Supervisory Biological Scientist  GS-0401-11

Forest Inventory & Analysis Quality Assurance Coordinator

Resource Monitoring and Assessment Program

Pacific Northwest Research Station, Anchorage Alaska

PLEASE REPLY by October 14, 2016

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Pacific Northwest Research Station’s (PNW) Anchorage Forestry Sciences Laboratory (AFSL) is looking for candidates for the Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator position with the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program’s Data Collection team based in Anchorage, AK.  The AFSL FIA Data Collection team is divided into three regional units: Coastal Alaska, Interior Alaska, and Pacific Islands.  This position is a permanent, full-time position primarily focused on managing the Alaska FIA Data Collection team’s Quality Assurance program for all three regional units. The incumbent may be required to carry a firearm for bear protection when in the field, and consequentially is subject to a federal background investigation, as well as pre-hire and random drug testing.

To download the entire announcement including the response reform, click HERE.

Supervisory Biological Scientist GS-0401-7/9

Coastal Alaska Assistant Coordinator

Resource Monitoring and Assessment Program

Pacific Northwest Research Station, Anchorage Alaska

PLEASE REPLY by October 14, 2016

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Pacific Northwest Research Station’s (PNW) Anchorage Forestry Sciences Laboratory (AFSL) is looking for candidates for the Coastal Alaska Assistant Coordinator position with the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program’s Data Collection team based in Anchorage, AK.  The AFSL FIA Data Collection team is divided into three regional units: Coastal Alaska, Interior Alaska, and Pacific Islands.  This position is primarily responsible for assisting the Coastal Alaska Coordinator, but could occasionally be involved in the Interior Alaska or Pacific Islands inventories. The incumbent may be required to carry a firearm for bear protection when in the field, and consequentially is subject to a federal background investigation, as well as pre-hire and random drug testing.  This is an 18/8 permanent seasonal position (PSE) consisting of 18 pay periods of full-time work and 8 pay periods of non-pay status per year.  Appointees may be offered to work longer depending on workload and funding.  This position is a career ladder with the full performance level at GS-09.

To download the entire announcement including the response form, click HERE.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Prescribed Fire Crew Manager oversees a squad of FFT2s in wildland fire activities, as directed by a Burn Boss, or other command position. This is a short-term seasonal position. The position term will begin January 26, 2017, and will end May 15, 2017. Housing will be provided.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Crew manager oversees a squad of 3 FFT2s in wildland fire activities on partner and TNC properties. Participates in preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring and other tasks. May perform other natural resource management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire.

As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, he/she will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials. In addition, they shall work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community as necessary. This may include participation in wildland fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies, either as a TNC employee, or as a volunteer or short term employee of the partner entity (such as an Administratively Determined, short-term federal employee).

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 10/21/2016.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Prairie Coteau Conservation Technician works in a program and/or preserve office and provides administrative, research, project management and other general assistance to program staff and partners working toward the achievement of protection, conservation or stewardship goals. The primary work station will be the USFWS office at the Waubay National Wildlife Refuge in Waubay, SD. A percentage of time may also be stationed out of a Conservancy and/or other partner office depending on annual work goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Prairie Coteau Conservation Technician will primarily assist The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners such as U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) with promoting conservation objectives. The Technician will be responsible for establishing contact with private landowners of native prairie for enrollment in conservation programs. Overall supervision will be provided by TNC. Day-to-day direction and training will be provided by partners such as the USFWS regarding easement work. Primary responsibilities include:

• Contact landowners to inform them about conservation programs and explain opportunities for enrollment.
• Coordinate contacts and conduct biological evaluations on potential easement properties as the initial step to prioritize each tract of land for easement acquisition and approval.
• Assist with facilitating an emerging carbon credit program.
• Provide support for other conservation projects as assigned

The Conservation Technician may also assist with biological surveys, data management, prescribed fire, land management practices, and outreach/education programs. The Technician will work with a variety of partners to develop proposals and implement conservation projects focused on priority conservation goals identified in the Prairie Coteau of South Dakota.

The Conservation Technician may be required to work some evening and weekend hours in order to work with landowners when they are available and conditions are conducive for activities. This is a18-month term position ending March 1, 2018, with the opportunity to extend employment pending securement of long-term funding.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 3, 2016.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Grand Calumet River Restoration Crew Member performs and participates in invasive plant management and other restoration efforts as a member of a Grand Calumet River Restoration Action Team. This is a 10-month position with an approximate time frame of late October 2016 through late August 2017, unless additional funding is acquired.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Grand Calumet River Restoration Crew Member maintains preserve areas and riverine marshes, including controlling exotic invasive species. S/he also maintains tools and equipment, and learns how to identify native and non-native species. S/he may assist in prescribed burns and burn preparations.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 3, 2016.

Call for Nominations on a Workshop: 

A Century Of Wildland Fire Research: Contributions To Long-term Approaches For Wildland Fire Management

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are seeking nominations for a planning committee to organize a workshop on wildland fire. The workshop will be held at the Academies auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. It will examine the last century of wildland fire research in the context of:

• Recent, rapid increases in extreme fire behavior and the hazards and risks these fires pose to communities and landscape.
• The occurrence of wildfire as an integral part of the natural, healthy evolution of landscapes.

