ECOLOGIST

About the Position: Serves as an Ecologist within the Natural Resource Management Branch, Environmental and Natural Resources Management Division, DPW. Incumbent serves as the Forest Ecology Coordinator within the DPW and is responsible for forest health on 225,000 acres of military training lands at Fort Polk. Civilian employees serve a vital role in supporting the Army mission. They provide the skills that are not readily available in the military, but crucial to support military operations.

Major duties

• Evaluates relationships among vegetation, soils, hydrology, wildlife, forest health, invasive species, fire, and military land use.
• Establishes biological baselines and assesses environmental conditions and trends.
• Develops annual and multiyear plans, schedules, resource requirements, and budget recommendations for ecological projects.
• Coordinates with installation leaders, engineers, contractors, conservation organizations, and Federal, state, and local agencies.
• Develops and submits budgetary requirements, documents such as Contract Acquisition packets.
• Uses GIS digital maps and other technical tools to create, maintain, analyze, and present natural-resource and land-management information.
• Develops or reviews mitigation, restoration, enhancement, and monitoring measures for wildlife and habitats.
• Uses field data, habitat information, and biological principles to support species-management recommendations.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in 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 above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service, which includes providing technical assistance on natural-resources program funding, equipment, and staffing needs; coordinating with diverse groups to resolve problems and exchange information on ecological matters; and reviewing environmental impact assessment statements and other reports associated with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Biology or Ecology. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.