Weekend Ecologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The incumbent serves as a technical advisor in ecology to apply a systems approach to the study and analysis of organisms and ecological relationships. The ecologist is responsible for program development and implementation.Qualifications:

Requirements Continued -

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one (1) year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

QUALIFICATIONS:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/17/2026. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
SELECTIVE FACTOR: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:

• Ability to possess and utilize firearms - This position (Non-Law Enforcement) is required to carry a firearm while performing duties and required to maintain firearm proficiency as a collateral duty. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.
• Driver's License - This position is required to have a driver's license. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

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BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: All applicants must meet the basic education requirement for the GS-0408 series AND the experience listed below. Please note: It is your responsibility to show how you satisfy the course requirements for the series you are applying for. If you do not provide information that clearly shows how your completed college course work meets all of the requirements, you will be rated ineligible. Your rating will be based solely on the information you submit with your application. No attempts will be made to verify with you, or the school you attended, whether or not your course work meets all of the requirements. YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL YOUR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS.
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.
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To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of qualifying specialized experience for this position includes: inventorying and compiling data on ecosystem components, such as vegetation, wildlife habitat, or visitor use impacts; conducting ecological inventories, assessments, and monitoring studies, compiling and analyzing large datasets and research information and reports, collecting and organizing a research library or body of literature, using GIS/GPS for data collection and spatial analysis, experience in applying a variety of methods to test hypotheses or research questions, and working with research partners or collaborators; develop and implement monitoring or research studies to achieve resource management goals; assisting with identifying research needs and priorities to address management or scientific needs, author or co-author on peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, communicate scientific results to a professional/scientific audience, evaluates research proposals for effects on resources being studied, and adherence to law and policy, such as the Organic Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Wilderness Act, other policies, serve as a representative on a multi-agency/institution project team or long-term partnership, and assist with/or negotiate, writes, and coordinates agreements with cooperators. Experience equivalent to the GS-07 may be professional work at the developmental or trainee level. Lower graded technician/assistant work alone is not qualifying for this series.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. To be qualifying, graduate study must have been in ecology, restoration ecology, rangeland/forest ecology, wildlife ecology, aquatic/water science, physical sciences, or other directly related subject matter. The total education offered to meet this provision must have provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the work of this position.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and graduate experience as described above (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). To be qualifying, graduate study must have been in archeology, anthropology, or other closely related field. The total education offered to meet this provision must have provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the work of this position.
To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of qualifying specialized experience for this position includes: planning and implementing studies of ecosystem components, such as vegetation, flora and fauna habitat, and visitor impacts to resources; assist with developing work plans, scopes of work, writes and submits grant or other funding proposals, administers a request for proposal (RFP) to distribute funding to collaborators, lead or overseeing an interdisciplinary research program including auditing researchers, review research requests, identifying research needs, and issuing research permits, and works with staff and collaborators to integrate and apply research information. Experience equivalent to the GS-09 may be professional work at the developmental or trainee level. Lower graded technician/assistant work alone is not qualifying for this series.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion at least three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. To be qualifying, graduate study must have been in ecology, restoration ecology, rangeland/forest ecology, wildlife ecology, aquatic/water science, physical sciences, or other directly related subject matter.
-OR-
Additional Qualifications located under Education -Education:Qualifications Continued -
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Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To be qualifying, graduate study must have been in ecology, restoration ecology, rangeland/forest ecology, wildlife ecology, aquatic/water science, physical sciences, or other directly related subject matter. The total education offered to meet this provision must have provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the work of this position.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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.
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.
Education:
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.Employment Type: OTHER