Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Job opening: Editorial Assistant for Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

CONTACT: Sue Silver suesilver@esa.org
CLOSING DATE: December 4, 2016

The Ecological Society of America seeks an Editorial Assistant to help produce Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, a high ranking monthly journal focusing on ecological and environmental science. The Editorial Assistant will manage the online peer review system, copyedit manuscripts, check page proofs, run the twitter account, plus do a little bit of design and occasional writing. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, focused, able to work cheerfully and accurately under pressure, and will have experience of Microsoft Office, Twitter, Photoshop, and Wordpress. A relevant Bachelor's degree is a must (eg Ecology, Environmental Science or Conservation) plus one to two years' editorial experience. Downtown Washington DC location; competitive salary (commensurate with experience) and benefits.

Email cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to Dr Sue Silver, at
suesilver@esa.org - Put "Editorial Assistant Search" in the subject line.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS SPECIALIST -- USFWS SACRAMENTO, CA -- 1 POSITION
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/455346700/

SUMMARY

This position is in the External Affairs Office of the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 8) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), located in Sacramento, California. In this position, you will serve as a Congressional Affairs Specialist focusing on legislative communications to inform the public, members of Congress and other interest groups about the Service's policies, programs, activities, decisions and services. You will regularly communicate and interact with high level management officials at both local and national levels such as members of Congress, legislation executives, etc. to analyze, develop and execute communication strategies for Service policies or programs.

NOTE: This position is also being announced under merit promotion procedures, open to current and former federal employees. See vacancy R8-17-1838567-KL-MP if you want to be considered under merit promotion procedures.


DUTIES

Develop and lead a proactive, region-wide Congressional relations strategy that continuously provides information to Members of Congress and their staffs through coordination with leadership and field units, and through quality information products.

Develop and disseminate information materials including, but not limited to briefing papers, fact sheets, speeches, news releases, feature stories, email blasts, social media messaging, etc., about Service programs and activities. Identify communication objectives, messages, audiences and appropriate media, and develops information materials to fill those needs.

Develop coordinated responses to congressional and legislative queries. Develop background information, talking points, testimony and other materials to support Regional Directorate and field units in meeting with the Congressional delegations and state legislators, and appearing before committees. Coordinate regional legislative activities with Service's headquarters Legislative Affairs.

Plan and staff outreach activities, including on-the-ground tours, for the public, Members of Congress and their staffs, and other diverse audiences to explain and/or exchange information regarding complex wildlife conservation issues.

Lead and work with internal Service staff at field units and at the highest levels to develop background information, recommendations and strategies in response to federal and state legislation impacting the Service. Coordinate all Congressional inquiries and their responses, and write and edit weekly hot topics to inform leadership across the Service of key Congressional issues.

Develop and prepare written materials, including legislative summaries and position papers, reports and memoranda in support of Service outreach strategies, budget requests, or analysis concerning appropriations or policies.

Plan, develop and implement liaison programs to ensure effective and harmonious relations are maintained with Members of Congress, federal state and local governments, elected officials, trade associations, industry groups and the general public.


QUALIFICATIONS

You must meet all qualification requirements outlined in this vacancy by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.

To be found qualified at the GS-13 grade level, your application materials must demonstrate that you have at least one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or equivalent non-federal experience, that demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities to plan and implement a public information program focusing on Congressional relations for a large multi-mission natural resources organization. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) at least one year direct, full-time experience managing Congressional relations for a natural resource agency; 2) developing and finalizing formal communication outreach strategies and products for a natural resource organization to distribute complex information to congressional or legislative contacts; 3) establishing and maintaining liaison as a member of a natural resources organization with Congressional staff and similar stakeholders regarding the impact of proposed or pending legislation on operational or budgetary matters; 4) evaluating public reactions/opinions to information releases and advising program officials on needed modifications to the content or presentation of informational materials needed to influence legislative or Congressional actions. NOTE: your resume must contain sufficient detail to prove you have one year experience performing these duties.
CONGRESSIONAL & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS SPECIALIST -- USFWS HQ OFFICE -- 2 POSITIONS
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/456752500/

SUMMARY

The Division of Congressional and Legislative Affairs is the liaison between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Congress. The Division is responsible for ensuring the effective interchange of information between Congress and the Service consistent with the policies of the Department and the Administration and implementing the Service’s legislative agenda through such activities as: (1) advising the Director and the Directorate regarding pending legislation; (2) serving as a liaison for the Service and the Department with offices of Members and committees of Congress; and (3) initiating, drafting, reviewing, and facilitating policy clearance of testimony and reports on many and varied legislative issues. You will lead these efforts within a portfolio of issue areas. You will work to develop and maintain positive relationships with staff on Capitol Hill and keep congressional offices informed of the activities and programs of the Service.


DUTIES

Some of the major duties include:

Serving as a primary liaison between the Fish and Wildlife Service and congressional offices, providing expert customer service and building positive relationships.

Leading the development and implementation of a congressional and legislative strategy to accomplish organizational and legislative goals related to wildlife conservation within a portfolio of issues.

Evaluating organizational needs or policy objectives related to wildlife conservation and coordinates legislative proposals and congressional outreach to address them.

Leading preparations for Congressional hearings, including: drafting testimony for Service or Departmental witnesses, preparing briefing materials, and briefing and staffing witnesses.


