What are the responsibilities and job description for the SEASONAL-Biological Science Technician (Plants) position at National Park Service?
This position is located in Nez Perce National Historical Park.
The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Nez Perce National Historical Park is May-October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2025.
Open to the first 50 applicants or until 04/30/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
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.
SELECTIVE FACTOR: To successfully accomplish exotic plant management work, you will be required to mix, load, and apply herbicides for the purpose of vegetation control. If you are unwilling to handle herbicides, you cannot successfully complete the work of these positions.
- AND -
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 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). This experience includes activities such as: 1) performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; 2) assisting in routine and recurring resource monitoring programs for plant species and vegetation communities; 3) assisting in controlling non-native and invasive plant species using manual, mechanical, and chemical treatment methods for enhancement of native plant communities; 4) participating in revegetation activities (e.g., site preparation, transplanting, seeding, and applying mulch or erosion mats); and 5) inputting/retrieving vegetation data using computers and global positioning systems (GPS). You must include hours worked per week in your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 years of progressively higher-level undergraduate coursework leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a bachelor's degree, in excess of 60 semester hours, and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week worked and 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.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: 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.
The headquarters for Nez Perce National Historical Park is in Spalding Idaho, located 12 miles east of Lewiston Idaho on US HWY 95. Lewiston sits next to Clarkston, Washington, at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake rivers and is referred to as the gateway to Hells Canyon recreation area. Vegetation in the area is mostly grass, sage and agricultural lands (wheat); the topography is rolling hills with distant mountains and deep river valleys. The Lewiston and Clarkston valley and region have approximately 60,000 people and offer major services that include rental housing, airport, schools, two universities, regional hospitals and ample retail shopping. There is no public transportation to the park from the surrounding communities however. Daytime temperatures from May to October frequently reach the high 80's with numerous days in July and August with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter climate is relatively mild, with only occasional snow often without significant accumulation. Daytime temperatures in the winter range from the low 30's to mid 50's. The regional climate is arid, however both rain and snow increase significantly in the higher elevations.
The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Nez Perce National Historical Park is May-October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2025.
Open to the first 50 applicants or until 04/30/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by 11:59 EST when the 'applicant cut-off' is reached (which may be sooner than 04/30/2025).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.
SELECTIVE FACTOR: To successfully accomplish exotic plant management work, you will be required to mix, load, and apply herbicides for the purpose of vegetation control. If you are unwilling to handle herbicides, you cannot successfully complete the work of these positions.
- AND -
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 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). This experience includes activities such as: 1) performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; 2) assisting in routine and recurring resource monitoring programs for plant species and vegetation communities; 3) assisting in controlling non-native and invasive plant species using manual, mechanical, and chemical treatment methods for enhancement of native plant communities; 4) participating in revegetation activities (e.g., site preparation, transplanting, seeding, and applying mulch or erosion mats); and 5) inputting/retrieving vegetation data using computers and global positioning systems (GPS). You must include hours worked per week in your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 years of progressively higher-level undergraduate coursework leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a bachelor's degree, in excess of 60 semester hours, and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week worked and 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.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: 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.
Responsibilities:
Major duties may include:- Make field observations of natural resource conditions. Record all data collected and ensure adequate quality control. Perform routine and recurring testing of collected samples.
- Conduct routine resource monitoring programs for evaluating rare, threatened and endangered plant species, vegetation communities, population dynamics, ecosystem relationships, and public health/safety issues.
- Carry out a variety of field activities such as the plant surveys, control of non-native and invasive plant or insect species, and enhancement of native plant populations.
- Utilize a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, and report data and other resource management information.
- Utilize databases to enter and organize collected field data and uses standard statistical methods in the preparation of draft reports.
- Conduct invasives removal efforts using a variety of removal methods, including manual removal, mechanical removal using potentially chainsaws, and herbicide.
- Conduct revegetation including installation of container plants, salvaged plants, and divisions, as well as collection and sowing of seeds.
- Perform data collection, data entry, and spatial mapping and analysis using GIS (ArcGIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, including use of Trimble and mobile units running GIS software programs such as Field Maps.
The headquarters for Nez Perce National Historical Park is in Spalding Idaho, located 12 miles east of Lewiston Idaho on US HWY 95. Lewiston sits next to Clarkston, Washington, at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake rivers and is referred to as the gateway to Hells Canyon recreation area. Vegetation in the area is mostly grass, sage and agricultural lands (wheat); the topography is rolling hills with distant mountains and deep river valleys. The Lewiston and Clarkston valley and region have approximately 60,000 people and offer major services that include rental housing, airport, schools, two universities, regional hospitals and ample retail shopping. There is no public transportation to the park from the surrounding communities however. Daytime temperatures from May to October frequently reach the high 80's with numerous days in July and August with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter climate is relatively mild, with only occasional snow often without significant accumulation. Daytime temperatures in the winter range from the low 30's to mid 50's. The regional climate is arid, however both rain and snow increase significantly in the higher elevations.
Salary : $19