Specific attention will be given to scientific results, capabilities, and information that have been or can aid wildland fire managers, policymakers, and communities in support of more strategic, long-term approach to wildland fire management.

Planning committee members will establish the content of the workshop, identify speakers and their presentation topics, and develop themes for workshop breakout sessions. The Academies seek nominees who have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Hydrology
• Forestry
• Earth surface processes
• Ecosystems
• Geomorphology
• Mapping and geographical sciences
• Climate science
• Land management
• Wildfire emergency response (state or local)
• Community planning for hazard mitigation and hazard response   

Nominations should be submitted by Friday, September 30, 2016. For more information about this workshop, including the Statement of Task, please visit the event website. And subscribe to keep informed about the workshop here.

To submit a nomination, click HERE.

The incumbent will serve as the Fire Management Officer for a complex fire organization. Incumbent will provide oversight and program management to National Park Service units within the following states; Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.  This Wildland Fire and Aviation Program will be based at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area with a satellite program maintained at Gateway National Recreation Area. Duties as follows: Maintain agreements and work co-operatively with local, state and federal agencies to provide for fire management needs. Develop strong internal and external working relationships. Collaborate with Chief Ranger, NPS Regional Fire Management Officer, NPS park management staffs concerning program of work. Manage emergency fire preparedness and response. Supervise and develop employees by mentoring, provide opportunities for on the job training, career development training, and fire assignments.

Support area parks by providing resources for wildland suppression and prescribed fire/fuels management. Manage a budget to operate the fire program. Design and provide training for internal/external red carded employees, provide annual refreshers and other basic fire training needs (to include S-212, S-130/190 and ICS). Develop a clear vision for the fire program and create written documents that support the vision statement (for example burn plan development, job hazard analysis, standard operating procedures). Incumbent will be familiar with mobilization procedures, internal and external to the MAFMA, maintain a working relationship with NECC. Manage and oversee the following Wildland Fire Programs; MSP, ROSS, IQCS, PMIS, NFPORRS, WIMS, ETC.

To view the entire job announcement, click HERE.

Support macro reviews of the Intermountain Basin Big Sagebrush Shrubland and Intermountain Basin Big Sagebrush Steppe. Your review can impact the way that these ecosystems are described and used. Please add your comments via the BpS review web link.

More instructions and specific review questions available at the links above.

The Forest Stewards Guild is actively seeking qualified prescribed burners who have current NWCG qualifications as a firefighter type 2 or higher to burn practitioners to safely return fire to fire-adapted forests. Tentative burn dates, October 2-7 and October 9-14.

If interested contact Matt Piccarello, Community Forestry Coordinator Forest Stewards Guild at matt@forestguild.org or 505-470-9725 or visit this website.

Biological Scientist Forest Inventory and Analysis Quality Assurance Inspector

One vacancy in Sedro-Woolley, WA or Cle Elum, WA

One vacancy in Mt. Shasta, CA

PLEASE REPLY by October 7th, 2016

Please indicate all locations of interest on the outreach response form.

These are permanent seasonal positions, consisting of 18 pay periods of full time work and 8 pay periods of non-pay status per year. Appointees may be offered the opportunity to work longer depending on workload and funding. These positions are career ladder with the full performance level at GS-09.

These positions are with the Data Collection Team of the PNW Research Station’s Resource Monitoring and Assessment (RMA) Program, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) unit. The FIA unit is part of a nationwide program which collects, processes, analyzes, evaluates, and publishes comprehensive information on forest and other related renewable resources. Administration for this Data Collection team is located in Portland, Oregon and field crews are remotely stationed throughout Washington, Oregon and California.

The complete job announce and response form can be found HERE.

The original LANDFIRE models and mapping products, produced a decade ago, are being systematically updated.  Responding to this opportunity, and to calls for data improvements among the Northeast Regional Strategy Committee in developing the National Cohesive Strategy NE Regional Action Plan, we are seeking a coordinator to help integrate local knowledge and spatial data into the mapping process for a 20 state Northeast Region (USFS Region 9). The coordinator’s primary responsibilities will be outreach and communications (70%) and data management and organization (30%). This position is based within the Wisconsin (WI) Department of Natural Resources in Madison, WI and funded via a three-year grant awarded to the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact. The coordinator will work closely with various project partners, and a steering committee, the Northeast Regional Strategy Committee (NE RSC), representing the 20 Northeastern states. This position will require extensive collaboration across a large geographic area and offers exceptional network building and professional growth opportunities. Competitive salary will be commensurate with experience.

POTENTIAL ACTIVITIES

• Coordinate with the Joint Fire Science Program’s Fire Science Exchange Consortia corresponding to the Northeast Region to identify and engage fire ecologists for local knowledge input. 
• Coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies, private conservation groups, and educational institutions to acquire, develop, and share GIS data and expertise relevant to the use and improvement of LANDFIRE in the Northeast Region.
• Work with LANDFIRE users to determine and document data collection standards, data storage strategies, and data distribution methods.  
• Maintain a broad awareness of the Northeast Region’s LANDFIRE users’, and the GIS industry’s standards, policies, initiatives, and activities related to geospatial data administration.

