POSITION OUTREACH
Ecologist, Forest Plan Revision Team
GS-0408-11
Term/Temporary Position 1-year, Not to Exceed 5-Years
Respond Requested by May 26, 2014
The Tonto National Forest has initiated the process of revising its Land Management Plan to incorporate changed conditions, best available science, and new public issues. The revised plan will be a collaboratively developed, science-based framework for integrated resource management and for guiding project and activity decision-making.
As part of this effort, we are recruiting for a vegetation ecologist to be dedicated to the Plan Revision effort. This position is located in Phoenix, AZ, and will be a TERM, time-limited appointment with an initial duration of no less than 12 months, with the likely potential to be extended up to a total of 4 years. This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of this upcoming opportunity, and to help make future decisions about recruitment for these positions.
If interested, please return the attached Outreach Response Form by May 26, 2014 to Ken Born, Forest Planner, at kcborn@fs.fed.us.
Major Duties: (The duties described reflect the full performance level of this position.)
ABOUT THE POSITION:
The forest plan revision ecologist will participate as a core member of an interdisciplinary team working together to assess, plan, evaluate, document, and predict effects of planned forest management. He/she will be responsible for identifying the relevant terrestrial, aquatic, and riparian ecosystems to be evaluated, and the appropriate scale for conducting an assessment; evaluating information about the structure, function, composition, and connectivity of the evaluated ecosystems; identifying possible system drivers, stressors, and trends, and evaluating their influences on key ecosystem integrity and sustainability; and drafting desired conditions and other plan components which are designed to move toward ecological sustainability and to guide future project or activity decision making.
The vegetation ecologist must also demonstrate knowledge of vegetation, soil, and environmental characteristics and ecological classifications. He/she will coordinate with the timber management in areas that influence forest plan analysis, and will work with the forest fire or wild land fire specialist to determine the role of fire dependent regimes. The candidate must be able to manage data applicable to the management of vegetation communities and incorporate information into the planning process and the geographic information system. He/she will give briefings and presentations relating to ecological systems.
This work will also involve substantial innovative work with collaborative groups, the Forest Leadership Team, Federal, state, and local officials, community leaders and organizations, and the general public. The ecologist will have access to the forest science community to determine appropriate scales and models, science findings, and monitoring protocols to apply to this effort.