USDA Forest Service SRS Research Engineer

US Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Southern Research Station

Early Alert – Position Outreach Notice

Research Engineer, GS-0801-12/13

Forest Operations Research Work Unit

Duty Station: Auburn, AL

The Forest Operations Research Work Unit (RWU 4703) of the Southern Research Station plans to advertise a vacancy for a permanent, full-time, Research Engineer position.  The position will be filled at the GS-12 ($70,192 to $91,255/yr) or GS-13 level ($83,468 to $108,507/yr), plus standard Federal benefits.  The duty station is the G. W. Andrews Forestry Sciences Lab in Auburn, AL.  The lab currently houses researchers and support personnel from several work units in the Southern Research Station.  In addition to Forest Operations, the lab houses individuals or teams from the Longleaf Pine Restoration Work Unit; the Utilization of Forest Resources Work Unit, headquartered in Pineville, LA; Forest Inventory and Analysis, headquartered in Knoxville, TN; and Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, headquartered in Asheville, NC. 

The Forest Operations Research Work Unit’s mission is ‘to provide the science and technology necessary for economically and ecologically viable forest operations for sustainable forest management’.  The Unit operates under the broader Science Area of Forest Values, Uses and Policies within the Southern Research Station.

The incumbent will lead and collaborate in research and development activities focused on timber harvesting production rates, costs and ecological impacts as they relate to the forest sector.  Research opportunities include, but are not limited to:  (1) development of basic information about system performance to support more effective integration among prescription objectives, product differentiation, and ecological constraints; and (2) evaluation or development of technology to support precision forestry and advanced forest operations.  Research work will include all aspects of projects from planning and implementation to analysis and publication.  In addition, the incumbent is expected to work with members from the Work Unit, faculty and researchers from various universities, land managers and private industry.  The incumbent may coordinate with others or work independently to offer technology transfer products such as journal articles, webinars or assist with continuing education courses for forestry professionals and members of the general public. 

DUTIES

This position requires knowledge and/or relevant experience in some or all of the following: (1) production studies, (2) forest engineering, agricultural engineering, industrial engineering, or closely related field, (3) equipment capabilities, and (4) development of decision-making tools.  The incumbent is expected to be a productive, self-directed participant in multidisciplinary, team-oriented research projects addressing the Unit’s mission. 

If you are interested in this position, please fill out and return the attached outreach form and send to:  Dr. Dana Mitchell, Project Leader, Forest Operations Research, G W Andrews Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 521 Devall Drive, Auburn, AL 36849, or email to danamitchell@fs.fed.us.  Those interested will be sent a copy of the announcement with duties, qualifications required, and application instructions.  For more information, contact Dr. Mitchell at (334) 826-8700, ext 23, or visit our unit webpage at http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestops.  The USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer.  Current U.S. Citizenship is required for employment in this position with the USDA Forest Service.

Community Information

The city of Auburn is conveniently located in Lee County in eastern Alabama along the Interstate 85 corridor.  The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is 1.5 hours away and the state capital, Montgomery, is just one hour to the southwest.  The population of Auburn is 54,566.  The city of Opelika is immediately to the east of Auburn, and when the surrounding area is included, the population climbs to 143,468.  Auburn is home to Auburn University and Opelika is home to Southern Union State Community College.  There are many other colleges and universities within a 50 mile radius.  There are also many schools in the area and several of the Auburn City Schools have received national recognition.  Cities in the area have received awards such as the Forbes 2015 “9th Best Small Place for Business and Careers in the US.” and “7th Best Small City for Jobs in the US.”  In 2015, Nerdwallet listed Auburn as “One of the 100 Most Educated Cities in the U.S.”  The area boasts unique dining, a variety of shopping choices, several golf courses, historic sites, museums and parks.  A variety of housing types and prices are available across the area.  Industrial parks within Lee County include businesses such as large distribution centers, vitamin manufacturing, and automotive manufacturing.  Fort Benning is located in nearby Columbus, Georgia and offers additional educational, cultural, recreational and shopping venues.

If interested in receiving an email or telephone notification of this job opening, please complete the form below and return it by NOVEMBER 27, 2015.

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USDA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The purpose of this early alert is to maximize diversity of the pool of candidates for this outreach opportunity.  USDA prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

Thank you for your interest in the position