Seasonal Biological Science Technician; Fisheries

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. These positions will serve on a field crew conducting backpack electrofishing surveys in mountain stream habitats.

initial cut-off date: this is an open continuous announcement in which applications are collected over several months and have multiple cut-off dates. Applications will be considered throughout the open period of the announcement.
** the first cut-off date for early referral is january 4, 2026. ** referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled.

the primary purpose of the positions is to assist with the implementation of fish population monitoring throughout the park. These positions will serve on a field crew conducting backpack electrofishing surveys in mountain stream habitats. During monitoring surveys, fish will be captured, identified, measured, weighed, and released. Additional duties include assisting with all aspects of the monitoring protocol including netting fish, fish identification, measuring stream habitat, aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring, and collecting information on water quality and quantity.

Performs data entry and summaries using standardized software.

the gs-06 position will serve as assistant crew lead on the field crew conducting backpacking electrofishing surveys within mountain stream habitats. Additional duties include leading and assisting with all aspects of the monitoring protocol including netting fish, fish identification, measuring stream habitat, and collecting information on water quality and quantity. The assistant crew lead will be responsible for maintaining and repairing equipment.

the positions involve long distance hiking, up to 8 miles a day in steep, mountainous terrain in all types of weather. There may be frequent exposure to high heat & humidity, cold, wind, rain, stinging insects, and ticks (including ticks that carry lyme disease). Selectee must be capable of lifting, carrying and packing objects and loads of 40-50 pounds. The position requires frequent strenuous activity.

up to four positions will be filled at the gs-05 level. Salary is $19.33 per hour. One position will be filled at the gs-06 level. Salary is $21.54 per hour.

position location: this position will be with the division of natural and cultural resources, shenandoah national park, headquarters complex. Headquarters is located approximately 4 miles from luray, virginia; a small rural community in the shenandoah valley all the basic public amenities and a population of about 4900. Nearby local towns include harrisonburg, 33 miles; winchester, 44 miles; and charlottesville, 66 miles.

Shenandoah national park contains approximately 200,000 acres along the crest of the blue ridge mountains in northern virginia. The park's backcountry consists of more than 500 miles of trails, including 95 miles of the appalachian national scenic trail, and nearly 80,000 acres of federally designed wilderness. Skyline drive, the famous scenic tour road through the park, follows the ridge crest for 105 miles from front royal to the blue ridge parkway near waynesboro.

Over a million people visit the park each year to enjoy views from the skyline drive, hike trails, fish for trout, enjoy nature study, camp in campgrounds or in the backcountry, or stay overnight in one of the park's rustic lodges or backcountry cabins. Park forests support a variety of wildlife, including deer, black bear and bobcats, and the mountain streams are inhabited by numerous species of fishes, including brook trout.