Management at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/02/2026-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-07 grade level, you must possess one 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 activities such as leading or coordinating field work in natural resource management, leading a volunteer natural resource monitoring program, wetland restoration, macroinvertebrate or amphibian inventory and monitoring, or assisting a higher-level specialist in developing field aquatic resources projects and initial analysis of data.

You must include start/end dates and hours per week worked.

OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate level study in a related field of scientific or technical study, such as in biology, microbiology, geology, watershed management, aquatic/wetland ecology, invasive species, invertebrate zoology, etc.

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

You must include start/end dates and hours per week worked.

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:

You will implement aquatic invasive species management projects, which will include a variety of monitoring tasks, including managing a citizen science volunteer monitoring program.

You will train, schedule, and lead volunteers with aquatic invasive species monitoring and control programs.

GS-07 Major Duties: Organizes, schedules, and executes aquatic invasive species management projects.

Identifies and enumerates a variety of aquatic invasive species, including invasive invertebrates, plants, pathogens, and fish and other aquatic vertebrates.

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.

Installs, operates, and maintains resource management equipment (e.g., tools, traps, and sampling, monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment).

Utilizes a variety of computer programs, including ArcGIS, to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, analyze, and report data and other resource management information, including natural science research and long-term monitoring projects.

Government Housing May Be Available. Park Information: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is within a beautiful scenic resort area on the shores of Lake Michigan .

Housing, medical facilities, shopping, churches, banks, daycare, and recreational opportunities are readily available within a 30 mile radius from park headquarters in Empire.

High temperatures average between 70-80 degrees in the summer and low temperatures average between 10-20 degrees in winter. Shared government housing may be available for rent.

For additional area information, please visit www.nps.gov/slbe.