Bio Scientist, Wilmington, IL

[Sherry Sandretto <slsandre@xxxxxxx>]

                                                        

 

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST

(ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST)

GS-0401-5/7/9

Forest Service Region 9

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Wilmington, Illinois 60481

815-423-6370 FAX: 815-423-6376

 

Does the idea and challenge of reconstructing on a grand scale one of the rarest ecosystems in the country appeal to you?   Join a dedicated team working to fulfill the Potawatomi name of its stewardship charge -- the "healing" of the prairie.  The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie will soon be advertising to fill one GS-0341-5/7/9 Environmental Education Specialist position. The official duty station is Wilmington, Illinois located about 45 miles southwest of Chicago.  Midewin was established in 1996 as the first national tallgrass prairie in the country and in the National Forest System.  It is also the largest open space in the six-county Chicago metropolitan area.

 

The position will be advertised on OPM’s website http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ and filled through Avue Digital Services (ADS) (Merit promotion).  For more information on the national hiring program, including

preparing an application, please visit the web address http://www.avuedigitalservices.com/usfs/ads.html

 

About the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

 

Midewin’s first Land and Resource Management Plan was completed in 2002 and implements the four purposes outlined in its establishing legislation --  to conserve and enhance native populations and habitats; to provide opportunities for scientific, environmental, and land use education and research; to allow continued agricultural use for resource management; and to provide a variety of recreation opportunities.

 

Because Midewin is part of the peacetime conversion of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, it has been primarily closed to the public while the Army cleans up any remaining contamination and transfers lands to the Forest Service.  There are currently five major habitat restoration projects underway and about a third of the Prairie and 20 miles of interim trails open to the public for non-motorized recreation. 

 

Midewin enjoys the enthusiastic support of hundreds of volunteers who work on projects ranging from planting prairie plants to monitoring streams or staffing exhibits at county fairs.  Midewin is also the home base for the Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew, a National Interagency resource and the only Hotshot Crew east of the Mississippi. During the summer, many college interns work in restoration, recreation and fire.  

 

To see what's current and planned at Midewin, please check out our website at  http://www.fs.fed.us/mntp/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Major Duties

 

As a member of the Public Services Team, the Environmental Education Specialist is primarily responsible for conducting Midewin’s environmental education programs.  Working under the supervision of Midewin’s Environmental Education & Interpretation Coordinator, this position works closely with local and Chicago area schools, organizations, and volunteers to present a comprehensive environmental education program to diverse audiences throughout the year.  Major programs currently hosted by Midewin include the Mighty Acorns Youth Stewardship program, the El Valor Science & Technology Camps and Urban Academy for Environmental Discovery, and a Youth Conservation Corps crew.  At full performance level, this position will participate in planning and budgeting for the program, advising partners on seeking grants, training volunteers and seasonals to deliver the program, and representing the agency with local and Chicago area partners.

 

Lifestyle

 

Although Midewin is located 45 miles southwest of Chicago, the third largest metropolitan area in the country, a rural atmosphere predominates throughout the small to mid-sized farming communities that surround Midewin.  There are numerous schools, hospitals, doctors, churches, and communities to choose from and cultural opportunities are nearly limitless.

 

Will County is the fastest-growing county in Illinois, both for business and residential development and offers all the benefits of easy highway, rail, and air access, with a wide variety of communities and educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities.  Will County has a four-season environment with an average annual precipitation of 35 inches; snow averages 34 inches a year.  The Kankakee River is one of the best fishing rivers in the Midwest, especially for walleye and black bass.  Check out the Enjoy Illinois Website at http://www.enjoyillinois.com for more information.

 

Wilmington, Illinois is a full service community with a population of 5,000 and is located adjacent to the Kankakee River.  Fishing is quite popular along the Kankakee and throughout various other rivers and small lakes that surround the area.  The climate in this area is defined by four distinct seasons.  Summer temperatures can reach the lower 90’s, accompanied by occasional high humidity.  Spring and fall tend to be quite pleasant with average temperatures in the 60s & 70s.  Winter temperatures will frequently dip below freezing and it is not unusual to see several inches of snow covering the ground December through early February.