Interested individuals should contact Jed Meunier (Research Ecologist with the WI DNR) with questions: JedMeunier@wisconsin.gov

Closing Date: October 12, 2016

“New technology to monitor fire risk on Defence Lands”

The Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University is seeking applications from highly motivated and qualified candidates who are Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of Australia for a 3-year PhD program of research commencing early 2017 that will investigate the potential of remote sensing data from various sources for fire risk monitoring in Defence Lands. As part of this research, the successful candidate will use satellite remote sensing, ground-based methodologies, and cameras as well as ground vehicle-based or UAV mounted sensor arrays to developed innovative ways to monitor key fuel properties determining fire risk (e.g. fuel moisture content, fuel structure and fuel load).

The position is based in Canberra; is in collaboration with the Defence Department and the Bushfire and Natural Hazard Cooperative Research Centre; and will require field work in the Australian Capital Territory and potentially other states and territories.

Academic supervision for the PhD Student would be provided by Dr. Marta Yebra, Prof. Albert van Dijk and A/Prof Geoffrey Cary of the Fenner School of Environment and Society with co-supervision from Dr. Frederick Ford from the Defence Department.

Background: Remote sensing techniques for fire risk assessment have progressed rapidly in recent years. These offer the potential for Defence land managers to access broad-area information that underpins key decisions for fuel management and conduct of training activities with potential to start bushfires. This approach is particularly useful for remote areas and restricted access areas used by Defence. However, remote sensing data may not provide Defence managers with ready access to all necessary up to date data or the necessary spatial or temporal resolution, and alternative ground-based techniques such as fuel depth gauges or automatic cameras may still provide a more immediate method for managers to assess fuel condition. In this PhD project, the real and ongoing cost of providing fuel-related fire risk information must be assessed against the suitability of the data for its intended audience, and its potential common good value.

Selection criteria: Applicants should: (1) possess a relevant Bachelor’s degree with first-class honours, or a research Master’s degree from a recognised university, in a relevant discipline; (2) demonstrate experience in analysing remote sensing data and/or managing GIS projects; (3) possess sound written and verbal communication skills; (4) have fieldwork experience and be willing to travel independently. Fluency in computer programming and relevant professional experience in bushfire management will be viewed favourable.
PhD scholarship: The successful candidate will be assisted in applying for an ANU PhD stipend scholarship (AUD 26,288 per annum tax free (2016 rate)) and if successful in that application, will receive: (1) a top-up scholarship stipend of AUD 10,000 per annum and (2) substantial additional operational funding for project field work, data collection, travel and conference attendance.

That is, awarding of the top-up scholarship and additional operating funding above is contingent on the chosen candidate securing an ANU PhD scholarship for commencement in early 2017.

How to apply: Applicants must submit a CV, all transcripts, a maximum of two pages addressing the selection criteria and details on two referees to Dr. Marta Yebra (marta.yebra@anu.edu.au) by September 30th, 2016. Please do NOT apply online to ANU until contacted.

The Joint Fire Science Program has announced it's 2017 Funding Opportunities. Details can be found HERE.

POSITION SUMMARY

The As-Needed Burn Crew Coordinator oversees a squad (4-8 Burn Crew Members) in wildland fire operations on Nature Conservancy or partner managed lands in the Southern Blue Ridge, as directed by a Burn Boss or other command position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The primary responsibility of the As-Needed Burn Crew Coordinator will be to assist in conducting prescribed burns with TNC partners such as state and federal agencies or on TNC preserves. S/he will participate in wildland fire operations which may include fire line construction, suppression, ignition, patrol, mop-up, and monitoring, etc. All TNC staff actively participating on a prescribed burn must have a minimum qualification as a FFT2. Individuals will be representing the Conservancy on partner burns, and must act accordingly.

Individual is expected to provide their own personal protective equipment (Nomex pants, Nomex shirt, fire boots, leather gloves, and hard hat) as outlined by the TNC fire management manual http://www.tncfiremanual.org/require.htm and provide their own transportation to the meet up location near Asheville. TNC will provide fire line pack, fire shelter, radio and harness and will provide transportation to and from the burn unit from the meet up location.

Potential for assisting on forestry-related projects.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 12, 2016.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Burn Crew Member participates in wildland fire operations on Nature Conservancy or partner managed lands including ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, monitoring, and other tasks as assigned in the Southern Blue Ridge.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The As-Needed Burn Crew Member will participate on prescribed burns throughout western North Carolina on a strictly As Needed basis from December 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017. The Conservancy supports partner efforts on multiple controlled burns each year in which additional staff is requested. This position is meant to help fill the gap of personnel for single or multi-day prescribed fire operations. Staffing needs for this position are currently projected to average 1-2 operational periods bi-weekly. Opportunities for operational periods are at the discretion of the Southern Blue Ridge Stewardship Manager or NC Fire Manager. Operational periods will likely be sporadic and clustered by opportune weather conditions, and no guarantee of a minimum number of opportunities is given or implied. As-Needed Burn Crew members will participate on opportunities only as their own schedules will allow, and thus participation on any given opportunity is not required.

