Tour of Duty: Full-time (includes benefits) One year initial term with possible extension depending on performance and project funding. The position is funded entirely from federal sources under an NPS Cooperative Agreement.
Duties: The National Park Service (NPS), Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD) is part of the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate (NRSS), a Washington, D.C. based office, located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The NSNSD assists park units in monitoring and managing acoustical environments. This position will assist NSNSD staff in collecting and analyzing acoustical data needed to support park management. Data collection will require extended field projects at park units; data analysis will require intensive analytical work. Applicants must be adaptable, available for extensive travel, capable of working in wilderness, and possess a keen interest in engineering or scientific analysis.
The incumbent’s primary duties include:
Fieldwork: 1. Collect acoustical and meteorological data at remote field sites. Manage logistical preparations; identify suitable locations for placing equipment; set up, calibrate, and maintain equipment; maintain detailed field observation logs; diagnose equipment failures and effect repairs; recover and refurbish equipment; retrieve data and ensure secure archiving.
Data Processing: 1. Process acoustical data to identify sound sources and extract quantitative measures relevant to park unit management issues. 2. Write reports summarizing the results of acoustic monitoring projects, and conduct verbal presentations to park staff and lay audiences.
The incumbent’s additional responsibilities may include: 1. Data entry and other data formatting as needed to populate acoustics databases. 2. Prepare graphical displays of data and results for technical and lay audiences. 3. Provide technical assistance to park staff and other personnel associated with the Natural Sounds Program. 4. Contribute to meetings with park staff: determine the scope of work, identify local priorities, designate acoustical zones that merit monitoring effort, provide updates on progress, and provide summaries at the end of a project. 5. Collaborate with CSU faculty, staff, and students on data analysis and research. 6. Other duties as assigned by project managers.
Requirements: 1. Bachelor’s degree (preferably in natural science, engineering, or natural resources). 2. Available for extensive travel (up to three weeks per month in summer). 3. Computer literacy, especially Microsoft Office software. 4. Ability to hike while carrying a backpack (up to 25 kg) through rough terrain. 5. Field experience in physical or biological sciences.
Desired Attributes: 1. Experience or education in acoustics; hearing ability to detect and identify sound sources in quiet natural areas. 2. Experience with specialized software (Raven, Song Scope, Ishmael, MATLAB, XBAT, R, etc.). 3. Experience using and maintaining scientific instruments or electronics in a field setting. 4. Experience diagnosing and/or repairing equipment failures. 5. Experience practicing and/or promoting safety in the workplace. 6. Experience with GIS, computer programming, and/or modeling. 7. Experience collaborating with CSU faculty, staff, and students on data analysis and research.
Supervisory Controls: The position reports to the CSU Principal Investigator, working closely with the NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division manager and staff.
Application Deadline:
07-31-2013
To Apply:
Submit: 1. Letter of interest. In the letter, please include a detailed description of your field experience: your role and responsibilities in the field, and your experience using/troubleshooting/repairing scientific instruments in the field. Please mention which required and desired attributes you possess. 2. Resume. 3. Names, email addresses, and phone numbers of three references. 4. Copy of college transcripts.
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