Ecologist

Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

Salary: $59,966 (Step 01) to $77,955 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01 .

This job is open to

Duties

As an Ecologist within the Southwest Biological Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

Ensure necessary chemicals and laboratory supplies are available to meet research goals in a molecular genetics laboratory. Apply inventory and database management for field and laboratory samples, including extracted DNA. Train less experienced personnel in laboratory genetics techniques, data management and analyses. Analyze landscape genetic patterns using Geographic Information Systems or other spatially explicit analysis tools. Conduct studies on topics such as modeling the spatial relationships between restoration treatment factors, ecosystem properties, climate, and biodiversity. Operate a government owned or leased vehicle as an incidental driver. Physical Demands
The work involves field studies in an array of locations from high to low elevation and conditions of extreme temperatures. Day and overnight hikes of 5-10 miles per day carrying 20- 35 pound packs may be necessary. Extended periods of data manipulation and analysis and manuscript preparation will require extended periods of working at a desk and computer terminal.

Work Environment
Field conditions include an array of climatic, topographic, and vegetation conditions with typical risks from hazardous plants, insects, pollen, dust, etc. The indoor work area has adequate light, heat and ventilation.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Key Requirements:

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year trial period. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record. Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information. Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position? This vacancy is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes. Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job. Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued. A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT : Applicants must meet A below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Ecologist, all grade levels.

A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours or the equivalent in ecology, and 12 semester hours or the equivalent in physical and mathematical sciences.

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-09 level:

**Two full years of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) or masters or equivalent graduate degree in ecology, biology or other directly related field underlying ecological research if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled.

**OR one year of appropriate specialized experience that is in ecology, biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Examples of GS-7 level work may include: 1) assisting in planning, organizing/implementing scientific investigations; 2) performing data analyses on portions of larger investigations; 3) participating in organizing and interpreting biological, ecological, pathological, public use, or other pertinent research information.

**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of progressive graduate study, and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

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.

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