The primary responsibility of the As-Needed Burn Crew Member will be to assist in conducting prescribed burns with TNC partners such as state and federal agencies or on TNC preserves. S/he will participate in wildland fire operations which may include fire line construction, suppression, ignition, patrol, mop-up, and monitoring, etc. All TNC staff actively participating on a prescribed burn must have a minimum qualification as a FFT2. Individuals will be representing the Conservancy on partner burns, and must act accordingly.

Individual is expected to provide their own personal protective equipment (Nomex pants, Nomex shirt, fire boots, leather gloves, and hard hat) as outlined by the TNC fire management manual http://www.tncfiremanual.org/require.htm and provide their own transportation to the meet up location near Asheville. TNC will provide fire line pack, fire shelter, radio and harness and will provide transportation to and from the burn unit from the meet up location.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 12, 2016.

Pathways Position (FIA Field Crew Member)

Student Trainee GS-0499-03/04

Convertible to Forestry Technician GS-0462-05/06

One vacancy in either Fresno, CA or San Bernardino, CA

About the position...

This position will be advertised through USAjobs as part of the Society of American Foresters 2017 Forest Service recruiting event and is targeted toward current students. Opportunity to apply to the position will be available online through USAjobs.gov in late October/early November and on site at the SAF 2016 conference.

This position is with the Data Collection Team of the PNW Research Station’s Resource Monitoring and Assessment (RMA) Program, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) unit. The FIA unit is part of a nationwide program which collects, processes, analyzes, evaluates, and publishes comprehensive information on forest and other related renewable resources. Administration for this Data Collection team is located in Portland, Oregon and field crews are remotely stationed throughout Washington, Oregon and California. The full data collection team consists of around 50 permanent and 15-20 temporary employees and interns.

This position will support work sampling field plots located on a systematic grid across all land ownerships and will be almost entirely field based. Areas sampled by the PNW Research Station, FIA data collection team cover a diverse array of forested ecological communities which include: temperate rain forests of coastal Oregon and Washington, coastal redwood forests of California; high mountain conifer forests of the Cascades and Sierras; ponderosa and lodgepole pine forests, juniper forests and oak woodlands. Each crew covers a large area, and no matter where you work, you will see a wide variety of country.

Crew members work under the direction of a local crew leader and work alongside one to three people. Crews will use maps, aerial photos, and GPS units to navigate to permanent plot locations. Measurements taken by crews include: tree data (species, diameter, height, defect, insect & disease, damage, etc.); understory vegetation (shrub, herb, grass species and percent cover, etc.); down woody material (line transects, litter depth, and fuels measurement, etc.); and site index and site attributes. Crews use portable, handheld computers to collect data in the field and then process the data later using laptop computers to address data inconsistencies, anomalies, or errors.

To view the entire outreach notice, including the response form, click HERE.

Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Middleton, Grassland Botanist, Missouri Department of Conservation

Summary: The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Grassland Systems Field Station is recruiting 1 Botanical Research Crew Leader to assist in collecting vegetation data in the tallgrass prairies of West-Central and Southwest Missouri. The Crew Leader will play a key role in refining a 15 year project investigating the effect of patch burn grazing on remnant prairie plant communities. This position offers an opportunity to continue to develop plant identification skills, learn about tallgrass prairie ecology and large-scale project design, and to interact with professionals in the field. The Crew Leader will be able to gain additional skills through a variety of formal and informal training opportunities (e.g., MS Access, ARC GIS, plant identification, ATV safety)

Duties: Summer project tasks include identifying 200+ prairie plants to species, assessing presence/absence and estimating plant coverage. The Crew Leader will be responsible for collecting presence/absence data independently, as well as working with a botany technician to collect plant community diversity data. The Crew Leader will be responsible for some data entry, and some data quality control in MS Access. The Crew Leader will motivate and lead a summer botany crew (3 others) in the absence of the Grassland Botanist. Fall-Winter project tasks include protocol and field manual revisions, reviewing and improving sampling logistics, refinement and maintenance of a process to manage collected unknown plant material (both physical and digital), and assistance in development of crew training materials. Other duties include maintaining a herbarium database, leading in the pressing and mounting of any collected plant material, assisting in training a summer botany crew, and becoming familiar with the Heritage Database, and volunteering for other Field Station projects, as time allows.

For more information and to apply visit the announcement page here.

Duties:

Serves as a key member of the Forest Leadership Team to formulate plans, policies, and objectives for the Forest; manages natural resources; provides administrative and technical supervision and direction to accomplish the work of the unit.

Manages the resources, goods, and services; responsible for the development, production, conservation, and utilization of the natural resources of forests and associated lands. Oversees study projects to develop guidelines, standards, and procedures for analyzing public needs, demands, and resource capabilities. Oversees preparation of draft environmental impact statements including identification of goals and plan of action. Supervises the development of alternative land-use strategies and forecasts the benefits and consequences.

Establishes and maintains cooperative relations with local, county, and State representatives, special interest groups, civic groups, private industry, Tribal government, permittees, and the general public. Promotes ecosystem management, ensuring long term productivity and ecologically sustainable goals are implemented, maintained and achieved. Coordinates District resource management with public officials, industry representatives, and citizen groups. Ensures, through persuasion, negotiations, or similar tactics that such plans are consistent with the District's multiple use resource objectives.

For more information and to apply for this job visit the announcement page here.

