The National Park Service is hiring a GS-11 Ecologist to serve as the Aquatic Program Lead for New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River.
We are seeking a diverse pool of applicants. This is a great opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic candidate to lead and grow an aquatic resource research, restoration, and conservation program that integrates science into the management of three river-focused parks. The program has a strong foundation built on more than two decades of water quality and aquatic ecosystem monitoring and strong relationships with government agencies, non-profits, and other stakeholders who share a common interest in the health of these rivers. The Ecologist will build on this foundation by further developing partnerships that advance collaborative whole-watershed management strategies to address long-standing water quality impairments and other threats. This includes actively participating in the New River Clean Water Alliance, a collaboration working to identify and reduce sources of bacteria in the lower New River watershed. Other program needs include assisting with recovery of the federally listed Candy Darter, better understanding the distribution and conservation needs of the Bluestone sculpin, and surveying/monitoring mussels, crayfish, aquatic salamanders, and other priority taxa.
This position will be duty stationed in Glen Jean, WV and report to the Chief of Natural Resources. This is a non-supervisory position; however, the incumbent will provide leadership and oversight of the aquatic resource team, which includes two permanent Biological Science Technicians and one or more seasonal employees or interns.
The incumbent will also manage the park’s wet laboratory, used for processing water quality and biological samples. The lab includes autoclaves, benchtop pH and turbidimeters, UV light sterilizer, water bath and dry incubators, fume hood, drying oven, IDEXX Colilert Quanti-Tray System, and Zeiss and Nikon stereo microscopes. The program is also well outfitted with YSI water quality meters, Smith-Root electrofishing equipment, portable generators, and boating gear.
The announcement will be open 12/23/2020 to 1/5/2021.