The purpose of the GS-05 position is to perform routine and uncomplicated biological science tasks common to natural resource management. The purpose of the GS-06 position is to perform uncomplicated technical biological science tasks common to natural resource management. The purpose of the GS-07 position is to perform a wide variety of complex biological science technical support functions.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/27/2026-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 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage forest health threats; performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; and participating in vegetation management through seed collection, planting, propagating, and weeding. You must include start/end dates and hours worked per week. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's 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, mathematics. NOTE: At least six semester hours of the education must have been in courses directly related to the position such as: Agronomy, Crop Science, Botany, Silviculture, Horticulture, etc. If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: A combination of education and specialized experience as described above that when combined equal 100% of the minimum requirements. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. For example, six (6) months of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience requirement), and three years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education), which includes at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified above and 3 hours directly related to the position such as: Agronomy, Crop Science, Botany, Silviculture, Horticulture, etc. (50% of the related coursework required). 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-06 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 equivalent to the GS-05 level in the federal service. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes organizing program data and information; applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage forest health threats; performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; and participating in vegetation management through seed collection, planting, propagating, and weeding. You must include start/end dates and hours worked per week. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate level study at an accredited college or university that directly applies to the position such as Agronomy, Crop Science, Botany, Silviculture, Horticulture, etc. NOTE: If you are qualifying based in part, upon education, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: A combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above 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. 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 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position includes serving as a project lead to implement ecological resource surveys and management; organizing program data and information; applying/performing a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to manage forest health threats; performing basic vegetation inventories, studies, and surveys; and participating in vegetation management through seed collection, planting, propagating, and weeding. You mut include start/end dates and hours worked per week. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of one full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate level study at an accredited college or university that directly applies to the position such as Agronomy, Crop Science, Botany, Silviculture, Horticulture, etc. NOTE: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit a copy of 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.
Major Duties vary for each park. Major Duties may include but are not limited to the following: GS-05: Establish and maintain vegetation restoration projects including planting and caring for native trees, shrubs, and grasses. Identify native and invasive plant species and support vegetation monitoring and measurements. Foot travel to locations to use equipment; collect clear and accurate notes and data; and to work as a team member. Make field observations of natural resource conditions. Manage invasive and exotic plant species using chemical, manual, and biological control techniques. Collect and manage field data using GPS units, tablets, digital camera, paper, and other technology, maintaining accurate records. Mix, load, and apply herbicide per label instruction using various application equipment that may or may not include ATV, UTV, handheld, backpack sprayers, etc. ATV and/or UTV operators must have the ability to safely operate through multiple terrain types. Assist in the preparation of reports, plans and guidelines. Provide logistical support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientists. Install, operate, and maintain resource management equipment (e.g., tools, sampling, monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment). GS-06 - includes the duties above plus: Providing support for planning and logistics. Support planning and program implementation. GS-07 - includes the duties above plus: Provide leadership and guidance to team members during field operations and data collection. Train others in plant identification and data collection. Train others in equipment use. DUTY LOCATIONS: APIS - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - Bayfield, WI -- Government housing may be available BADL - Badlands National Park - Interior, SD -- Government housing may be available CUVA - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Peninsula, OH -- Government housing may be available IPMT_GL - Invasive Plant Management Teams, Great Lakes - St. Croix, WI -- Government housing is NOT available HOSP - Hot Springs National Park - Hot Springs, AR -- Government housing is NOT available INDU - Indiana Dunes National Park - Porter, IN -- Government housing may be available JECA - Jewel Cave National Monument - Custer, SD -- Government housing may be available KNRI - Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site - Stanton, ND -- Government housing is NOT available NGPN - Northern Great Plains Network - Rapid City, SD -- Government housing is NOT available SLBE - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Empire, MI -- Government housing may be available WICA - Wind Cave National Park - Hot Springs, SD -- Government housing may be available SALARY: (RUS payscale) Rest of US GS-05: $19.52 - $25.37 GS-06: $21.76 - $28.29 GS-07: $24.18 - $31.43 (CLE payscale) - CUVA GS-05: $20.38 - $26.50 GS-06: $22.72 - $29.53 GS-07: $25.25 - $32.82 (MSP payscale) - IPMT GS-05: $21.28 - $27.66 GS-06: $23.72 - $30.84 GS-07: $26.36 - $34.27 (CHI payscale) - INDU GS-05: $21.82 - $28.37 GS-06: $24.32 - $31.62 GS-07: $27.03 - $35.14