JOB SUMMARY: The purpose of the position is to perform routine biological science tasks. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April to November but can be variable due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Open to the first 180 applicants or until 01/13/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. MAJOR DUTIES: Duties: GS-04 Major Duties: you will assist in implementing established natural resource management projects including the following: monitoring and controlling exotic plants; conducting natural resource monitoring programs for rare plants; conducting extensive beach and dune surveys for plant species in deep, moving sand. GS-5 Major Duties: you will participate and may lead a small field crew to implement established natural resource management projects including the following: monitoring and controlling exotic plants; conducting natural resource monitoring programs for rare plants; conducting extensive beach and dune fieldwork in deep, moving sand; working at restoration sites and collecting native plants seeds; and assessing forest health and treating for forest pests. May occasionally lead larger groups of volunteers in projects. Duties of both grades may include identifying plants; surveying for target invasive plants; collecting data and recording the data into established or new databases; GPS and GIS data on infestation locations and status; and controlling invasive plants using hand-pulling, hand tools, power tools, and chemical herbicides. Teams may include interns, volunteers and other agency staff. Herbicide use and some overnight backcountry camping can be expected. Weekend work is possible. Global positioning systems, aerial photographs, topographic maps, and compass may be used in navigation. A portion of time may be dedicated to data entry and other duties in a laboratory/office setting. Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Hiking 8 miles daily. Maintaining license and applying herbicide and pesticide. Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Laboratory work may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals. Some work will be conducted in the backcountry with camping and travel via boat ferry up to 8 nights per month. Government Housing may be available. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is within the scenic resort area on the northeastern shores of Lake Michigan. Housing, medical facilities, shopping, churches, banks, day care, recreational activities, schools, and colleges are readily available within a 30 mile radius from park headquarters in Empire. High temperatures average between 70-80 degrees in the summer and low temperatures average between 10-20 degrees in winter. Shared government housing may be available for rent. For additional information, please view: www.nps.gov/slbe Badlands National Park: Badlands National Park is located in southwestern South Dakota 75 miles east of Rapid City (population 75,000), and 30 miles from Wall, Kadoka, and Philip. A service station, several churches, and a K-8 school are located in the friendly town of Interior (population 65), 2 miles from park headquarters. Grocery shopping, medical and dental facilities, a post office, and schools K-12 are available in Wall, Kadoka, Philip, and Rapid City. There is plenty of hiking, biking and wildlife viewing available right on our doorstep. The night skies in Badlands National Park are famous and folks travel for long distances to view them. The area surrounding us presents lots of seasonal activities such as winter skiing and summer camping for a few. We are surrounded by other National Parks and State Parks as well. Mount Rushmore National Monument, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation as well the infamous Wall Drug are within hours of Badlands National Park. IMPORTANT: Click the 'Apply for this job' button to view a complete job description.
