Forester, GS-0460-09
USDA FOREST SERVICE
NORTHERN RESEARCH STATION
About the Position
The Northern Research Station is announcing an upcoming vacancy for a Forester, GS-0460-09 position that will provide science support to the Northern Research Station. The position is a permanent appointment with a full-time tour of duty. Official duty station is Bradley, Maine.
Job Description
This position is with the Northern Research Station, Research Work Unit NRS-07, which has facilities and staff at multiple locations in New England and the Lake States. This Forester position provides skilled technical support to one or more scientists in the Research Work Unit. The incumbent serves as the site manager for Forest Service at the Penobscot Experimental Forest (PEF), assists with collection, analysis, and reporting of research data, and is responsible for the maintenance of facilities at the PEF as well as day-to-day operations.
Using professional judgment and knowledge to accurately perform a variety of forestry and other natural resource measurements in the field; the incumbent will perform all or most of the following duties to provide professional assistance to research scientists: Measure forest stand and tree characteristics to describe stands and trees in terms of species composition, age structure, diameter, height, crown dimensions, canopy structure and cover, leaf area, regeneration, growth and mortality rates, down woody material, and decomposition rates. Collect data on understory plant species composition, production, and cover in forest and woodland stands subject to a variety of cultural treatments and environmental impacts. Recommend sampling procedure modifications for improvement of efficiency and accuracy; check measurements for reasonableness and accuracy, and note unusual events or conditions that may affect sample reliability. Install, maintain, and calibrate automated sampling equipment; including programming, installing sensors, and data transfer to personal computers for studies of environmental conditions and processes such as weather, photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration, soil moisture, canopy interception, and water stress. Anticipate and troubleshoot problems and recommend instruments and solutions. Determine the appropriate techniques (which can include tabular and graphical data description, multiple linear and non-linear regression, analysis of variance and covariance, and GPS/GIS) to summarize, display, and conduct descriptive statistical analyses of data to test hypotheses, develop relationships, and resolve uncertainties. Assist in technology transfer by presenting research results both orally and in writing to land managers, scientists, and the public. Plan, schedule, and coordinate work schedule with supervisor; solve technical operating problems. Determine resources required to carry out the studies in terms of manpower, time, staff coordination, and similar requirements, and informs supervisor. Oversee day-to-day operation of temporary employees, including training on necessary equipment and operational safety. Monitor data quality with follow-up and QA/QC. Monitor location, broad practices, and safety of visiting scientific teams. Provide technical assistance and consultation to scientists on study site locations.
The incumbent will serve as site manager for Northern Research Station facilities and infrastructure at the PEF. As site manager, the incumbent will perform all or most of the following duties: Oversee, perform, and/or coordinate maintenance needs on the buildings and grounds of the PEF (can include, but not limited to: the office and associated outbuildings), and the infrastructure (water system, septic system) inside and outside of the buildings. Perform signage and other infrastructure maintenance. Ensure integrity of long-term research installations on the PEF. Identify potential safety situations and take appropriate action. Where and/or if necessary, coordinate upkeep with Station and cooperator personnel. Schedule research visitation and facility use, and resolves conflicts among users. Keep log of all research and non-research visitors by affiliation and maintain annual reporting. Coordinate tours with scientist in charge, and prepare and lead informational tours to visitor groups to the PEF; including school groups, stakeholders and other interested parties, visiting scientists, and leadership. Interface with individuals, groups, public agencies, universities, and other research organizations, private citizens, and Station regarding coordination and integration of research activities on the PEF. Obtain needed supplies within Station purchasing guidelines. Perform administrative duties such as maintaining PEF records, and property and recording and reporting expenditures and receipts with supervisor. Ensure expenditures are appropriate and within budget parameters. Monitor the PEF budget by keeping cuff records of expenditures. Keep the supervisor informed of issues as they arise and initiate consultation on priorities, when needed.
