Pacific Northwest Research Station
USDA Forest Service

OUTREACH NOTICE
AUGUST 22, 2008

Disturbance Ecology and Management Team (DEM)
Pacific Northwest Research Station
Wildlife Biologist Term Position
GS-0486, Grade 12

The Disturbance Ecology and Management Team (DEM) of the Pacific Northwest Research Station anticipates advertising a Wildlife Biologist term position, GS-0486/grade 12. This term position would be funded for 13 months, but could be funded for 24-48 months, commensurate with work needs and funding availability.

This position is located in the Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, La Grande, Oregon. This non-permanent term position within DEM is part of the Managing Disturbance Regimes RD&A Program (MDR), Pacific Northwest Research Station. DEM is an interdisciplinary team of research ecologists, entomologists, foresters, range specialists, and wildlife biologists who focus on three main problems: (1-) characterizing spatial and temporal patterns of multiple, interacting disturbance agents and regimes across landscapes; (2) evaluating effects of these disturbances on wildlife species and other natural resources; and (3) identifying management options that incorporate knowledge of these disturbances and effects. Work also is designed to address the four threats to National Forests identified by the Forest Service (FS) Chief: (1) fire and fuels; (2) invasive species; (3) fragmented land ownerships; and (4) unmanaged recreation.

The incumbent in this term position will focus on development, application, and publication of new elk habitat models for use on public and private lands in the Pacific Northwest, and the efficient and effective transfer of these models to land and population managers of elk. The incumbent will serve as technical expert on issues of elk ecology, habitat modeling, and the integration and synthesis of disparate data sets and knowledge on these topics, such that scientifically credible and highly useful models can be readily developed and applied on landscapes for managing elk as part of land use and population planning throughout the Pacific Northwest. The incumbent will collaborate with a wide range of scientists and managers on this work, both within the Pacific Northwest Research Station and across a variety of other agencies, tribal nations, and private partners. Scientific and management partners include, but are not limited to, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, National Forest System of the Forest Service, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Boone and Crockett Club, and Oregon State University. The ability to collaborate and coordinate effectively with these entities through all phases of the work, as a technical expert and technical coordinator, is paramount to the position's success.

In addition to the above work, the incumbent will serve as technical lead in completing on-going research regarding sagebrush vegetation dynamics in relation to exotic plant and woodland invasions in sagebrush ecosystems. This work will explicitly address evaluation of landscape models that assess the risk that existing sagebrush communities will be lost to invasion by cheatgrass and similar exotic plants, as well as to invasion by juniper woodlands. Technical expertise on sagebrush plant communities and the associated invasive plant species is essential, as well as demonstrated experience with sagebrush-associated wildlife species that may be affected by exotic plant and woodland invasions of sagebrush. Sampling and analysis methods related to the sagebrush ecosystem, as well as a proven publication record on these topics, also is fundamental to the success of the incumbent's work.

The incumbent also will help plan, implement, and publish on-going ungulate research at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range. Work would include analysis of existing data sets, particularly regarding the effects of human disturbances on mule deer, elk, and cattle. The incumbent also would oversee management of long-term data sets, in an oversight role, to expedite the documentation and archiving of these data to facilitate access and use by the greater scientific community. Knowledge of spatial data uses and expertise in use of SAS statistical software are important facets to the incumbent's role in supporting this research.

FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEES ON THE WORKFORCE REDUCTION PLACEMENT SYSTEM LIST WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY CONSIDERATION AND CTAP/ICTAP CANDIDATES WILL RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE CONSIDERATION.

Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, contact Dr. Michael Wisdom, Research Wildlife Biologist, (541-962-6532, mwisdom@fs.fed.us) or complete the attached form and return by September 16, 2008.

AREA INFORMATION:

ABOUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST RESEARCH STATION AND LA GRANDE FORESTRY AND RANGE SCIENCES LABORATORY:

The PNW Research Station is one of seven research units in the USDA Forest Service. The USDA Forest Service conducts the most extensive and productive program of integrated forestry research in the world. The scientific information produced by the station has application on public, private, and tribal lands in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Oregon and Washington) and elsewhere in the United States and other parts of the world. Scientists in the La Grande Lab represent programs that address how natural and human-associated disturbances affect natural resources, and how disturbance regimes can be effectively understood and managed on forests and rangelands. The La Grande Lab has a long-standing history of world-class ungulate research, largely conducted since the 1940s at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range, and of transferring that knowledge effectively and efficiently to land managers. Much of the incumbent's work will focus on continuing this high-quality research as part of a larger team of ungulate ecologists, forest ecologists, and rangeland ecologists who study a variety of facets of ungulate ecology, particularly the roles of elk, mule deer, and cattle as disturbance agents, and the effects of other disturbances on these species.

Community Information:

La Grande, population 13,000, is located in northeastern Oregon at an elevation of 2700 feet. The community has 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. La Grande is home to Eastern Oregon University, which offers Associate and Baccalaureate degrees and Masters of Science Degrees. A private business college also is located in La Grande. A wide variety of religious denominations are represented in the community. Grande Ronde Hospital serves La Grande and the surrounding communities. Recreational opportunities include backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing, swimming, tennis, track, softball, skiing, and river rafting. Apartment rentals start at $300.00. House rentals begin at approximately $700 per month, and the median price for purchasing a home is approximately $100,000. Utilities are priced in the medium range.

To be considered, applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Thank you for your interest in this position

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OUTREACH NOTICE FORM
Wildlife Biologist
GS-0486-12
PACIFIC NORTHWEST RESEARCH STATION

If you are interested in this position and want to receive a copy of the Vacancy Announcement, please complete this form and send via e-mail to mwisdom@fs.fed.us. If you are not a current Forest Service employee or do not have access to e-mail please complete the form and mail to: Dr. Michael Wisdom, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR 97850. You may also FAX the form to Michael Wisdom at 541-962-6504. Please respond no later than September 16, 2008. The position will be advertised on the OPM USAJobs website www.usajobs.opm.gov concurrently and extending beyond when outreach is completed.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Date: ________________

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E-Mail Address: __________ Phone:________________________

EMPLOYMENT

Are you currently a federal employee? YES NO ____

If yes:
Name of your Agency/Unit and Location:______________________________________
Current Title/Series/Grade:______________________________________________

Type of Appointment: Permanent Term Temporary

If not:
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Current Position Title & Salary:__________________________________________

Type of Appointment: Permanent Term Temporary

If not a current permanent federal (career or career conditional) employee, are you eligible for other appointments under any of the following special authorities?

___Person With Disabilities, Veterans Readjustment, Former Peace Corps
___Volunteer, ____ Disabled Veteran w/30% Compensable Disability,
____Student Career Experience Program, ___Veteran's Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, Other

Thank you for your interest in our vacancy!