Stephen F. Austin State University seeks nominations and applications for an energetic dean who will provide effective leadership for the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. As chief administrative officer of the college, the dean reports to the provost/vice president of academic affairs and serves on the Deans' Council. The dean directs and oversees the teaching, research and outreach missions of the college, supervising the personnel procedures, securing resources, representing and promoting the college, and preparing and administering the college budgets. The dean is responsible for the college’s planning processes, academic program development, accreditation, student and faculty recruitment and retention, and fundraising. The dean also directly leads the forestry program of the college, participating at the state and national level in the Society of American Foresters, the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs, and as ex-officio member of the board of directors of the Texas Forestry Association. The dean chairs meetings of the forestry faculty, conducts annual reviews of the forestry faculty and staff, is responsible for maintaining SAF accreditation of the undergraduate forestry program, and serves as authorized technical representative for the federally funded McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program and the state-funded Center for Applied Studies in Forestry at SFA. The successful candidate will demonstrate an appropriate understanding of diverse disciplines within forestry, agriculture and environmental science, and the ability to serve as an effective advocate for these disciplines.

For more information visit this page.

The Great Basin Institute is recruiting an Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) Program Director for AIM and allied projects located in CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA, and WY. The overall objective of GBI’s AIM program, which is a sub-program of GBI’s Research Associate (RA) Program, is to provide professional development opportunities and quality land management assistance by producing consistent, landscape-scale monitoring data in support of the BLM’s national strategy for standardized resource monitoring. Sampling sites are predominantly located in sage grouse habitat, on public rangelands, and on riparian systems within designated priority areas. Field crews collect biotic, hydrologic, and soil qualitative indicators in conjunction with quantitative data to inform conservation planning and adaptive management decisions.

The AIM Program comprises over 100 field (seasonal) and other staff. During the 2016 field season, we deployed thirty 3-person (one Lead and two Technicians) and three 4-person (one Lead and three Technicians) field crews across seven western states. In 2017, we expect to deploy at least 35 field crews across the same region. We seek a committed AIM Program Director to coordinate with Research Associate/AIM program staff to oversee, perform and support all aspects of communication, safety assurance, planning, scheduling, recruitment, training, field deployment and implementation, data procurement and management, and reporting. The AIM Program Director will work closely with Program Coordinators, Data Specialists and other GBI staff, and will report to the Research Associate Program Director in accomplishing this work.

Specific duties include:

• Proactively maintain regular communication with agency partners to coordinate and promote adaptive management, development and budgeting, and compliance with agreement terms;
• In collaboration with GBI staff, establish annual objectives and assess the program’s long-term strategies;
• Act as liaison to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff and other program/project affiliates to plan and coordinate current and future projects;
• Oversee and perform recruitment, management, training, and coordination of field crews working on monitoring projects;
• Support project planning, equipment organization and maintenance, vehicle coordination, and team deployment;
• Oversee data management, which includes use of the MS Access-based Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment (DIMA), executing quality-assurance measures, performing quality-control data checks periodically throughout the field season, and using GIS to provide spatial analysis for reports and other mapping products;
• Promote a culture and best practices for maintaining field safety;
• Travel to perform site visits, particularly during the field and shoulder seasons, to BLM districts/offices and field sites in designated western states;
• Collaborate with other GBI staff to ensure compliance with grant and agreement terms and conditions, including: budget management, tracking and financial reporting; payroll and invoice review and processing; and compliance with AmeriCorps rules and regulations;
• Project reporting in accordance with programmatic and agency requirements;
• Engage in proactive and responsive personnel management;
• Participate in GBI or partner-sponsored training opportunities, and/or facilitate GBI training/workshops for Research Associates;
• Complete AIM program administrative support tasks including ensuring GBI and BLM policy compliance, maintaining personnel files, reviewing safety reports, and completing payroll bi-weekly; and
• Complete other duties as assigned by GBI staff.

For more information and to apply visit the announcement page here.

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West by advancing ecological literacy and habitat restoration through educational outreach and direct service programs. GBI’s Research Associate (RA) Program seeks a Coordinator to support program logistics, operations, and management of RAs across multiple western states spanning the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts, as well as the Lake Tahoe Basin. GBI RAs work with federal, state and local land management agencies on a wide variety of field-based projects including wildlife monitoring, rare and invasive plant inventories, recreation use surveys, resource documentation (e.g., NEPA or SHPO), resource mapping and monitoring, arid lands and riparian restoration, wilderness monitoring and inventories, cultural resource surveys, trail assessments and travel management inventories, as well as wildland fire monitoring. The RA Program Coordinator works with the Program Director and other GBI staff to recruit and place Research Associates, coordinate project logistics and scheduling, ensure compliance with AmeriCorps, grant, and agency rules and regulations, and perform associated administrative duties. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong organizational abilities are required.

Duties:

• Manage recruitment and logistical planning for new and existing RA projects, including applicant review and interviews, understanding scopes of work, equipment procurement, and orientation;
• Communicate regularly with Research Associates and agency partners via phone and written correspondence;
• Manage field safety communication and procedures;
• Maintain an informational roster of Research Associates, other organizational spreadsheets, and databases of project deliverables and performance measures;
• Support quarterly and annual reporting requirements;
• Develop and/or adapt systems that enhance the success and satisfaction of RAs in the Program;
• Collect, review and process GBI administrative paperwork, including timesheets, expense reports and time-off requests;
• Assist the Program Director with program operations, maintenance and expansion;
• Coordinate, collaborate with and assist other GBI programs as required;
• Follow and enforce policies detailed in GBI Personnel Handbook; and
• Other duties as assigned.

