Seasonal Physical Science Technician (Paleontology)

Major Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

GS-05

• Consolidate and prepare fossil specimens under a microscope adaptively using manual electrical and air-powered tools.
• Produce accurate stratigraphic columns from field observations and personal notes.
• Use aerial photos topographic maps and global positioning equipment (GPS) in support of paleontological field work.
• Assist Lab Manager with housing and cataloging fossil specimens.
• Speak to the public about paleontologic and geologic resources in the park.

• Consolidate and prepare fossil specimens under a microscope adaptively using manual electrical and air-powered tools.
• Draft technical reports and synthesize information for review by senior resource leadership or qualified paleontologists.
• Assist Museum Curator or Museum Technician with accessioning housing and cataloging fossil specimens into the park museum collection.
• Work with park interpretation staff to develop paleontology programs and make presentations for the public on park paleontology.
• Assist with the documentation and mitigation of paleontological localities through the use of aerial photos topographic maps and global positioning equipment (GPS).

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.
• Incidental Driving BADL: You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation and every year thereafter (or more frequently if need exists) you will be required to submit a photocopy of your valid State issued drivers license AND to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued drivers license that is current and has not been revoked suspended canceled or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities) and at your own expense all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid drivers licenses whether current or past possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State drivers license.
• Driving AGFO - You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid drivers license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operators License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities) and at your own expense all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid drivers licenses whether current or past possessed by you.
• Uniform You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Applicants 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-02/03/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience your 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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is that experience which demonstrates that you have the knowledge skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. This experience includes activities such as Participating in paleontological excavations; Documenting field work; and Preparing fossil specimens. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelors degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology chemistry statistics entomology animal husbandry botany physics agriculture or mathematics. At least six (6) semester hours are directly related to the position such as paleontology geology sedimentology or applicable physical science coursework etc. You must include your transcripts. -OR-
COMBINATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Only education beyond the first 60 semester hours above high school is considered qualifying when combined with specialized experience. Thirty semester hours beyond the first 60 is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. For example 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience requirement) and 90 semester hours with at least 12 semester hours related to the position and three (3) hours directly related to the position (50 % of the education requirement) would be considered qualifying. NOTE: If you are qualifying based in part upon education you MUST submit a copy of your 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:
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 is that experience which demonstrates that you have the knowledge skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. This experience includes activities such as collecting data and drafting reports for paleontological research or resource management; collecting and analyzing paleontological monitoring data; and recording paleontological data using GPS or similar equipment. -OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of directly related graduate-level education (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) in fields such as paleontology geophysics and/or geology. You must include your transcripts.-OR-
COMBINATION: A combination of specialized experience and graduate education that when combined equal 100% of the minimum requirements. For example six (6) months specialized experience 50% and nine (9) semesters of graduate education directly related or 50% and when combined equal 100%. To combine education and experience first take the amount of completed graduate level education and convert it to a percentage of the full requirement. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide it by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: If you are qualifying based in part upon education you MUST submit a copy of your 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.