Job Summary

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Midwest Region, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Harpers Ferry, Iowa. This position will perform a wide variety of complex biological science technical support functions.

Job Description

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-08/21/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements. 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, you must meet at least one the following minimum qualifications: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-6 level or higher in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Specialized experience includes: 1) carrying out field studies on plants and plant ecology 2) inventorying and monitoring exotic plants 3) Research, conservation, and management of wildlife - e.g. birds, bats, other mammals 4) Conducting insect and insect habitat surveys. OR Education: One (1) full year of graduate level education (18 semester hours or equivalent) in a discipline that is directly related to this position, such as biology or wildlife management. You must include transcripts. OR Combination of education and experience: A combination of specialized experience as described above and graduate-level education that is directly related to the position, that when prorated, combine to meet the qualification requirements of this position. Experience and education are each computed as percentages of their requirements and must equal at least 100 percent when combined. You must include transcripts. 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. Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Working Conditions: 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.