Seasonal Wildlife Biologist
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Job Location:
Anchorage, AK - USA
Hourly Salary:
$ 33 - 43
Posted on:
Yesterday
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Summary
NOTE: In support of Executive Order (EO) 14189 Celebrating Americas 205th Birthday and EO 14314 Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved an exception to the 1039-hour time limitation for this position. This approval extends the time limitation to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment.
This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status.
The parks and duty stations hiring for these positions are below as is each parks anticipated seasonal period. The typical seasonal period may vary during these months due to weather conditions project needs or funding.
- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Bartlett Cove): May - October
- Southwest Alaska Network (Anchorage): May - October
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (Copper Center): May - September
- Conducts biological surveys to monitor wildlife populations and wildlife/human interactions.
- Conducts backpack kayak and motor vessel-based field data collection for wildlife and plant programs with ability and willingness to kayak camp and work in extreme weather conditions and under difficult logistical circumstances. (Terrestrial only)
- Operates a motorboat to conduct fieldwork in extreme weather conditions and under difficult logistical circumstances. (Whales only)
- Organizes and manages the application of Geographic Information Systems and spatial data collection in support of wildlife and natural resource management data collection and analysis.
- Monitors tracks and responds to human-wildlife interactions to mitigate conflicts.
Work Environment: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep rocky terrain arctic environments and forests. Flying in fixed and rotary wing aircraft is possible.
Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. Salary and COLA subject to annual review and adjustment.
- An additional 3% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary for Barlett Cove and Copper Center.
- An additional 1.49% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary for Anchorage.
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
- Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
- Drug Testing: You may be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to addition this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
- Drivers License 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.
- You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
- Uniform You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
- You may be required to work on-call evenings weekends holidays overtime and shift work.
- You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 15 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
- You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
- Operation of a small watercraft less than 26 feet in length. Operation includes transport of personnel (including visitors) tools and materials/supplies to job/work performing this duty the incumbent may be required to have a current Department of Interior Motorboat Operator Certification Course (DOI-MOCC) certificate
- 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-02/05/2026-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.
BASIC REQUIREMENT: To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level you must possess at least one of the following basic requirements for the Wildlife Biology Series 0486:
A. You must possess a Bachelors Degree or higher degree with a major in biological science that included at least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy ornithology animal ecology wildlife management or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and at least 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology invertebrate zoology vertebrate zoology comparative anatomy physiology genetics ecology cellular biology parasitology entomology or research courses in such subjects (Excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate.); and at least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences. (You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.)
OR
B. You must have a combination of education and experience equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e. at least 30 semester hours) with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects 12 semester hours in zoology and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant science as shown in A above plus appropriate experience or additional education. (NOTE: The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge skills and abilities required to perform work in the occupation and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field). (You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.)
IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE TO QUALIFY FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL OF THIS POSITION YOU MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
A. You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience includes activities such as applying methods of wildlife management; conducting wildlife research projects; managing data acquisition and analysis for wildlife and natural resource projects with spatial data.
OR
B. You must have 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a masters degree or masters or equivalent graduate degree in a field of study directly related to the position. (You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.)
OR
C. You must have a combination of education and experience. To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education divide your number of semester hours in excess of 18 semester hours by 18 or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study. To calculate your percentage of experience divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. They must equal 100% to qualify using this option. (You must submit a copy of your college transcripts to support this claim.)
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.
Education
To qualify based on education you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name school name credit hours course level major(s) and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Additional information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402b7) based on series and grade anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period you are still welcome to apply. However please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.
The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours unless granted an exception by OPM.
Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels project needs employee performance or other considerations.
Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position grade level and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment OF-306 prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work. Also you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code Title 18 section 1001).Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC
Key Skills
- Laboratory Experience
- Transfection
- Bioinformatics
- DNA Isolation
- Genetics
- PCR
- R
- Biochemistry
- Next Generation Sequencing
- Cell Culture
- Molecular Biology
- Research Laboratory Experience
