Job Summary

Biological Science Technicians perform field and technical work to monitor, manage, and protect natural resources, including plants, wildlife, aquatic resources, and their habitats. Likely Entry on Duty: March - May 2027. Open to the first 100 applicants.

Job Description

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/26/2026-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. To qualify for this position at the GS-08 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience may include: conducting field surveys of fish and other aquatic biota; coordinating field surveys to support project planning required by the National Environmental Policy Act; providing technical advice for aquatic resource protection and mitigations; recording observations of wildlife behavior and/or human-wildlife interactions on public lands; analyzing data, preparing technical reports, and presenting findings. Duties are supportive of professional specialists in resource management; relevant to research, conservation, and management of natural resources; ecological field studies; inventorying, monitoring, and/or control of invasive species; or making other field observations on the state of natural resource conditions. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-8 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience may include: organizing, scheduling, and executing established natural resource management projects using judgement to choose from possible courses of action at different stages of the project and to resolve problems; preparing draft project reports that include literature research, descriptions of methods, and data analysis; making recommendations for natural resource planning, protection, or mitigation projects; providing input on resource management planning documents; providing advice, assistance, and training to others involved in resource management projects or field research. Duties are supportive of professional specialists in resource management; relevant to research, conservation, and management of natural resources; ecological field studies; inventorying, monitoring, and/or control of invasive species; or making other field observations on the state of natural resource conditions. -OR- B. Successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in a field that is directly related to the work of this position, such as biology, botany, range science, forestry, ecology, environmental science, zoology, fisheries, animal husbandry, natural resource management or other directly related subject matter.(You must include a copy of your transcripts). -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. For example, six (6) months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education above), along with 50% of the course-specific education stated above. 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.