Ecologist (Temporary)

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A.

Degree: 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.

You must submit transcripts. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: ability to execute established natural resource management projects by independently planning and carrying out steps using established techniques to resolve problems; planning field projects; independently choosing from among several possible courses of action at different stages of the project (e.g., selects site locations, sampling techniques, appropriate equipment, logistics, etc.); assisting supervisor with applying the results found in scientific data to test the efficiency of such inventory and monitoring programs; helping provide recommendations for further improvements as needed; utilizing scientific information acquisition and analysis standards, methods, and recording techniques to effectively manage the collection and summation of data to produce a final analysis that effectively meets scientifically acceptable standards; or adhering to scientific monitoring protocols in performing and/or assisting in monitoring of ecosystem and natural resource components, to ensure that program goals and objectives meet legal requirements and reflect national priorities and policies.

Duties are supportive of professional specialists in resource management; relevant to research, conservation and management of natural resources such as but not limited to vegetation monitoring or control; field studies on plant or forest ecology, inventorying and monitoring forests, leadership and mentoring tasks or making other field observations on the state of natural resource conditions.

NOTE: You must include number of hours worked per week and begin/end dates (no/yr format) in your resume. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited educational institution concentrated in a field that is directly related to the work of this position, such as in biology, ecology, botany, natural resource management, conservation, forestry, or other directly related subject matters.

One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. NOTE: You must provide transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience.

Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level can be combined with the appropriate level of experience to qualify applicants for positions at the GS-9. For example, I have 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 27 semester hours or 41 quarter hours of appropriate directly related graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement). NOTE: You must provide transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Conducts vegetation (high elevation forest) plot sampling in remote wilderness areas. Collects and organizes field data, ensuring quality control of data or collected samples. Manages and analyses data using spreadsheet, database, statistical, and GIS software. Implements field research and monitoring tasks associated with forest ecology and/or vegetation management.

Work is in arduous conditions (heat, steep slopes, uneven footing, plant and insect pests, poisonous snakes, conducting traffic control, elevations up to 10,000 ft.) Assists in the preparation of reports, plans, and guidelines related to forest monitoring and research projects. Provides logistical support for inventory and monitoring projects as well as advice, assistance, and training to students, volunteers or lower graded technicians.

This position requires regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry above 7,000 feet elevation for extended periods of time. Selectee must be able to hike by foot in the backcountry at high altitude for extended periods of time while carrying backpacks, tools and supplies of at least 50 lbs, and be able to camp for several days at a time.

Physical Demands: The position may require strenuous physical activity including periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting and carrying of heavy objects. Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time.

01Working Conditions

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Assignments may be performed in potentially hazardous areas including steep rocky terrain, arctic environments, and forests. Flying in fixed and rotary wing aircraft is possible.