 

The Midewin headquarters is located along State Highway 53 two miles north of the town of Wilmington, Illinois.  Midewin team members live in many area communities, ranging from the more urban Joliet, population 83,000, to smaller communities tucked around the surrounding farm fields, like Essex, 500, or nearby Elwood, 1,000.  Housing costs vary widely, depending on the community size and the proximity to Chicago.  Commute time can be as short as 10 minutes door to door, from Wilmington, a river community of about 5,000, boasting dozens of antique shops and an island park in the center of town.  For more information on Wilmington, there is a community website available at http://www.wilmington-il.com/.  Many options for residing in larger communities are available within an easy half hour commute.  There is no public transit currently available to the Midewin office.  The closest Metra station providing access to Chicago is in Joliet.

 

Housing costs vary widely and are largely driven by the size of the community and its proximity to Chicago.  Two bedroom apartments range from $500 to over $750 per month.  The average price range for two-bedroom homes is from $80K to over $160K.

 

 

 

 

Medical facilities are plentiful, including easy access to nationally-recognized institutions in Chicago.  Cultural events range from performances at the historic Rialto Square Theater in Joliet, to fine playhouses at local universities, to a variety of festivals celebrating local heritage, to the wide theater, restaurant, and museum options of Chicago.

 

Community education systems vary widely in structure and quality, but all interests can be met.  There are at least eight colleges within an hour’s drive of Midewin or less:

 

University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL   www.stfrancis.edu

Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL   www.jjc.cc.il.us

Lewis University, Romeoville, IL   www.lewisu.edu           

College of DuPage, Naperville, IL   www.cod.edu

Olivet Nazarene University, Kankakee, IL  www.olivet.edu

Illinois State University, Normal, IL   www.ilstu.edu

Kankakee Community College, Kankakee, IL  www.kcc.cc.il.us             

Governors State University, University Park, IL   www.govst.edu

 

The many rivers and waterways throughout northeastern Illinois have shaped the local environment in many ways.  The greenways plan in this region is one of the most ambitious of any metropolitan area in the country.  An outstanding feature of this growing greenbelt is the 60-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, with many parks, visitor centers, and cultural heritage sites linked by bike trails.  A network of state, county, and local parks and preserves provides many opportunities for spontaneous hiking and outdoor activities.  On the more developed side, the new, state-of-the-art Route 66 Raceway, the Chicago land Speedway, located just south of Joliet, opened recently for national events. The riverboat casinos along the Des Plaines River are popular tourist attractions. 

 

 

For additional information about this job, please contact: 

 

Marta L. Witt (mlwitt@xxxxxxxxx), Public Services Team Leader, Midewin NTGP at 815-423-2115 or

John H. Clark (johnclark@xxxxxxxxx), Administrative Officer, Midewin NTGP at 815-423-2116.

 

Reply by:	MIDEWIN NATIONAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE
06/15/2009	OUTREACH RESPONSE FORM

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Position Identification

Position Title:

Biological Scientist (Environmental Education Specialist)

Series/Grade:

GS-0401-5/7/9

Location:

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Wilmington, Illinois 60481

Applicant Information

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Current Appointment:

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If you are NOT a current permanent (career or career conditional) employee, are you eligible to be hired under any of the following authorities:

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Applicants May Use This Space to Identify Special Qualifications, Interests, Needs or Provide Other Information:   For additional information about this job, please contact: Marta L. Witt (mlwitt@xxxxxxxxx) Public Services Team Leader at (815) 423-2115 John H. Clark (johnclark@xxxxxxxxx) Administrative Officer at (815) 423-2116

 

Please send this completed form to mlwitt@xxxxxxxxx or johnclark@xxxxxxxxx

  or fax to 815-423-6376.

Thank you for your interest in our vacancy.