Deadline: Tue, 01/10/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: USDA Southern Research Station Job Field: Forestry Other Job Type: Full Time Location: South Carolina Location Detail: New Ellenton, SC. USFS-Savannah River site is located in the Central Savannah River Area, SC, which includes the cities of Aiken, SC (15 miles from USFS-SR) and Augusta, GA (20 miles from USFS-SR). Some travel will be required. Job Description: The USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (USFS-SRS) Center for Watershed Science will be recruiting to fill a term, full-time Biological Science (Research) Technician, GS-0460-07 (starting salary from $44,740 per year). The position is located at the Savannah River (SR) Site in New Ellenton, SC. This position is for a three-year term and is telework eligible. The purpose of this outreach is to inform prospective applicants. This outreach notice is being circulated to inform potential candidates of a future possible job opportunity, to gauge level of interest, and to help the deciding official to determine an optimal way in filling the unit’s staffing needs. Please complete and follow the instructions on the outreach response form at the end of this document; this will ensure you receive the official position vacancy announcement directly. ABOUT THE POSITION: This position supports the research mission of the Southern Research Station and the Center for Forest Watershed Science (SRS-4353), focusing on a Department of Energy funded research project to improve the understanding of the impacts of both fire conditions and post-fire rainstorms on carbon and nitrogen cycling in burned ecosystems. This project is in collaboration with Savannah River, Clemson University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The position is part of an interdisciplinary research program developing publications, data products, technical reports, and presentations. Duties include, but are not limited to: Works in collaboration with other station leaders and the national office to enhance the accountability, transparency, and delivery of services in a multiagency land management mission environment, which serves the needs and interests of a diverse public. Responsible for field activities, data management and analysis, and reporting. Principal field activities are assisting with all site preparation and baseline data collection, including but not limited to, aiding in the application of fuel load amendments, marking site boundaries, collecting baseline data including terrestrial lidar, soil temperature, soil moisture, fuel loading, soil samples, and standing biomass. Work will also include assistance in conducting controlled burns, with the obligation that the technician secures a USDA Forest Service Red Card. Data management and analysis are a core component of the position, with a focus on data sets generated from this project (e.g., geospatial, time series, biogeochemical, and forest inventory data). Other duties include attending project-related meetings both virtually and in-person, engaging with Forest Service personnel and collaborators, interfacing with Savannah River Site Fire Team, synthesizing data and literature, preparing data for publications and presentations, and other duties as assigned. For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Jeff W. Atkins at jeffrey.atkins@usda.gov or 803.522.0791. Miscellaneous: About Us The USDA Forest Service (USFS) Savannah River Site (SR) manages approximately 170,000 acres of natural resources under an interagency agreement since the early 1950s. With over 70 employees, our diverse staff is concentrated in one or more of the following areas: Engineering and Environmental Services, Fire Management and Fleet, Natural Resources, Business Operations, Public Affairs, Research, and Safety. About 90 percent of the SR is covered by forest, which uniquely positions SR personnel to help control nuisance animal populations; manage 65,000 acres for Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat; complete over 20,000 acres of prescribed fire annually; maintain the SR’s secondary roads, boundary and wellness trails; and conduct applied research through a myriad of partnership arrangements. Employees gain experience equal to their counterparts in National Forest (NF) employ with the additional benefit of closely working with the Department of Energy (DOE) and site contractors. These opportunities provide not only an interesting and stimulating work environment but also add complexity to each job, helping to make the employee more competitive for career advancement. Additionally, USFS-SR partners with the DOE, site contractors, and conservation organizations on annual events for wounded warriors and mobility impaired individuals, including the SR Ultimate Turkey Hunt, Fishing Challenge and Deer Hunt. The SR site is a DOE facility built during the 1950s to refine nuclear materials. While research is still conducted here, none of the nuclear reactors onsite are operational. It is a controlled access Federal facility requiring issued badges and potential vehicle searches. The USFS-SR is not open to the general public without a security approval. