Biological Scientist Jobs

Summary This position supports the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. This employee serves as a Spatial Analyst performing duties related to wildfire economics and ecology. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Eva Karau at [email protected]. Responsibilities Employs a range of statistical, geospatial, and simulation models to conduct studies of spatial wildfire risk analysis. Incorporates the collection, application, and development of spatial data relating to wildfire spread potential, impacts to developed and natural resource values at risk, and potential consequences to biological resources. Integrates wildfire-related information with highly valued resources and assets to characterize the exposure of and effects to these values using biological and economic sciences. Employs existing and develops advanced techniques to model, quantify, and visualize spatial patterns of risk. Identifies and generates risk-based metrics to support integrated assessment and planning and development of decision support tools. Oversees data management of a range of vegetation, fuels, and natural resource value data. Works with researchers, managers, and resource specialists to determine type, amount and level of information required to analyze wildfire risk. Assesses quality, compatibility, and limitations of datasets used in a wide array of wildfire management research studies. Develops data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information resources and geospatial applications. Provides advice on the implementation, management, analysis, and use of geospatial information within wildfire management. Provides advice and recommendations on sources, standards, integrity, compatibility, and cost efficiency of natural resource and socio-economic information. Conducts formal and informal training and provides technical assistance to risk assessment tool users. Duties listed are at full performance level. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement for Biological Science Series (0401): Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. or Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Minimum Requirements: GS-09: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07): Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Evaluating spatial and temporal data to assess wildfire hazard and risk metrics at a variety of spatial scales and quantify the impact of various fuels management or wildfire scenarios on resources and assets. Integrating wildfire behavior model outputs (such as fire rate of spread, fire intensity, and burn probability) to generate wildfire risk-based maps and products. Conducting data management, evaluation and analysis of GIS and remotely sensed data relating to fire effects, fire ecology, fire behavior, fuels, vegetation, and wildfire hazard and risk. Automating the production of charts, tables, and figures that illustrate patterns and statistical relationships in fire risk, ecology and management information, using statistical software and programming languages. For the GS-09: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education directly related to specialized experience above, leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. GS-11: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09): Specialized experience is defined as all of the following: Solving complex spatial and temporal analysis problems to evaluate wildfire hazard and risk metrics at a variety of spatial scales and quantify the impact of various fuels management or wildfire scenarios on resources and assets. Applying knowledge and skill with wildfire behavior model outputs (such as fire rate of spread, fire intensity, and burn probability) to generate risk-based metrics that support planning and development of wildfire decision support tools. Compiling, managing, evaluating, and analyzing GIS, remotely sensed, and tabular data relating to fire effects, fire ecology, fire behavior, fuels, vegetation, and wildfire hazard and risk. Using statistical software and programming languages to create charts, tables and figures that evaluate and illustrate patterns in fire hazard, risk, ecology and management across a variety of spatial and temporal domains. For the GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education directly related to the specialized experience above, leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral 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 Additional Information The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE. Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.