To apply visit the announcement page here.

The Department of Wildland Resources is seeking applications for a full-time, 9-month tenure track faculty position in fire ecology and management. We are seeking a scholar dedicated to basic and applied fire science. This is an Assistant Professor position consisting of 50% research, 40% teaching, and 10% service, to start by August 2017. Application review will begin by September 9, 2016. For more information on the position or how to apply contact search committee chair Jim Lutz, james.lutz@usu.edu, 435-797-0478. All applications must be submitted through the online system at http://jobs.usu.edu/.

For additional information, click HERE.

Two postdoctoral research scientist positions are available within the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana. The shared objectives of these positions are to 1) study the broad scale dynamics of rangeland ecosystems in North America; and 2) advance rangeland conservation. Research avenues span a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to): model development to improve estimation of gross/net primary productivity on rangelands; quantifying rangeland conifer encroachment and restoration (e.g., conifer removal); identifying and mapping rangeland resilience to disturbance; exploring trends in broad scale rangeland vegetation abundance and characteristics; quantifying land use and land cover change; estimating the biological values and ecosystem services generated by wetland resources throughout western North America; developing new conservation targeting platforms and tools.

The individuals will be key members of the Sage Grouse Initiative science team, working directly with other team members at the University of Montana and in collaboration with science partners across the western United States. The Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) is one of the largest conservation projects in North America. Launched by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2010, SGI has worked to voluntarily reduce threats facing sage-grouse and rangelands. Over the past five years, SGI has matured into a primary catalyst for rangeland and wildlife conservation across the North American west, focusing on the shared vision of conservation through sustainable working landscapes and ecosystem conservation. SGI and its partners have invested $760 million for conservation implementation. The SGI science team is responsible for advancing the science of rangeland and sage-grouse conservation, outcome monitoring, and continental assessment.

We seek those who are enthusiastic and motivated, and are willing to provide guidance, leadership, and new perspectives to help push the boundaries of rangeland ecology and conservation. Individuals must be able to work in a cooperative and dynamic team environment. Responsibilities will include project development and implementation, peer reviewed manuscripts, and engagement with partners and stakeholders. Knowledge of rangeland ecology and conservation paradigms is preferred, but not required.

Preferred analytic qualifications and skills include: experience with large geospatial datasets; knowledge of earth system models and algorithms; knowledge of remote sensing techniques and analyses; geospatial programming; experience with Google Earth Engine APIs; Linux/Unix computing environments; cloud computing environments (e.g., Google Cloud Platform). An individual does not need to necessarily possess this full suite of qualifications, but these skills and tools are used across a variety of projects.

For application information visit the announcement page.

Major Duties:

The position accomplishes timber, fuels reduction, forestry and sage-grouse habitat restoration work for Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management - Bishop Field Office. This position is responsible for managing and implementing the timber sale preparation program, performing timber sale administration duties, and acting as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for administering service contracts.

Timber sale prep program duties include: assures that unit layout, cruise design, and marking guidelines are consistent with environment assessment reports, including implementation of resource protection measures; oversees timber cruising and marking for compliance with complex silvicultural prescriptions, and summarizes cruise results for appraisal. Certified Timber Cruiser is a desired qualification.

COR duties include: responsible for administering service contracts, including timber stand improvement, fuels reduction, and sage-grouse habitat restoration projects; conducting pre-operations meetings with contractors, inspecting work accomplished, working with Contracting Officers if deficiencies arise, recommending acceptance of work completed, and submitting invoices.

Timber Sale Administrator and/or trainee duties include: conducting pre-operations meeting with Purchasers and Representatives; field inspections to insure compliance with terms of the contract; documenting findings, progress, and agreements in sale folders; and reporting non-compliance to contracting officer for review and guidance; assigning payments, creating bills for collection, and periodically reviewing account statements.

To apply for this position visit the announcement page here.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is pleased to invite applicants to fill two permanent research positions. The first position is part of a new initiative, made possible by generous support from the Simons Foundation, to conduct research on functional roles played by microbes in tropical forests. The second position is for a quantitative biologist conducting research on the ecology and evolution of tropical forests. Successful candidates will develop outstanding, independent research programs, supervise students and post-doctoral fellows, collaborate with Smithsonian staff, and provide service to STRI.

STRI is headquartered in the Republic of Panama, with modern research facilities, a library with extensive holdings in the natural and anthropological sciences, and field stations throughout the Republic of Panamá. Staff scientists maintain research programs within a worldwide network of collaborators at diverse academic institutions. Opportunities for mentoring young scientists are available through an internal fellowship program. Formal teaching is possible through educational programs with affiliated universities, but not required.

