Seasonal Biological Science Technician

Full Job Description

Biological Science Technicians at Colonial National Historical Park support natural resource programs by conducting field surveys, monitoring wildlife, vegetation, soils, and water resources, maintaining scientific equipment, managing and analyzing data, and assisting with restoration and resource protection projects that sustain the park's ecological integrity.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/02/2026-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, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: GS-07 Qualifications Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level performing biological fieldwork; collecting and recording scientific data; conducting preliminary analysis of samples; monitoring wildlife, vegetation, soils, or water resources; maintaining field equipment; and assisting with natural resource management projects.

You must include hours worked per week. -or- Education: One full year of graduate-level education directly related to biological sciences. You must include transcripts.

-or- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify. When combining, only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours is creditable.

You must include transcripts.

GS-09 Qualifications Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level designing or coordinating biological field projects; collecting, verifying, and analyzing scientific data; developing or adapting sampling methods; preparing technical reports or data products; implementing resource management or restoration activities; and using GIS, GPS, or database systems to manage natural resource information.

You must include hours worked per week.

-or- Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's degree, in a field directly related to biological sciences.

You must include transcripts. -or- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify.

When combining, only graduate education beyond the first 36 semester hours is creditable. You must 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.

ICTAP/CTAP - Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection.

Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP.

This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible.

If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.

Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

1560 Exception: NOTE: In support of Executive Order (EO) 14189 "Celebrating America's 205th Birthday" and EO 14314 "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks" the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved an exception to the 1039 hour time limitation for this position.

This approval can extend the time limitation to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment. Major Duties:

GS-07 Duties: Organizes, schedules, and carries out established natural resource management projects, selecting appropriate field methods, sampling techniques, equipment, and logistics.

Collects, records, and conducts preliminary analysis of biological, physical, and environmental data using standardized procedures and ensures data quality.

Makes field observations of natural resource conditions, evaluates trends or unusual findings, and recommends management actions based on existing plans and guidelines.

Prepares draft project reports including literature review, methods, preliminary data summaries, graphs, and recommendations for resource protection or mitigation.

Installs, operates, and maintains field and laboratory equipment and provides technical guidance.

GS-09 Duties: Designs, coordinates, and executes complete conventional biological research, inventory, monitoring, or restoration projects, independently determining project steps and methods.

Performs advanced data collection, verification, statistical analysis, and interpretation and prepares detailed technical reports, data products, and manuscript segments.

Develops or adapts sampling procedures, field techniques, and specialized equipment and resolves complex technical issues while ensuring data quality and compliance.

Provides technical leadership in implementing biological resource management actions such as vegetation management, wildlife monitoring, restoration activities, and long-term ecological studies.

Manages project logistics, schedules, and documentation and assists with proposals, scopes of work, cost estimates, and coordination with scientists, cooperators, and partner agencies.

Important Note for Applicants Only one position will be filled at the GS-07 and one at the GS-09 level. This announcement does not have promotion potential and is not a career-ladder position.