Summary
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Conservation Ecology Center of the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Front Royal, VA. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
Duties
This is an interdisciplinary position. If selected for the position, you could be hired as a GS-0408-12 Research Ecologist or GS-1530-12 Research Statistician Biology. In this position, you will: Conduct research integrating ecology with statistical and mathematical modeling to understand, manage, and conserve species and populations. Formulate and publish research findings and conclusions in the fields of ecology, conservation biology, quantitative ecology, and statistics. Manage funding and implement a productive scientific research program. Serve as a subject matter expert providing scientific information, technical advice, and training on the application of advanced statistical, quantitative, and modeling tools used in ecology and conservation research.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date. See the 'Required Documents' section for additional information. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website.
Education
You must meet the basic education requirements listed above.
How you will be evaluated
Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria: Skilled in ecological and conservation science principles, research methodologies, and population dynamics used to study and conserve species and ecosystems. Knowledge of quantitative ecology, statistical modeling, and wildlife population dynamics. Skilled in identifying funding opportunities and securing financial support for quantitative ecology research programs. Ability to translate complex research findings and ecological data into practical recommendations that support conservation and management decisions. BASIS OF RATING: Once the announcement closes, your application will be automatically evaluated and rated by the system and a Human Resources Specialist. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your application and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of this position. If, after the Human Resources Specialist reviews your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that the score you have received is not a true reflection of your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect the information you provided that support your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): If you are applying for a VEOA appointment, you must be a veteran and must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. ("Active Service" under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.) A veteran who is released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour is also eligible. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority: Primary Appointing Authorities for Career and Career-Conditional Appointments Hiring Authorities for Veterans People with Disabilities Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed. You may preview questions for this vacancy.