Biological Science Technician

Summary You will serve as a Biological Science Technician at the Hopewell Culture National Historic Park in Chillicothe, Ohio. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. Responsibilities At the full performance level (GS-09) grade level, the major duties of this position include but are not limited to: Independently plans and executes complex phases of natural resource research and monitoring projects, selecting appropriate scientific methods, developing new or improved sampling procedures, and performing advanced field and laboratory techniques requiring a high degree of technical skill. Leads advanced data management and analysis efforts by conducting statistical evaluation of long-term monitoring datasets, developing GIS/GPS data dictionaries and spatial data inventories, ensuring data quality and certification standards, and producing publication-ready scientific reports, graphics, and documentation. Provides technical oversight and project coordination by developing work plans, scopes of work, and cost estimates; supporting compliance and planning documents; assisting scientists in designing protection, mitigation, and restoration strategies; and offering training, guidance, and logistical support to cooperators, students, and partners Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Salary Range Information (Per Annum): First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. GS-07: $52,654 (Step 1) - $68,452 (Step 10) GS-08: $58,312 (Step 1*) - $75,803 (Step 10) GS-09: $64,406 (Step 1*) - $83,733 (Step 10) Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and/or purchase authority. 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. 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. Additional Requirements located under qualifications Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/29/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Collecting, recording, and organizing biological or natural resource field or laboratory data using established procedures; Assisting with natural resource monitoring, inventory, restoration, research, or management activities; AND Preparing or maintaining technical records, reports, databases, or other documentation supporting biological or ecological projects. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 1 full year of graduate education in an accredited educational institution (18 semester hour or 27 quarter hours) directly related to this position. Examples of directly related education are biology, botany, range science, forestry, ecology, environmental science, zoology, fisheries, animal husbandry, natural resource management or other directly related fields. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. 6 months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and half a year of directly related graduate level education. -------------------------------------------------------------------- To qualify for this position at the GS-08 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Independently organizing and conducting biological resource monitoring, inventory, restoration, or research activities; Evaluating field conditions, interpreting biological or ecological data, and recommending actions based on established guidance; AND Maintaining specialized field or laboratory equipment and preparing technical reports, databases, or project documentation. You must include hours per week worked. -------------------------------------------------------------------- To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Planning and conducting biological resource monitoring, inventory, restoration, or research projects involving complex technical assignments; Interpreting biological or ecological data and recommending management actions based on field observations and analysis; AND Preparing technical reports, statistical summaries, or research documentation and adapting or developing procedures to improve biological resource management activities. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of graduate level education or a master's degree with a major study directly related to this position. Examples of directly related education are biology, botany, range science, forestry, ecology, environmental science, zoology, fisheries, animal husbandry, natural resource management or other directly related fields. -OR- Combination of education and experience: 6 months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and half a year of directly related graduate level education. 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. Requirements Continued... 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. Education You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Physical Demands: The work requires regular physical exertion such as walking or climbing over wet, rough, uneven and/or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping or reaching to observe, collect and/or record field data; or in some situations the work may require physical exertion to handle wild animals, prepare soil for planting, to scuba dive or operate a boat. Moderately heavy items, such as equipment packs weighing up to 50 pounds, must be lifted and carried on a regular basis. May be required to hike several miles in a day. In other situations, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. Work Environment: The work environment varies from office/laboratory settings to field sites. The work performed in the field involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects and wild animals. The employee is required to use protective clothing such as gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves. 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, The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.