Incumbent will provide all or some of the following database support duties: Locate and survey plot centers and boundaries; interpret aerial photographs, maps, and GIS layers to locate study sites and field plots and to record GPS plot locations for permanent records. Keep abreast of new developments in the GIS field and apply such techniques and methods to increase efficiency and quality of work projects. Prepare graphs, maps, presentations, and reports on experimental methods and data analyses; manage databases by organizing, documenting, and archiving data files; ensure the security of records and data; and prepare graphs and tables for publications and presentations. Use judgment to resolve errors and discrepancies in data; recommends solutions, and refer major problems to supervisor. Determine best way to present data and provide GIS products upon request including hardcopy maps, graphical displays, and reports that are appropriate for a given project. Apply GPS/GIS to meet scientist needs for designing studies, analyzing data, and reporting results. Recommend and/or determine the data to use to generate figures for research scientists to include in reports, presentations, and manuscripts. Work with program and station scientists to archive data sets. May need to interface GIS and web environments, integrate metadata into a web interface, and develop novel uses of GIS technology to meet science needs. Identify discrepancies in data and recommend solutions. Maintain EF Weather Station and download, upload, record, store, and disseminate weather data. Build and update data files on personal computers using appropriate software.
NOTES: The position requires that the incumbent must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license. The incumbent must be proficient in the safe and accurate operation of forestry equipment, including chain saws, and in driving trucks and all-terrain vehicles. Where required, the incumbent will pursue training and attain necessary equipment, vehicle, and fire management certifications.
Knowledge Required
Knowledge of and skill in applying the concepts, principles, practices, and methodology of the field of forestry; including forest ecology, ecophysiology, and plant identification is required. Also required is the ability to identify and resolve problems, especially those that arise in complex data collection phases of the assignment, and to provide technical advice to others. Knowledge of federal, state, local, and/or tribal laws and regulations and FS and Station programs, laws, objectives, policies and regulations is required to independently perform recurring, well-precedented projects using standard methods and techniques. Oral and written communication skill is needed in order to organize and write comprehensive reports and/or scientific manuscripts; make written and oral presentations to both lay persons and professional peer audiences; and identify and foster relationships with research scientists, forest managers, nongovernmental
organizations, and the public.
Knowledge of and experience with dataloggers is needed in order to: develop complex programs for control and measurement, control devices, and exchange programs and data between the datalogger and a portable microcomputer.
Knowledge of and skill in applying descriptive statistical analysis packages, Geographical Positioning Systems (GPS), and GIS computer software is required in order to collect survey data, perform and interpret statistical and GIS analysis of ecological data, and prepare maps of survey data.
Knowledge and skill in manipulating large data sets and transforming the data, to be able to develop and upload metafiles and work with them in a GIS environment.
Familiarity and experience with computer programs for spreadsheets, data management and analysis, word processing, communications, and graphics to prepare tabular data and reports.
Knowledge of the function and application of monitoring instruments and sensing devices used in the various ecological and meteorological disciplines is required; also required is the ability to use such instruments to collect field data, such as standard mensurational data on forest stands.
Knowledge of administrative procedures is required to develop work plans and requirements for personnel, material, and equipment necessary to maintain the physical plant of the PEF and provide infrastructure to support ongoing and new research requirements, and to evaluate requests for access.
Other Information of Interest
The area of consideration is Government-wide and External DEMO
One position will be advertised
Work will require some overnight travel
Basic entry qualifications: a bachelor’s or higher degree in forestry or a related subject-matter field that included a total of at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours of course work were in forestry; or a combination of education and experience (courses equivalent to a major, plus appropriate experience or additional education).
In addition to meeting the basic entry qualifications, applicants must have specialized experience and/or 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s or equivalent degree.
Additional Information about Duty Station
Bradley, Maine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley,_Maine is located near the Bangor metropolitan area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor,_Maine
If you are interested in this position, please fill out the enclosed outreach notice. Once the position is advertised in USAJOBS, we will notify you by email.
For any questions concerning this position, please contact Laura Kenefic, Research Forester, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, lkenefic@fs.fed.us
OUTREACH NOTICE
APPLICANT REPLY FORM
If you are interested in this position, please complete and submit this form to Laura Kenefic, Research Forester, lkenefic@fs.fed.us this will help us determine the level of interest of prospective candidates. Please respond by August 1, 2016.
Title of Outreach Position: Forester
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