Incumbents will complement existing strengths at STRI, and within STRI’s Center for Tropical Forest Science/Smithsonian Forest Global Earth Observatory, including, but not limited to, community and population ecology, ecosystem biology, evolutionary ecology, soil-plant interactions, microbial ecology of forests, plant physiology, animal behavior and human impacts on tropical forests. Both positions are based in the Republic of Panama. Early- to mid-career candidates are especially encouraged, but applicants at all postdoctoral stages will be considered.

Minimum Qualifications: A Ph.D. and post-doctoral research experience in a relevant field, outstanding publication record, demonstrated success in obtaining grants, and a commitment to communicating science to the public. Demonstrated experience with bioinformatics (microbial biologist) and database management (quantitative biologist) will be an advantage.

For application information visit the announcement page here.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Fire and Restoration Crew Member is a full time seasonal position. Priority tasks will be fire readiness, helping to implement controlled burns, mop up and patrolling, Fire effects monitoring and planning, as well as other stewardship needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Fire and Restoration Crew member will participate on prescribed fire crews on both Conservancy’s and partner properties in Southern Maine and New Hampshire. Field duties may include conducting fireline preparations, fuel reduction, equipment mobilizing, maintenance and repair of tools and equipment, supporting prescribed burn operations, and post burn monitoring. The crew member should expect to work with hand tools, pumps, chainsaws, ATV/UTV’s, type six and type seven wildland engines, GPS devices and digital cameras. The crew may be required to work on some weekends. Crew member must be willing to perform a wide variety of tasks and remain flexible with short-notice scheduling adjustments.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 28, 2016.

The Gila National Forest (Wilderness Ranger District), is currently conducting an outreach to assess the candidate pool for one of the following: Wildlife Biologist (GS-0486-11) or Ecologist (GS-408-11).

About this position:
This positon is located at the Wilderness Ranger District, in Mimbres, New Mexico. To express interest in the position, please submit your resume electronically, and the completed attached “Outreach Response Notice” form (with a copy of your Resume) to: Rachelle Huddleston-Lorton, at rhuddlestonlorton@fs.fed.us, no later than September 23, 2016.

To view the full announcement, click HERE.

Nominations are now open for new members of the International Association of Wildland Fires' (IAWF) Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted through September 30, 2016 and successful candidates will begin their 3-year term on January 1, 2017. Individuals meeting the requirements listed below may self-nominate.

REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

• Must be an "individual" member of the IAWF in good standing. Student, Corporate and Agency members are not eligible.
• The IAWF Board of Directors is a working Board. We expect that individuals serving the membership in these positions will contribute the time, energy and expertise to serve on committees, participate in eleven (11) conference calls per year and generally assist in furthering the mission of the Association. (Calls are scheduled the last Tuesday every month, except December and generally last about 60 minutes.)
• Applicants with skills/expertise in Financial Management, Board Governance, and Communication/Journalism/Media (Writing and Editing) are highly encouraged to apply.

The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) mission is to facilitate communication and provide leadership for the wildland fire community. The IAWF was formed to promote a better understanding of wildland fire, and built on the belief that an understanding of this dynamic natural force is vital for natural resource management, for firefighter safety, and for harmonious interaction between people and their environment. The Association is dedicated to communicating with the entire wildland fire community and providing global linkage for people with shared interest in wildland fire and comprehensive fire management.

• If your job or other activities will prevent you from dedicating sufficient time to committees and monthly meetings, as mentioned above, you may not suited for the position.
• Since most of the Board's activities are conducted electronically, applicants need to be comfortable using email, opening and filing attachments to email, using Microsoft Word for very basic tasks such as creating documents, opening documents, filing them, and minor editing.
• Attending an annual face-to-face Board of Directors meeting is very helpful, but not a requirement. The IAWF at this time is not able to pay travel expenses for Board meetings. The annual meetings are one day and are generally held at one of our conferences.

Use this link to nominate someone.

The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway invites applications for a postdoctoral associate position within the Center’s Conservation Program. The candidate should have a Ph.D., or have completed all necessary degree requirements prior to employment, in the subject area of: wildlife/wildlife ecology, forestry/forest ecology, landscape ecology, or a related field.  Applicants should possess an understanding of forest and wildlife monitoring, and a functional knowledge of common land management practices utilized in southeastern forests. Familiarity with the longleaf pine ecosystem, longleaf pine restoration, and prescribed fire is desired.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The successful candidate should begin no later than December 1, 2016. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three references with contact information by email to: jobs@jonesctr.org, Subject line: CONSERVATION POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE. For specific questions contact Dr. Steve Jack, Conservation Ecologist, or Mr. Brandon Rutledge, Conservation Wildlife Biologist, (229)734-4706 or by email: steve.jack@jonesctr.org, brandon.rutledge@jonesctr.org. The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/E-Verify employer. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

To see the entire announcement, click HERE.

The Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley seeks an Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist in Forest Products and Woody Biomass. This position is a full time, career-track appointment. The general disciplinary focus of this position is the sustainable use of forest and wood resources. Priority issues include life-cycle assessments and carbon cycles of forest products including wood-based bioenergy, efficiency and conservation in forest products and bioenergy technology, and the impacts of utilization on community development, economic, and environmental concerns. The CE Specialist in Forest Products and Biomass will develop and promote methods for efficient and environmentally acceptable utilization of wood resources and woody biomass and analyze the impacts of forest management practices and utilization on the ability of the state to meet its greenhouse gas emission goals.

