nps.gov
Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)
nps.gov, Virginia, Minnesota, United States, 55792
Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)
Join to apply for the
Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)
role at
National Park Service .
Summary These positions are located in Shenandoah National Park, in the Natural and Cultural Resource Division. The primary purpose of the positions is to assist with the implementation of fish population monitoring throughout the park and serve on a field crew conducting backpack electrofishing surveys in mountain stream habitats.
Duties & Responsibilities Assist with fish population monitoring, capturing fish, identifying, measuring, weighing, and releasing them. Assist with all aspects of the monitoring protocol including netting fish, monitoring aquatic macroinvertebrates, measuring stream habitat, and collecting water quality and quantity data. Perform data entry and summaries using standardized software.
GS‑06 assistant crew lead responsibilities: lead and assist with monitoring protocols, maintain and repair equipment.
Positions involve long‑distance hiking up to 8 miles a day in steep, mountainous terrain under all types of weather. May have exposure to high heat and humidity, cold, wind, rain, stinging insects, and ticks (including Lyme disease). Must be capable of lifting, carrying, and packing objects and loads of 40‑50 pounds and perform frequent strenuous activity.
Location Shenandoah National Park, Headquarters Complex, headquarters located approximately 4 miles from Luray, Virginia. Nearby towns: Harrisonburg (33 miles), Winchester (44 miles), Charlottesville (66 miles). The park spans ~200,000 acres with over 500 miles of trails and 95 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
Initial Cut‑off Date This is an open continuous announcement. Applications are collected over several months and have multiple cut‑off dates. The first cut‑off date for early referral is January 4, 2026.
Salary Up to four positions at the GS‑05 level: $19.33 per hour. One position at the GS‑06 level: $21.54 per hour.
Requirements Conditions of employment:
U.S. Citizenship required.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
Driver’s License: A valid driver’s license is required; may be required to operate a government or private motor vehicle, and may be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and Driving Record. May also be required to submit all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid licenses within a sealed envelope or directly by state authorities. May require submission of all certified driving records from all states at our own expense.
You may be required to complete training and operate a four‑wheel drive vehicle.
Government housing is not available.
Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
Ability to lift and carry materials/loads up to 50 pounds.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old; or at least 16 years old and meet one of the following: (a) Have graduated from high school or have a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; (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 To qualify for the position at the GS‑05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by the close of the announcement (January 23, 2026):
Experience:
At least one full year of specialized experience comparable to the GS‑04 grade level in the Federal service, including fisheries, animal or plant inventory and monitoring work. Must include hours per week worked and demonstrate knowledge of fisheries inventory and monitoring techniques.
Education:
Successful completion of at least 4 years of education above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree in an accredited institution with major study or 24 semester hours in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours in fisheries study. Must include transcripts.
Combination:
A combination of education and experience that meets the total of at least 100% as described above. Must include transcripts.
To qualify at the GS‑06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by the close of the announcement:
Experience:
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑05 level in fisheries, such as assisting with management of fisheries resource projects, developing project reports, entering data, or conducting monitoring and management tasks.
Education:
Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) in fisheries coursework directly related to this position. Must include transcripts.
Combination:
A combination of experience and graduate education totaling at least 100% as described.
Volunteer Experience: Volunteer work is eligible for credit, including work through National Service programs and other organizations.
Physical Demands The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending. Heavy items must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.
Working Conditions Work performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work involves long distance hiking, exposure to extreme weather conditions, terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals. The National Park Service has determined that these duties are not suitable for telework.
Non‑Competitive Rehire Eligibility Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain non‑competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than 1,040 hours in the National Park Service during their established service year. Exceeding that limit results in loss of rehire eligibility.
Employment Termination Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.
Benefits As a federal employee, you have access to a comprehensive benefits package. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position, full‑time, part‑time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Seniority level Entry level
Employment type Temporary
Job function Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries Government Administration
Referrals Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at National Park Service by 2×.
