The Sierra Cascade Province is currently hiring an Associate Ecologist position to be stationed in Quincy, CA. The position is for permanent, full- time employment with a salary range of 52,912 to 68,787 pa.
DUTIES: The Associate Ecologist works with the Province Ecologist to address a wide range of ecological issues across the Modoc, Lassen and Plumas National Forests. The Sierra Cascade Province straddles the northern Sierra and southern Cascade mountain ranges which support a wide range of ecosystems including great basin, sagebrush steppe, eastside pine, mixed conifer, and foothill vegetation types. Major duties will include: Provides ecological expertise and technical assistance for Forest Service projects and planning efforts. Incorporates ecological principles into decision making. Develops ecological monitoring programs to collect, analyze, and interpret data to help guide Forest Service activities through an adaptive management framework. Evaluates the effect of forest management practices including grazing, prescribed burning, and silvicultural treatments on a diverse range of ecosystems. Integrates information from separate disciplines such as botany, hydrology, soils, and wildlife, including historic and legacy data, for use in assessing current conditions, detecting trends, developing historic reference conditions, and developing desired future conditions for use in planning and implementing forest projects. Conducts fire monitoring and modeling, including evaluations of fire behavior, fuel loading, fire effects, and patterns of fire severity. Conducts classification and mapping of vegetation types, fire regimes, and potential natural vegetation. Uses statistically sound sampling and analytical methods, including multivariate techniques and modeling approaches, to evaluate complex environmental and biological patterns across large landscapes. Coordinates with district, forest, and regional staff to conduct integrated ecological monitoring and reporting programs. Develops field guides, brochures, GIS products, presentations, workshops, and other materials to facilitate the transfer of ecological knowledge. Provides technical assistance with NEPA planning and implementation. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION: An ability to conduct practical applied research of direct relevance to Forest Service managers, and to communicate findings in simple, straight forward terms to a wide variety of audiences. Broad knowledge of ecology and its application to management, including silviculture, range management, fuels and fire management, wildlife management and soils management. Must be able to apply the latest developments in ecology to solutions of a novel or controversial nature for which accepted or proven methods are not available. Must have a working knowledge of GIS software, multivariate statistics, ecological modeling, and database design and management. Knowledge of federal, state and agency laws and regulations pertaining to forest resource management. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated success at grant writing. Wildland firefighting experience beneficial. WORKING CONDITIONS: Field and office work are about equally divided in a year; May-October is normally spent largely in the field. During this period the incumbent is often away from the duty station for extended periods. Working conditions may sometimes be difficult, including hiking over rough terrain in steep, rugged areas with exposure to heat, poison oak, poisonous snakes and insects. AREA DESCRIPTION: This position is stationed in Quincy, California. The area has four seasons with warm to hot days and warm to cool nights in the summer, and periodic snowstorms in the winter. Average annual precipitation is about 35 to 40 inches a year. Within a half day or less drive are Lake Tahoe, Reno, Sacramento, Susanville, San Francisco, Redding, Chico, California coast, Lake Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park and a vast variety of activities and opportunities. Popular activities within Plumas County and the Plumas National Forest include hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, OHV and OSV riding, white water rafting, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and wildlife viewing. To learn more about Plumas County go to: www.plumascounty.org. The community of Quincy is the Plumas County seat and has a population of approximately 5,000. The town is located at an elevation of approximately 3,400 feet in a small mountain valley in the northeastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Local community services include: a hospital, several medical and dental offices, limited service airport, a public library, a post office, a theater, a community college, a high school, two public elementary schools, one private elementary school, a variety of churches, tow supermarkets, a bowling alley, a public pool, a health club, two parks with playground equipment, and numerous restaurants and motels. Real estate values vary greatly, with prices for a single-family home ranging from $250,000 to $475,000+. CONTACT: If you have any further questions about the position or the application process, please call: Kyle Merriam, at 530-283-7777 or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] HOW TO APPLY: The easiest way to access the vacancy announcement is to first go to USAJOBS at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov. In the keyword search field enter the announcement number ADS07-R5-PNFSO-02352G (For those with Federal Status) or ADS07-R5-PNFSO-02352DP (For the General Public). For those with Federal Status also answer yes to the eligibility question. Once you have brought up the vacancy announcement, click on the link that says click here to apply. That will take you to our automated application system called AVUE. This vacancy will close on 9/13/2007.
