Seasonal Biological Science Technician; Wildlife

Duties

Initial Cut‑off Date:
This announcement is open and continuous, with multiple cut‑off dates. Applications will be considered throughout the open period. The first cut‑off date for early referral is January 16, 2026. Referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificates and/or additional vacancies need to be filled.

The purpose of this position is to perform human‑wildlife conflicts management in Shenandoah National Park. The incumbent acts as a field assistant to park biologists and a Lead Biological Technician to implement a human‑wildlife conflict/aversive conditioning program (primarily black bear). Major duties include:

• Educate the public about human/wildlife conflict to prevent wildlife habituation.
• Assess habituated or food‑conditioned black bear and white‑tailed deer behavior in developed areas.
• Perform basic aversive conditioning on habituated bears and deer throughout the park’s developed areas.
• Use air horns, paintball guns, and projectile noisemakers for hazing primarily habituated black bear and deer.
• Conduct (or assist with) food‑conditioned bear culvert‑trapping and assist with relocations.
• Assist with food‑conditioned bear free‑range capture work (including tagging and collaring).
• Live‑trap nuisance raccoons and skunks.
• Conduct surveillance for potential chronic wasting disease (CWD) positive deer and perform opportunistic CWD surveillance by sampling road‑killed deer.
• Maintain wildlife management equipment.
• Use standardized software for preliminary wildlife data entry, analysis, and summary.
• Report natural resource‑related violations to law enforcement staff.
• May assist with other wildlife monitoring, forest pest management, peregrine falcon restoration work, and park search and rescue operations.

This position involves some long‑distance hiking, up to 5 miles a day in steep, mountainous terrain in all types of weather. Potential exposures include high heat & humidity, cold, wind, rain, stinging insects, and ticks (including Lyme‑disease carriers).

SELECTEE MUST BE CAPABLE OF LIFTING, CARRYING AND PACKING OBJECTS AND LOADS OF 40‑50 POUNDS. The position requires frequent strenuous activity, including loading a bear culvert trap into the back of a pick‑up truck.

It is anticipated that one position will be filled at the GS‑05 grade level and one at either the GS‑06 or GS‑07 grade level.

Shenandoah National Park preserves and protects more than 300 square miles of nationally significant natural and cultural resources, scenic beauty, and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginia’s northern Blue Ridge Mountains. The park offers visitors the ability to explore mountain peaks, hidden hollows, cascading streams, accessible wilderness, and stunning natural beauty. With approximately 40% of the park as designated wilderness, there are over 500 miles of hiking trails and the iconic Skyline Drive.

SHEN was established as an eastern Park providing a “western Park experience.” Due to the park’s easy accessibility to Washington D.C. and other highly populated areas along the east coast, visitation exceeds 1.4 million visitors annually, creating significant resource protection and visitor management challenges.

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Direct Deposit: Participation in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program is required.
• Driver’s License: A valid driver’s license is required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle; submit a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and Driving Record. Provide certified driving records from all states if applicable.
• May be required to complete training and operate a four‑wheel drive vehicle.
• May require lifting/moving heavy materials/equipment.
• Government housing may be available.
• Uniform: Wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old or 16 years old with the appropriate educational background or enrollment status…