QUALIFICATIONS

You must meet all qualification requirements outlined within this vacancy by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of this announcement.

This position has a selective Factor: You must have skill/experience working in a U.S. Congressional office, or directly with U.S. Congressional offices, on wildlife conservation legislation and issues.

Minimum Qualifications Congressional Legislative Affairs Specialist GS-301-12

In addition to meeting the requirements of the selective factor your must have at least one year of full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level (comparable to GS-11) in the Federal service. Your experience must have provided you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform Congressional/Legislative Affairs Specialist assignments and duties. You must have direct experience in all of the examples listed below to meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Examples include: tracking and analyzing Congressional actions on wildlife conservation legislation and issues in order to assist in developing, coordinating, and preparing office/agency/organization positions; developing written documents related to wildlife conservation legislation or issues including two or more of the following: Congressional testimony, talking points for a Member of Congress, trip memos for a Member of Congress, Statements of Administration Position (SAPs), responding to questions for the Congressional record, letters to Members of Congress; and briefing memos for a Member of Congress or high ranking organization official; conveying both complex and technical information on wildlife conservation legislation or issues to varied audiences; facilitating meetings, on a regular basis, between policy makers and Members of Congress or their staff which involves preparatory work, including gathering information prior to meetings from Congressional offices and agency representatives, and developing positive relationships with Congressional offices.

Minimum Qualifications Congressional Legislative Affairs Specialist GS-301-13

In addition to meeting the requirements of the selective factor your must have at least one year of full-time specialized comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level (comparable to GS-12) in the Federal service. Your experience must have provided you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform Congressional/Legislative Affairs Specialist assignments and duties. You must have direct experience in all of the examples listed below to meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Examples include: interacting with members of Congress and/or Congressional staff to develop and maintain positive relationships; developing written documents related to wildlife conservation legislation or issues including two or more of the following: Congressional testimony, talking points for a Member of Congress, trip memos for a Member of Congress, Statements of Administration Position (SAPs), responses to questions for the Congressional record, letters to Members of Congress, and briefing memos for a Member of Congress or high ranking organization official; representing an organization in policy meetings to consider the impact of pending and proposed wildlife conservation legislation and advising a member of Congress or high level organization officials on congressional and legislative activities.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Research Ecologist Position at NOAA in Beaufort, NC

The NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science has an opening for a ZP3 Research Ecologist position with promotion potential to ZP4 located in Beaufort, NC. The primary duties will be to conduct field and laboratory-based research to identify responses of coastal habitats (marshes, oyster reefs, seagrass beds) to environmental change, develop and test methods to incorporate natural infrastructure and increase coastal resiliency, and translate peer-reviewed scientific findings to state and federal coastal resource managers, stakeholder groups, agency management and policy makers for formulating regional and national policy decisions.

The position is being announced under two hiring authorities- one open to current and former government employees -
NOS-NCCOS-2017-0007 (MAP) and the other open to all U.S. Citizens or Nationals - NOS-NCCOS-2017-0006 (DE). Additional information can be found in the announcement on the USAJobs.gov site. Open date 11/10/2016; Close Date 11/23/2016.

Monday, October 31, 2016

Positions available
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has four full-time, permanent positions for Natural Resource Biologists to support the Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) and other freshwater monitoring programs. The selected candidates will participate in the planning and implementation of freshwater stream ecological assessments and will serve as a member of a field crew responsible for the collection of data on fishes, benthic macroinvertebrates, herpetofauna, crayfishes, freshwater mussels, physical habitat, water quality, and land use in non-tidal streams and rivers as part of the Maryland Biological Stream Survey. Duties may also include data analysis and interpretation, and reporting related to the status and distribution of Maryland's aquatic resources.

The application deadline is November 10, 2016
Job announcements can be found at HERE.
Position Available
Clean Water Action

A Program Coordinator position with Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund is now available.  This position will be located in Maryland, either in the Baltimore or Washington DC metro area.
 

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Global Food Security Symposium - 2017
Now Accepting Applications - Next Generation Delegation Program

Convened annually, the Global Food Security Symposium addresses the US government's and international community’s progress on global food security and ensures that new challenges are met with action and innovation.

Since 2013, the Next Generation Delegation program has provided an opportunity for promising students to engage in symposium discussions and to interact with business and policy leaders, civil society, and social entrepreneurs working on agriculture, food, and nutrition issues.

The 2017 symposium will offer key insights on how to leverage past successes, and invigorate future efforts, amidst an evolving global landscape. This unique window of opportunity is a chance to help shape the next decade of leadership on global food security.

Candidate Opportunities

Next Generation Delegates will have the opportunity to:
•interact with symposium speakers and senior attendees in private forum;
•network with other outstanding students planning careers in global food, agriculture, and nutrition sectors;
•connect with key stakeholders from the public, private, and NGO sectors in private meetings; and
•select delegates may also participate in symposium side events, panel discussions, or video interviews.
 
Applications due November 4 (includes an essay)

Here is a list of the 2016 Symposium delegates, as reference, and see the tab for the agenda:
 
 

Entry Level Career Opportunity with ECS

ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC in Hanover, MD is currently seeking an entry level candidate to join their environmental consulting team.  https://car...