Supervisory Biologist - Direct Hiring Authority

Full Job Description

This position is located in Harrison, Arkansas at the Buffalo National River, in the Division of Interpretation and Resource.

The Supervisory Biologist manages visitor services, public information, park identity and orientation, interpretation, education, cultural and natural resources, the cooperating association, and the volunteer program for Buffalo National River.

Requirements Continued...

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/11/2026-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 qualified specialized experience.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Transcripts must be submitted.

OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Transcripts must be submitted and hours per week listed on resume.

In addition to the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level, you must possess all 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-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

This experience includes, but is not limited to, experience studying multidisciplinary aspects of ecosystems and natural resource management demonstrated through professional presentations, professional publications and other technical writing.

Experience applying a variety of natural resource management programs and disciplines for the development of short-term and long-term plans and strategies related to ecosystem and natural resource management, applying the roles and authorities of state and federal laws, regulations and policies regarding public land management, including the conservation of natural resources including the National Park Service policies, the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other relevant laws and regulations to upholding the missions of United States public lands.

Professional knowledge of policies and guidelines pertaining to fund management, administrative, personnel laws, and fiscal responsibilities, cooperative agreements, and grant and contract administration.

You must include 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:

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Manage and oversee the park's integrated natural and cultural resource programs, including archaeology, history, wildlife, botany, ecology, museum collections, hydrology, and physical sciences; develop long-range resource stewardship plans; and ensure compliance with National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA), Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal laws.

Plan, develop, and execute complex natural resource and cultural resource management programs that include annual and long-range planning to include oversight of a multi-year budget and operating program.

Exercise full supervisory and program management authority, including, but not limited to staffing, performance management, training, strategic planning, budgeting, project development, funding justification, and administration of program resources to meet park objectives and maintain operational effectiveness.

Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Division of Resource Stewardship, Science, Interpretation, and Education, overseeing visitor services, public information, interpretive operations, education programs, cooperating association activities, and the park-wide volunteer program.

AREA INFORMATION Buffalo National River was established in 1972 as the country's first national river; the park protects 135 miles of river from near its origin in the Boston Mountains to the confluence with the White River in Northwest Arkansas.

Nearly 100,000 acres in size, roughly one third of the park's land base is designated wilderness.

Heavily wooded and extremely rugged terrains are found throughout the park along with numerous hidden caves and waterfalls. There are over 100 miles of maintained trails for hiking and horseback use.

There are two developed campgrounds and eight primitive campgrounds throughout the entire park.

Of the two developed campgrounds, only one offers amenities such as water and electricity hook ups for visitors.

There is one visitor center in each of the three districts, two of which are staffed and open to the public year-round. Harrison has a population of approximately 14,000 people.

Harrison offers K-12 schools, a community college, restaurants, shopping, groceries, a movie theatre, a performing arts theatre, a hospital, and specialized clinics.

There are several rental properties, as well as homes to purchase within Harrison and Boone County.