Biological Science Technician (Bears) (Seasonal)

Summary

Biological Science Technicians perform field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources, including plants, wildlife, aquatic resources, and their habitats.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Seasonal Staffing Office-Intermountain Region is April-October , but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April, 2027.

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Duties

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Some of the Biological Science Technician (Bears) Duties include but are not limited to :

• Assist with bear capture operations using/setting culvert traps, leg-hold snares, jab-stick, and free-dart techniques.
• Conduct bear hazing operations.
• Collect/record biological field data.
• Use firearms for wildlife management duties (hazing of habituated wildlife, aggressive, injured wildlife, safety protocols during the trapping/handling of wildlife, protection of team members).
• Manage people and traffic at roadside bear-jams.
• Chemical immobilization of captured bears (GS-7 only).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
  • Use find a park to contact specific parks for more information on government housing.
• Motorboat operation required. Selectee will receive appropriate training in motorboat operations and will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing;
• You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work.
• You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license will be required in such cases.
  • You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.
• You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• Use of non-LE firearms, you will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/13/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page 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.Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position performs bear hazing (GS-6/7) and chemical immobilization (GS-7). Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes experience associated with the biology, habitat, ecology, and/or behavior of bears, including bear-human conflict resolution management. For example, experience managing human activities near bears and bear activity near humans, and identifying and addressing bear management concerns; managing people and traffic at roadside bear-jams; investigating wildlife carcasses located near trails and campsites that might attract bears; maintaining bear culvert traps; conducting bear observation flights from fixed-wing aircraft; radio telemetry tracking of grizzly bears and/or black bears; assisting team leaders with bear hazing and capture operations; setting culvert traps for the live capture of bears; hazing bears with 12 gauge hazing rounds. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year (18 semester hours hours) of graduate education in courses in a field of study directly related to the position to be filled (for example, biology or wildlife management). You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

• SPECIALIZED 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). Specialized experience includes experience associated with the biology, habitat, ecology, and/or behavior of bears, including bear-human conflict resolution management. Experience associated with the biology, habitat, ecology, and/or behavior of bears, including bear-human conflict resolution management. For example, experience managing human activities near bears and bear activity near humans, and identifying and addressing bear management concerns; managing people and traffic at roadside bear-jams; investigating wildlife carcasses located near trails and campsites that might attract bears; maintaining bear culvert traps; overseeing data collection by the Biological Science Technicians, and assuring the quality of data collected; conducting bear observation flights from fixed-wing aircraft; radio telemetry tracking of grizzly bears and/or black bears; setting culvert traps for the live capture of bears; assisting in chemical immobilization procedures to safely capture, handle, mark, and monitor vital signs of captured grizzly and/or black bears; serving as a hazing team member to haze bears with 12-gauge hazing rounds; organizing and scheduling field activities in consultation with the Bear Management Biologist; assisting with or preparing sections of bear management reports; serving as a safety role model and assisting less experienced workers in field operations. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
• EDUCATION: One year (18 semesters) of graduate education in courses in a field of study directly related to the position to be filled (for example, biology or wildlife management). You must include transcripts. -OR-
• Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience and half a year of directly related graduate level education. You must include transcripts.

NOTE: If you are qualifying based in part on education, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.

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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and that (1) deemed your education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program, or (2) given full credit for courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The salary range on this vacancy does not grant an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE 1039 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment combined total of 1039 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1039 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

*This position may be filled under a temporary seasonal appointment not-to-exceed 1560 hours rather than 1039 hours depending on the park and program*

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals.

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, .

Some positions filled with this announcement may be covered by a union.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.