This full-time TERM position is located in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This initial appointment is expected to last at least 13 months, and may be extended; however, position may not exceed a total of 2 years and 10 months. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service. For more information on the duties or area of the position contact [email protected]

Duties

Serve as a program leader for natural resource management projects related to forest ecology and restoration. Projects will include early detection surveys and treatment of emerging forest health pests and pathogen, coordinating and training other Great Lakes parks on these efforts, working with academic partners on forest research projects, and planning climate-adapted forest restoration projects. Duties will include identifying plants; surveying for target invasive pests; collecting field data and recording the data into established or new databases; collecting spatial data and creating maps or analyses; leading crews in treatments including chainsaw and herbicide safety; writing detailed technical reports, analyzing collected data to identify trends. Successful applicants will lead teams that may include NPS seasonal, interns, volunteers, and other agency staff. They may be asked to occasionally lead larger groups of volunteers in projects. Some workshop travel and overnight backcountry camping can be expected. Global positioning systems, aerial photographs, topographic maps, and/or compass may be used in navigation. Duties in the winter season will include forest surveys in winter weather conditions, work planning and partnership building along with the lead plant biologist. This position will serve as a technical expert in projects related to Ash forest restoration synthesizing planting plans that combine peer-review literature with land management best-practices. 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. Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep uneven terrain and under dying canopy trees. Area Information Government Housing May Be Available Voted "The Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in scenic and welcoming Northern Michigan. Known as a four-season recreation destination, the Lakeshore is within an easy one-day drive of several major population centers of the Midwest, including Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland. Housing, medical facilities, shopping, churches, banks, daycare, and recreational opportunities 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. Homes are available for purchase or for rent in the commuting area. The median home price in the area is approximately $400,000 and rental rates begin at approximately $1,000 per month for apartments. For additional area information, please visit www.nps.gov/slbe.

Requirements

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/19/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-9 grade level, you must possess the Individual Occupational Requirement AND the Minimum Qualifications by close of the announcement. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT - Your transcripts must document one of the following: 1) A Bachelor or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. or 2) A combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. AND To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience is organizing, scheduling and executing natural resource projects with multiple components, staff crews, or programs; training others to accurately and safely follow procedures; determining and overseeing forest pest control efforts; conducting forest inventories to be used in environmental assessments; developing and implementing site restoration plans specifically related to Ash or Beech dominated forests; Incorporating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and fostering tribal collaboration in the restoration planning process; synthesize primary literature to inform management plans; use computer software including ArcGIS and R to analyze forest data and select suitable sites for restoration; assist in the selection of tree species for planting utilizing functional traits for site and projected climate; communicating with external agencies and partners to gain knowledge and foster collaboration related to landscape restoration projects. You must include hours per week worked on your resume. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two years progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's equivalent graduate degree (36 semester hours or the equivalent) in biology, ecology, natural resource management, plants, forestry, or other related disciplines if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating degree earned and credit hours to qualify based on education. A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate level coursework is considered qualifying when combined with specialized experience. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating degree earned and credit hours to qualify based on education. A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected. 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

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 interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Contacts

• Address Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 9922 Front Street Empire, MI 49630 US
• Name: Michele Hofer
• Email: [email protected]