For more information, click HERE.

NatureServe in Arlington, Virginia, has retained Slesinger Management Services to recruit a dynamic, visionary, and innovative leader with experience in biodiversity and conservation to serve as president and chief executive officer (CEO).

Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

Please click here to see complete job announcement, including application instructions.

DUTIES:

Candidates should be committed to teaching excellence and to building a strong research rec ord. Teaching assignments may include: Applied Natural History & Ecology, Principles of Ecological Restoration, Applied Ecological Restoration, Environmental Methods, Environmental Science and Management Senior Capstone, Freshman Seminar, and Graduate Seminar. Instructional assignments will be consistent with the programmatic needs of the department and students.

The primary professional responsibilities of instructional faculty members are: teaching; research and scholarship/creative activity; and service to the University, profession and community. These responsibilities include: advising students, participation in campus and system -wide committees, maintaining office hours, working collaboratively and productively with colleagues, and participation in traditional academic functions.

For a full position description and application instructions visit the full position announcement.

Open for Recruitment: August 23, 2016 – Open until further notice

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division is hiring a Smoke Management Program Coordinator to coordinate the statewide smoke management program.

Competitive relocation benefits available!

Principal Responsibilities:

• Develop smoke management program (SMP) policy and operational procedures
• Coordinate the implementation of Idaho’s open burning rules – such as prescribed burning, crop residue burning, residential open burning
• Provide support to the regional offices through interpretation of state and federal rules, developing statewide rules, policies, and programs related to smoke management
• Serve as Idaho’s expert representative to MT/ID Airshed Group Executive Board
• Oversee and support SMP program staff and operations
• Conduct annual SMP evaluation and reporting
• Develop, execute, and oversee program to respond to wildfire smoke emergencies
• Coordinate DEQ multi-team response to emergencies
• Serve as Idaho liaison to land management and public health agencies
• Oversee day-to-day operation of DEQs response to smoke emergencies
• Coordinate reviews and reports on program performance
• Resolve interstate and regional issues

For more information about this position and to apply go, click HERE.

For more information and to apply, click HERE.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Oak Openings Restoration Assistant performs land restoration and management activitiesin the Oak Openings Region in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Oak Openings Restoration Assistant performs land restoration and management activities in the Oak Openings Region in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. This may include seed collecting, seed processing and planting, tree removal, mowing, litter clean-ups, prescribed burning, and weed control using herbicide. He/she will be responsible for preparation and maintenance of equipment used in these management activities. This is a full time, short term position (approximately 6 months from starting date) that involves extensive outdoor physical labor in diverse weather conditions and may require working some weekends. The Oak Openings Restoration Assistant is supervised by the Kitty Todd Preserve Manager or the Oak Openings Restoration Manager, does not supervise other staff, but may supervise volunteers. A strong preference will be given to applicants who have previous wildland firefighting training or are willing to complete the training (online) prior to position beginning.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 5, 2016.

Go see the film 'Living in the Era of Megafires' - The Wildfire Project is a 60-minute, multi-media, traveling presentation hosted by Dr. Paul Hessburg. Locations all over OR and WA.

Two postdoctoral research associate positions will soon be available, one each in the labs of Dr. Brian Allan at the University of Illinois, and Dr. Luke Flory at the University of Florida, through a SERDP/DoD (www.serdp-estcp.org/) funded project, to explore the potential effects of climate change on plant invasions, fire dynamics, and tick-borne disease risk on military installations in the southeastern United States. The project specifically seeks to address the feedbacks between plant invasions and fire, how climate change may alter these dynamics, and the consequences for human risk of exposure to tick-borne diseases. The two postdoctoral research associates will be responsible for assisting with all aspects of the proposed research, including the study design, collection and analysis of data, preparation of manuscripts and reports, and participating in PI meetings and outreach. Both positions are expected to begin in Fall 2017 and are renewable annually for up to three years of postdoctoral support. Salary minimum is $47,476. Candidates are expected to have completed their PhD prior to beginning employment.

If interested, please contact Brian Allan and Luke Flory to discuss skills and expertise relevant to the project. Both Brian and Luke will be attending the Ecological Society of America meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, August 7-12, and are available to meet with interested candidates. Brian will also be attending the International Congress of Entomology meeting in Orlando, FL, September 25-30, and again will be available to meet with interested candidates. Watch Ecolog and Twitter (@lflory) for information on how to apply later this fall.

GOCO is offering $500,000 in available funding for habitat restoration projects focused on improving and restoring Colorado's rivers, streams, wetlands, and critical habitat. For more information about this grant opportunity, visit the GOCO website. 

Applications are due on September 23, 2016.

When LANDFIRE reached a recent high mark of 4,000 Biophysical Settings (BpS) review documents downloaded, keeping the momentum going gained importance. To that end, the deadline to submit reviews has been extended from June 30 to October 31.
 
The LANDFIRE BpS review project launched earlier this year in order to engage vegetation ecologists, fire managers and other land management practitioners in an effort to update and improve more than 1,000 BpS descriptions across the country. The review entails reading and commenting on a 4-to-10 page MS-Word document at one’s own setting and pace (we estimate that a review takes less than an hour).

For more information, click HERE.