Seasonal Wildlife Biologist

Full Job Description

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 extends the time limitation to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment. This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/05/2026-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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following basic requirements for the Wildlife Biology Series 0486: A.

You must possess a Bachelor's Degree or higher degree with a major in biological science that included at least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and at least 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, or research courses in such subjects (Excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate.); and at least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences.

(You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.) OR B.

You must have a combination of education and experience equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects, 12 semester hours in zoology, and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant science, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

(NOTE: The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field).

(You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.) IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, TO QUALIFY FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL OF THIS POSITION, YOU MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: A.

You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience includes activities such as applying methods of wildlife management; conducting wildlife research projects; managing data acquisition and analysis for wildlife and natural resource projects with spatial data.

OR B.

You must have 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field of study directly related to the position.

(You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.) OR C. You must have a combination of education and experience.

To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours in excess of 18 semester hours by 18 or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study.

To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. They must equal 100% to qualify using this option.

(You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.) 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:

The parks and duty stations hiring for these positions are below, as is each park's anticipated seasonal period.

The typical seasonal period may vary during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Bartlett Cove): May - October Southwest Alaska Network (Anchorage): May - October Wrangell-St.

Elias National Park & Preserve (Copper Center): May - September Work includes, but is not limited to the following: Conducts biological surveys to monitor wildlife populations and wildlife/human interactions.

Conducts backpack, kayak, and motor vessel-based field data collection for wildlife and plant programs with ability and willingness to kayak, camp, and work in extreme weather conditions and under difficult logistical circumstances.

(Terrestrial only) Operates a motorboat to conduct fieldwork in extreme weather conditions and under difficult logistical circumstances.

(Whales only) Organizes and manages the application of Geographic Information Systems and spatial data collection in support of wildlife and natural resource management data collection and analysis.

Monitors, tracks, and responds to human-wildlife interactions to mitigate conflicts.

Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying of heavy objects.

Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings.

Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time.

Work Environment: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather.

Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep rocky terrain, arctic environments, and forests. Flying in fixed and rotary wing aircraft is possible.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. Salary and COLA subject to annual review and adjustment.

An additional 3% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary for Barlett Cove and Copper Center.

An additional 1.49% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary for Anchorage.