Blue Card Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is located in Biscayne National Park, in the Division of Natural Resources Management.
Likely Entry On Duty: October- December 2026.
Open to the first 50 applicants.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the 08/14/2026 to be considered.
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Duties
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• Participates in the planning and implementation of complex marine and coastal ecological restoration projects, including coral reef, seagrass, coastal forest, and other habitat restoration activities.
• Provides technical support for project coordination, scheduling, logistics, and field operations.
• Conducts biological monitoring, surveys, and resource assessments using established scientific protocols to evaluate marine species, habitat conditions, ecosystem relationships, invasive species, and impacts from disturbances such as storms, vessel groundings, disease, and marine debris.
• Implements restoration activities using established methods and techniques, including coral salvage and outplanting, coral propagation, seagrass restoration and monitoring, invasive species removal, native vegetation planting, and marine debris removal.
• Collects, manages, analyzes, and summarizes biological data; performs quality assurance and quality control of field data; and prepares technical reports, data summaries, and other documentation to support resource management decisions.
• Evaluates field conditions, identifies resource concerns, and recommends management actions based on established protocols, scientific guidance, and park resource management plans.
• Conducts extensive field activities using SCUBA, snorkeling, boats, and other specialized equipment in support of marine resource monitoring, restoration, and protection activities.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• You will be required to submit to and pass a physical examination required for NPS Blue Card (diving) certification prior to appointment.
• You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain a NPS Blue Card (diving certification). In order to obtain and maintain a NPS Blue Card you will need to be able to complete the following:
  
  • Swim 25 yards underwater without swim aids.
  • Swim 400 yards without swim aids within 15-minute time limit. Kick on the surface 330 yards while wearing scuba gear, but not breathing from scuba unit.
  • Swim 900 yards within 18 minutes, using mask, fins and snorkel and any stroke.
  • Surface dive without swim aids to least 10 feet and recover an object.
  • Without swim aids, perform an in-water swimming rescue of a swimmer and transport a distance of 25 yards.
  • Tread water for 10 minutes, or 2 minutes without the use of hands/arms, without swim aids.
  • Complete a simulated emergency swimming ascent.
• You must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/14/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page 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. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.
In order to qualify for this position, you must possess both the Selective Factors and Minimum Qualification.
SELECTIVE FACTORS:
Selective Factor 1: This position requires Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) or equivalent and substantial experience operating vessels (up to 28' in length) in open water marine environments. You must submit documentation of how you meet this requirement, such as photocopies of certifications and descriptions of experience in your resume. -AND-
Selective Factor: This position requires advanced open water SCUBA certification and also requires that you have completed at least 50 scientific and/or commercial dives. You must submit copies of certification cards and dive logs displaying complete information for each dive to demonstrate that you meet this requirement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICTION:
To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the following:
A. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 grade level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sectors ) that demonstrates experience independently conducting and coordinating marine or aquatic resource monitoring and stewardship activities; applying scientific protocols for biological surveys, habitat assessments, restoration projects, and resource protection efforts; analyzing and interpreting ecological data; managing field data collection efforts; and preparing technical documentation to inform resource management decisions. Examples of specialize experience includes adapting sampling methods to field conditions, resolving logistical and scientific challenges, coordinating with partners or project teams, and contributing to the implementation of complex natural resource programs.-OR-
B. Education: Two full academic years of graduate education or possess a master's degree in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as biology, ecology, environmental science, marine biology, marine ecology, or other directly related coursework. You must provide transcripts.-OR-
C. Combination: Successful completion of a combination of specialized experience and education, as described above, that when combined equal 100% of the minimum qualification requirement for the GS-09 level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level can be combined with the appropriate level of experience to qualify applicants. For example, if a school's requirement for 1 year of graduate study is 18 semester hours, only graduate education beyond the first 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours can be combined with GS-7 level experience to qualify for a GS-9 level position. Thus, 27 semester hours of graduate education and 6 months of GS-7 level experience cannot be combined to qualify for a GS-9 position. You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.
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.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.
Education
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and that (1) deemed your education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program, or (2) given full credit for courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement will be used to fill one or more additional selections at anytime without notification.
Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.
Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1560 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1560 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1560 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.
The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1560 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1560 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.
Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requires regular physical exertion such as walking or climbing over wet, rough, uneven and/or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping or reaching to observe, collect and/or record field data; or in some situations the work may require physical exertion to handle wild animals, prepare soil for planting, to scuba dive or operate a boat. Moderately heavy items, such as equipment packs weighing up to 50 pounds, must be lifted and carried on a regular basis. May be required to hike several miles in a day. In other situations, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment varies from office/laboratory settings to field sites. The work performed in the field involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects and wild animals. The employee is required to use protective clothing such as gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more infor