Seasonal Biologist
National Park Service
Posted: January 5, 2026 (10 days ago)
This job has been posted for 1-2 weeks. Still a good time to apply.
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
This seasonal deckhand role involves helping operate a park vessel in Alaska's Glacier Bay, including loading cargo and passengers, maintaining safety equipment, and assisting with minor boat repairs during transfers to cruise ships.
It's a part-time temporary job from April to October, focused on supporting park rangers in a remote, watery environment.
Ideal candidates are reliable locals with boating experience, physical stamina, and a strong sense of safety who enjoy outdoor work in challenging weather.
This is a part-time (20 hours per week) temporary position, not to exceed 1039 hours. This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status.
The typical season for this position is April to early October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.
The anticipated entry on duty is April 2026. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 01/23/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required.
Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.
-AND- To be eligible your resume must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraph.
Areas considered "near" Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is the area within the State of Alaska that extends from Dixon Entrance on the south to Icy Bay on the north.
(See map of local hire geographic area) -ALSO- The following are the competencies identified for this position.
Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document, but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies.
Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. Knowledge and ability to assist with maintenance, cleanliness, and minor repairs of motor vessels.
Knowledge of and skill in the use of marine safety and survival equipment. Knowledge of and skill in recognizing and correcting unsafe practices. Ability to instruct and lead others in safe practices.
Reliability and dependability as a Deckhand to communicate effectively in support of boat navigation and operations. Major Duties:
This position is located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the Interpretation Division.
Duties of the position include, but are not limited to the following: Assists in daily operation of the National Park Service Vessel that transports park rangers to and from cruise ships.
Loading and unloading of cargo and passengers including during underway personnel transfers to ships, casting off, securing vessel for sea, maintaining watch while underway, recovering people from the water in an emergency and rendering first aid, maintaining safety equipment, securing vessel to dock, assisting boat operator in maintenance and minor repairs of vessel.
This position may require strenuous physical activity including lifting and carrying cargo items up to 50 pounds each.
During training exercises and in case of emergency, the deckhand could be responsible for assisting and/or pulling passengers back into the boat.
Frequently work must be done at sea which is awkward due to slippery wet decks and the movement of the vessel. Please visit find a park for additional park information.
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