Ecologist - Montana

[Sherry Sandretto <slsandre@xxxxxxx>]

Position Description

April 2009

http://wilderness.org/content/forest-ecologist


Position Title:                                                Forest  
Ecologist

Location:                                                             
Bozeman, MT


Position Classification:                                    Exempt  
Grade 5

Salary Range:                                    Competitive

Reporting Relationship:                     Director of Ecology

Starting Date:                                                July 1,  
2009

******************************************************************************

Position Summary (General Description):

The Wilderness Society seeks an ecologist with experience in natural  
resource issues and an interest in restoration to join its Ecology &  
Economics Research Department as part of an interdisciplinary regional  
conservation team working to protect Montana’s wildlands.  This is an  
exceptional opportunity for a conservation scientist interested in  
applying his or her scientific expertise to real world land management  
challenges and working at the nexus between science and public  
policy.  We seek an applied ecologist to synthesize and analyze  
existing scientific information, develop new information, and  
translate these ideas into a format that will influence federal land  
management decisions in Montana and federal policies.

Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society seeks to protect wilderness  
and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. We work from a  
foundation in science and through collaborations with local and  
regional and national conservation partners to achieve protection and  
improved stewardship of (primarily) federally owned wildlands in the  
United States.  In addition to the two overarching goals of increased  
wildland designation and improved stewardship of public wildlands, we  
pay particular to three issues affecting wildland health and  
management:  climate change; energy; and recreation.

The principal role of the scientist in this position is to develop and  
deliver scientific understanding of the ecosystems of the Northern  
Rockies in order to strengthen conservation practices on federal lands  
managed by the Forest Service.  This position will be a critical part  
of our multidisciplinary team with expertise in economics, landscape  
analysis, communications, outreach, organizing and advocacy.  The  
ecologist provides the foundation for science-based advocacy in  
Montana and the broader Northern Rockies, as well as contributing to  
the overall efforts of our Ecology and Economics Research Department.

The ecologist will be involved in numerous aspects of The Wilderness  
Society’s program, but project work will be centered on the  
development of ecological information needed to shape the Forest  
Service’s decisions regarding forest restoration, management and  
protection.  .  The ecologist will lead the development of ecological  
information relevant to restoring watersheds and forest ecosystems,  
habitat fragmentation, and wildland fire management.  Analyses will  
help quantify values, threats, and develop restoration solutions.

The ideal candidate has substantial scientific experience post  
graduate school, experience with land conservation issues and  
policies, expertise in Northern Rockies ecosystems, outstanding  
communication skills, and a proven ability to translate ecological  
information into public policy and land management recommendations.   
This is a senior science level position within The Wilderness Society  
and compensation is competitive with university and governmental  
science programs.


Primary Duties and Responsibilities:


·        Work closely with research department, regional conservation,  
and stewardship climate change, and other program staff to develop and  
integrate scientific program priorities into the campaign to influence  
forest management in Montana national forests;


·        Design and develop scientific analyses that bring ecological  
information, including results from spatial analyses, to bear on  
forest restoration and protection plans for priority areas in Montana;


·        Develop scientific reports, white papers, peer-reviewed  
papers and science and policy briefs needed to build the scientific  
case for protection, restoration, and good stewardship of wildlands;

·        Help develop policy recommendations based on scientific data;


·        Analyze select federal land management plans, policies, and  
environmental impact statements to assess ecological impacts on  
Montana wildlands;


·        Communicate research, analytical findings, and policy  
recommendations to government agencies, elected officials,  
conservation partners, and other audiences;


·        Share scientific findings and related policy recommendations  
with the media;


·        Where appropriate, use scientific research and information  
from Montana to help influence national level policy issues;


·        Support development of funding proposals;


·        Manage contract research, internships, and other means of  
augmenting analytical capacity; and


·        Travel to attend short-duration meetings, give presentations,  
and visit specific project sites

.


Qualifications:

·        Ph.D. in forestry, ecology, wildlife biology, landscape  
ecology or related field;


·        Passion for and commitment to wildland conservation;


·        Familiarity with Northern Rockies ecosystems;


·        Working knowledge of GIS concepts and principles;


·        Knowledge of conservation issues on western public lands and  
how they relate to natural resource management and federal public land  
policy;


·        Understanding of federal environmental laws;


·        Ability to work with the media, elected officials, and the  
public;


·        Exceptional communication skills and demonstrated ability to  
translate complex ecological information into terms that can be  
understood by a non-scientific audience;


·        Ability to think strategically and develop conservation  
advocacy programs;


·        Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and interact in a  
group setting;


·        Demonstrated ability to work independently, think creatively,  
and write convincingly


***************************


This position is available July 1, 2009 and is located in our Bozeman  
office.  The Wilderness Society is an equal opportunity employer. The  
Wilderness Society offers a competitive compensation and benefits  
package.


Application review will begin in early-May and applications will be  
accepted until the position is filled.  To apply please submit a cover  
letter explaining your qualifications for this position, resume,  
samples of both technical and popular writing in relevant fields, and  
names, addresses, phone numbers of three references to:


Forest Ecologist Search

The Wilderness Society

1615 M Street, NW

Washington, DC 20036

email: research_jobs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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