Ecologist (Seasonal)

Summary

The typical defined season is not to exceed 6 months between May - November but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2027. Open to the first 30 applicants or until 11/16/2026, whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Develop and implement portions of natural resource management plans, action plans, and ecological strategies to protect park ecosystems and environmental conditions. Test and implement scientific inventory and monitoring protocols for ecosystem components and processes; conduct statistically valid field data collection and quality control. Analyze, manage, and communicate ecological information using scientific methods, automated data systems, and GIS; prepare scientific and management reports and recommendations. Coordinate ecological programs and resource protection strategies with NPS staff, researchers, partners, adjacent land managers, agencies, and the public. Support environmental compliance and program administration by evaluating environmental documents, identifying research needs, maintaining field equipment/supplies, and tracking project funds and accomplishments as assigned. Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying of heavy objects. Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time. 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/16/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet both the Basic Educational Requirements and the Minimum Qualifications for the series and grade(s), you are applying for: Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences. You must submit transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the ???????GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience defined as demonstrated experience: professional ecology work such as applying ecological principles to natural resource management; conducting or assisting with ecological inventories or monitoring; collecting, quality-checking, summarizing, or analyzing ecological data; and preparing scientific or resource-management reports and recommendations. NOTE: You must include number of hours worked per week and begin/end dates (no/yr format) in your resume. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or master's or equivalent graduate degree, that is directly related to the work of the position such as biology, ecology, natural resource management, conservation, etc. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. You must provide transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to GS-7 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-9) and 27 semester hours of appropriate graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-9, in excess of that required for GS-7) would be qualified for a GS-9 position (assuming that there is no evidence that the attended college or university requires more than 18 semester hours as equivalent to a year of graduate study). You must include number of hours worked per week and begin/end dates (no/yr format) in your resume 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.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification