Hybrid Supervisory Research Ecologist at Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Supervisory Research Ecologist

Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Location(s): Front Royal, Virginia

Salary Range: $167603 - $195200 Per Year

Job Summary: The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Conservation and Science Department of the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI).

Major Duties:

• This position is responsible for developing, planning, and conducting applied ecological research, as well as leading and supervising others engaged in similar work. In this position, you will: Plan, direct, and coordinate advanced investigations on wildlife ecology and conservation. Develop new concepts, models, and theories to address complex research and conservation challenges. Act as an expert advisor to federal agencies, universities, and research institutions on wildlife ecology and conservation. Provide supervision, direction, coordination, and oversight of the programs, functions, and initiatives carried out by staff to ensure effective performance and goal achievement.

Qualifications: Basic Qualifications: Degree: biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences. In addition to the basic qualification requirement above: GS-15 Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as developing, planning, and conducting applied ecological research while leading and supervising others in advancing investigations focused on wildlife species conservation. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. In an effort to streamline our hiring process, SI employees whose current position of record is in the same job series 0408 and who are in a Federal competitive or excepted service appointment as this advertised position, are not required to submit a transcript with your application package. However, if selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript before your start date in the position. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).

How to Apply: Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note: You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you). You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process. The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.

Application Deadline: 2025-07-31