Location Alert Get notified about new Biological Science Technician jobs in
Luray, VA .
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)
role at
National Park Service .
Summary These positions are located in Shenandoah National Park, in the Natural and Cultural Resource Division. The primary purpose of the positions is to assist with the implementation of fish population monitoring throughout the park and serve on a field crew conducting backpack electrofishing surveys in mountain stream habitats.
Duties & Responsibilities Assist with fish population monitoring, capturing fish, identifying, measuring, weighing, and releasing them. Assist with all aspects of the monitoring protocol including netting fish, monitoring aquatic macroinvertebrates, measuring stream habitat, and collecting water quality and quantity data. Perform data entry and summaries using standardized software.
GS‑06 assistant crew lead responsibilities: lead and assist with monitoring protocols, maintain and repair equipment.
Positions involve long‑distance hiking up to 8 miles a day in steep, mountainous terrain under all types of weather. May have exposure to high heat and humidity, cold, wind, rain, stinging insects, and ticks (including Lyme disease). Must be capable of lifting, carrying, and packing objects and loads of 40‑50 pounds and perform frequent strenuous activity.
Location Shenandoah National Park, Headquarters Complex, headquarters located approximately 4 miles from Luray, Virginia. Nearby towns: Harrisonburg (33 miles), Winchester (44 miles), Charlottesville (66 miles). The park spans ~200,000 acres with over 500 miles of trails and 95 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
Initial Cut‑off Date This is an open continuous announcement. Applications are collected over several months and have multiple cut‑off dates. The first cut‑off date for early referral is January 4, 2026.
Salary Up to four positions at the GS‑05 level: $19.33 per hour. One position at the GS‑06 level: $21.54 per hour.
Requirements Conditions of employment:
U.S. Citizenship required.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
Driver’s License: A valid driver’s license is required; may be required to operate a government or private motor vehicle, and may be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and Driving Record. May also be required to submit all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid licenses within a sealed envelope or directly by state authorities. May require submission of all certified driving records from all states at our own expense.
You may be required to complete training and operate a four‑wheel drive vehicle.
Government housing is not available.
Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
Ability to lift and carry materials/loads up to 50 pounds.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old; or at least 16 years old and meet one of the following: (a) Have graduated from high school or have a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; (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 To qualify for the position at the GS‑05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by the close of the announcement (January 23, 2026):
Experience:
At least one full year of specialized experience comparable to the GS‑04 grade level in the Federal service, including fisheries, animal or plant inventory and monitoring work. Must include hours per week worked and demonstrate knowledge of fisheries inventory and monitoring techniques.
Education:
Successful completion of at least 4 years of education above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree in an accredited institution with major study or 24 semester hours in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours in fisheries study. Must include transcripts.
Combination:
A combination of education and experience that meets the total of at least 100% as described above. Must include transcripts.
To qualify at the GS‑06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by the close of the announcement:
Experience:
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑05 level in fisheries, such as assisting with management of fisheries resource projects, developing project reports, entering data, or conducting monitoring and management tasks.
Education:
Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) in fisheries coursework directly related to this position. Must include transcripts.
Combination:
A combination of experience and graduate education totaling at least 100% as described.
Volunteer Experience: Volunteer work is eligible for credit, including work through National Service programs and other organizations.
Physical Demands The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending. Heavy items must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.
Working Conditions Work performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work involves long distance hiking, exposure to extreme weather conditions, terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals. The National Park Service has determined that these duties are not suitable for telework.
Non‑Competitive Rehire Eligibility Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain non‑competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than 1,040 hours in the National Park Service during their established service year. Exceeding that limit results in loss of rehire eligibility.
Employment Termination Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.
Benefits As a federal employee, you have access to a comprehensive benefits package. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position, full‑time, part‑time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Seniority level Entry level
Employment type Temporary
Job function Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries Government Administration
Referrals Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at National Park Service by 2×.
Location Alert Get notified about new Biological Science Technician jobs in
Luray, VA .
#J-18808-Ljbffr