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/savannahriver for more information about USFS-SR and visit www.srs.gov for more information about the SRS. Local Area Information USFS-SR is located in the Central Savannah River Area, which includes the cities of Aiken, SC (15 miles from USFS-SR) and Augusta, GA (20 miles from USFS-SR). The 2010 United States Census reports the Central Savannah River Area’s total population at 709,433. Because the site missions are international in scope, the local communities include people from all races and cultures. The average temperature is 65 degrees and average annual rainfall is 47.5 inches. Recreational opportunities abound in the area to include fishing, hunting, hiking, swimming, and biking. Atlanta, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Atlantic Ocean all offer excellent recreational opportunities, and are each only a couple hours away by car. The area is rich with American Revolutionary War and Civil War historic sites. The Aiken Area The City of Aiken is the seat of Aiken County and is known throughout the world for its top-class equestrian races, such as Aiken’s Triple Crown, Steeplechase and polo events. With 94 historic locations, the City of Aiken is home to many signature gardens; such as, Hopelands Gardens, a 14-acre estate with 100-year-old cedars, meandering trails and ponds; Hitchcock Woods, one of the largest urban forests in the nation with approximately 2,100 acres of forest habitat; several museums and venues for recreation, arts and entertainment; and myriad of annual events. As a former recipient of The All American City Award, the City of Aiken is a full-service community with one hospital, two higher education institutions, University of South Carolina-Aiken and Aiken Technical College, and an award winning public school system. An influx of retirees and a continued passion for the equestrian sporting life are credited with making the Aiken area “the hottest real estate market in the state.” The Aiken area has the aesthetic beauty and charm of a small Southern city with a cosmopolitan flair. Visit www.aikenchamber.net, www.visitaikensc.com, www.cityofaikensc.gov and www.aikencountysc.gov for more information. The Augusta Area Nestled along the banks of the Savannah River, Augusta is the second largest and oldest city in Georgia with a population of over 200,000. You will enjoy the historic charm of the classic American South with its tree-lined streets and majestic antebellum mansions. Local attractions include the historic Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, Augusta Museum of History, Clarks Hill Lake, Enterprise Mill, Lake Olmstead Stadium, Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, The Morris Museum of Art, Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta Riverwalk, and Woodrow Wilson’s boyhood home. Columbia County, GA, neighbors Augusta and is the second largest metropolitan area in Georgia, which includes Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, and Harlem. Columbia County is a fast-growing suburban area with a diversified job market, premier school system, and available economical land for the purpose of residential and commercial development. Within the Augusta area surroundings there are five major hospitals, several universities, colleges, and technical schools, an orchestra, a minor league baseball team, and the Augusta Regional Airport. Concerts, plays and major events are enjoyed at the James Brown Arena, Bell Auditorium, Imperial Theatre, and Lady Antebellum Pavilion. The famous Masters Golf Tournament, high-speed power boat races and a major rodeo are also held annually in Augusta. Visit www.augustaga.gov, www.augustametrochamber.com and www.columbiacountyga.gov for more information. The Southern Research Station is a great place to work. SRS is one of five regional units that comprise the USDA Forest Service Research and Development organization. SRS maintains 15 research units and 19 experimental forests across a 13-state territory. SRS has a cadre of diverse and highly trained employees, including 100+ research scientists, developing science-based knowledge and technology to help inform decisions about natural resource management, use, and sustainability. Long-term studies combined with 21st century innovations provide the foundation of a responsive, forest-based research program that continues to expand into new fields and address emerging challenges, including how forces such as climate and land use change, population growth, invasive plants and pathogens, and fire affect the provision of timber, wildlife, clean air and water, recreation, and many other ecosystem services. Visit the SRS website to learn more about the Station. How to Apply: HOW TO RESPOND: To express interest in this opportunity, please return completed Outreach Response form and resume by December 01, 2022, to Tami Goodhart, SRS Support Services Specialist, at tami.goodhart@usda.gov. The position announcement will be sent to you when the official position opens. Refer questions about this position to Dr. Jeff W. Atkins at jeffrey.atkins@usda.gov or 803.522.0791. Forest Service employees are asked to use the Forest Service Outreach Database to respond. The USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer.
