This Research Ecologist supports the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station in the Human Dimensions Science Program. Duty location will be Missoula, MT or Fort Collins, CO. This scientist studies the potential for adaptation to or mitigation of degradation to ecological, social, and fire response systems under changing climate. For more information about this position, contact Dave Calkin at [email protected].

Duties

Research will include complex investigations of changes to ecosystem processes due to interactions of fire, climate, vegetation, and other disturbances, and implications for wildland fire management and planning, fire ecology, and fuels management. Uses spatially explicit ecosystem process simulation modeling, GIS, fire behavior modeling, advanced statistics, and other methods to assess potential effects of changing climate on ecological systems, fire behavior, and wildfire risk. Applies, adapts, and modifies methods, procedures, and techniques in conducting ecological studies, such as predicting the impact of drought and/or climate change on vegetation and relating these impacts to wildland fire hazard and risk. Facilitates collaborative relationships with other institutions such as universities and federal research facilities, and seeks and responds to requests for proposals on development and application of fire-related research, tools, and models Develops and manages grants and agreements with collaborators to leverage assistance, support, and funding of research programs Applies research to support partners in the national forest system, the National Interagency Fire Center, and others to test adaptation frameworks that can inform land management, wildland fire planning and response, and fire adapted communities.

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.
• Completion of a three-year probationary period required in accordance with the USDA Demonstration Project Authority. During this time, employee's conduct and performance will be monitored to determine if employee will be retained.
• 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

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. 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. 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 Ecology, 0408 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/ecology-series-0408/ 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. 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 is defined as: --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) in one or more of the following areas: Adaptation to or mitigation of degradation to ecological, social, and fire response systems under changing climate; complex investigations of changes to ecosystem processes due to interactions of fire, climate, vegetation, and other disturbances, and implications for wildland fire management and planning, fire ecology, and fuels management; --Using spatially explicit ecosystem process simulation modeling, GIS, fire behavior modeling, advanced statistics, and other methods to assess potential effects of changing climate on ecological systems, fire behavior, wildfire risk, and the fire planning and operating environments --Securing funding for scientific research through a variety of external funding sources; and --Disseminating research findings at conferences or scientific meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals. Substitution of Education for Experience: For the GS-12 grade level: Conferred Ph.D. degree that included scientific research in areas related to the work of the position which is improve decision making that addresses changes to land and resource management, wildfire planning and incident response, ecosystem services, and stable carbon stocks. and/or includes coursework in areas such as fire behavior, fire ecology, vegetation dynamics, landscape ecology, and restoration ecology, role of fire and climate in ecosystem processes; exploring and designing innovative methods for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems that relates restoration treatments to fuel reduction treatments. To qualify at this grade level, transcripts must show conferral of degree. 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]