Location: Remote

The USDA Forest Service Office of Sustainability and Climate (OSC) Resource Assistant will support data and information analysis and synthesis related to climate adaptation and carbon stewardship.

This position will support two teams within OSC: a) climate change adaptation specialists that support the implementation of the actions outlined in the Forest Service Climate Adaptation Plan and related efforts and b) carbon stewardship specialists that support efficient and effective integration of carbon analysis into agency projects, advancement of carbon-related partnerships and policy, and development of data and tools to inform decision-making. Both teams serve all national programs across the National Forest System, State Private & Tribal Forestry, and Research & Development Deputy Areas.

The Resource Assistant will help the OSC Adaptation and Carbon Teams with information and data visualization, content creation, plus literature and data analysis to strengthen our connection with internal and external partners. This position will be part of the climate Resource Assistants and specific climate training will be provided to all candidates This 8-month position is part of a group of climate change-focused internships that will receive specialized training and opportunities to engage with other members of the cohort.

Duties:

• Develop visuals, support data analysis, and assist with training related to the Forest Service's Climate Action Tracker (i.e., the agency's primary reporting and tracking tool for climate change work agency-wide).

• Curate content for and develop the OSC Carbon Team's Monthly e-Digest.

• Assist with the development of content and delivery of agency-wide trainings on climate change adaptation and carbon stewardship.

• Review project- and plan-level National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for examples of rigorous climate and carbon analysis.

• Support the Carbon Team on creating web-based interfaces for the delivery of carbon analysis tools.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources management, environmental science, forestry, ecology, or a closely related field; master's degree is preferred.

• Knowledge of climate change impacts; the biophysical basis for these changes; and interactions with other threats including drought, wildfire, and invasive species.

• Skills in communicating to both professional and Client audiences through writing, visuals, and oral presentations; convening diverse groups of professionals (agency, other Federal, State, and local/Tribal government agencies, academia, non-profit, private sector) for purposes of coordinating information exchange and planning; and synthesizing scientific and/or policy information into documents, fact sheets, websites, videos, or other media.

• Additional desired skills: Experience using reference management software such as EndNote, Refworks, Zotero, or Mendeley and academic search engines such as Web of Knowledge or Google Scholar. Experience creating scientific figures using R, Tableau, or Excel. Experience creating fact sheets, brochures, infographics, handouts, or newsletters using Adobe Creative Suite or similar software. Experience editing or creating content for websites. Tangible evidence of leadership traits and public engagement; passion for sustainability and climate change (both adaptation and mitigation); able to navigate new/challenging processes; and experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Abilities relating to working as part of a team and being able to fill multiple team roles; working under supervision of multiple team co-leads while independently operating as a member of that team; creatively contributing to internal and external stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements

• Completion of a bachelor's degree, or higher.

• US citizenship or permanent residency.

• Resource Assistants must undergo a government background check if selected.

• Participation in in-person USDA Forest Service Resource Assistant Program Orientation scheduled for July 2024 (5 business days, including travel).

Benefits:

• $750 per week Salary Stipend

• $1,000 per month Housing Stipend

• Up to $2,750 available for Forest Service work travel, orientation, trainings, and professional development opportunities that align with the RA role and goals

• Direct Hire Authority Eligibility – after completing minimum of 960 hours, DHA status provides special non-competitive hiring status when applying for Forest Service positions

• Option for health insurance coverage during full-term

*This is a 1099 position. Persons paid on a 1099 basis are independent contractors and are self-employed. Independent contractors are required to pay all self-employment taxes (Social Security & Medicare) as well as income tax. Independent contractors generally do not receive any type of employment benefits from the client. For more information, please refer to www.irs.gov or talk with a tax professional.

Questions? Email Rasheda Jackson rjackson@gyfoundation.org