This employee supports the Pacific Northwest Research Station, Goods, Services and Values Program and is responsible for project oversight and implementation and for providing advice and assistance on operational and organizational efficiency and effectiveness. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Lee K. Cerveny at [email protected].

Duties

Plans and conducts research to improve our understanding how to integrate community well-being with ecosystem health in natural resource policy and management that contributes to social, economic, and ecological sustainability. Plans and conducts basic and applied social science research addressing natural resource connections, urban forest stewardship, community resilience, climate change vulnerability and adaptation, wildland fire, or tribal forest partnerships. Applies qualitative and quantitative social science methods in research, such as surveys, interviews, ethnographic studies, focus groups, participatory research, secondary data analysis, statistical analysis, and quantitative modeling. Collaborates with a range of partners, including tribal and inter-tribal organizations, community leaders, managers, policymakers, and scientists to produce research addressing the needs of natural resource managers, policymakers, and communities. Conducts research independently and on formal and informal teams (some being interdisciplinary); supervises agreements or contracts with other researchers to define, implement, and disseminate research. Disseminates research results to peers, managers, policymakers, and the public in a variety of formats including articles in refereed journals, presentations at scientific meetings and workshops, and by direct communications with users.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

Qualifications

This is a research scientist position and is classified under the scientist career plan. Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. Final grade level will be determined by a peer review panel. The purpose of the initial review panel is to determine the grade level upon entry into a position. Candidates being considered for this research position should provide a list of publications for which you have been an author, co-author, or contributor. If providing curriculum vitae, please incorporate all resume requirements identified in the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement, or submit a supplemental resume which includes all information required in addition to the curriculum vitae. To qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. To ensure consideration for this position, attach both graduate and undergraduate transcripts. Provide course descriptions to clarify content of coursework as necessary. Basic Requirement for the 0101 Social Science Series Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. or Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. or Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. GS-12: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Specialized experience at this level includes all of the following: (A) Conducting the full cycle of scientific research in both theoretical and applied social science (including identifying research topics, defining study objectives, organizing and conducting the research, interpreting results, and presenting the findings in the form of scientific manuscripts, reports, demonstrations, and other appropriate technology transfer activities) from one or more of the following areas: (1) forest and rangeland restoration;(2) fire social science; (3) social dimensions of climate change; (4) community resilience; (5) collaboration, partnerships, planning and public engagement; (6) environmental justice and equity; (7) urban natural resources stewardship; (8) tribal management of natural resources; (9) water policy and governance. (B) Applying qualitative or quantitative social science methods in basic or applied research, such as surveys, interviews, ethnographic studies, focus groups, participatory research, secondary data analysis, statistical analysis, geospatial analysis or quantitative modeling; AND (C) Disseminating research findings at conferences or scientific meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals. --OR-- Conferred Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree, directly related to the work of the position which can include specialization in anthropology, sociology, geography, environmental or community psychology, demography, political science, rural or community development, natural resource economics, or human dimensions of natural resources. To qualify based on education, your transcripts must show the conferral of your Ph.D. GS-13: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Graduate level education alone is not qualifying at this grade level. To qualify at this grade, you must possess the specialized experience listed below.Specialized experience at this level includes ALL of the following: (A) Conducting the full cycle of scientific research (including identifying research topics, defining study objectives, organizing and conducting the research, interpreting the results, and presenting the findings in the form of reports, demonstrations, manuscripts, and other appropriate technology transfer activities) from one or more of the following areas: (1) forest and rangeland restoration; (2) fire social science; (3) social dimensions of climate change; (4) community resilience; (5) collaboration, partnerships, planning and public engagement; (6) environmental justice and equity; (7) urban natural stewardship; (8) tribal management of natural resources; (9) water policy and governance. (B) Forming, leading, and participating in research teams, interdisciplinary teams, and developing new research partnerships of regional and/or national importance; (C) Using qualitative or quantitative social science methods in basic or applied research, such as surveys, interviews, ethnographic studies, focus groups, participatory research, secondary data analysis, statistical analysis, geo-spatial analysis, or quantitative modeling. AND (D) Developing and disseminating research findings in collaboration with research partners, resource managers and stakeholders for presentation at conferences or scientific meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals. 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

See above for required education and/or graduate level education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]