USFS Western Wildland Environmental Threat Communications Fellowship

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USFS Office/Lab and Location: A fellowship opportunity is available to engage with the Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center (WWETAC) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. This fellowship is based in the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. The participant will be located in Olympia, Washington, along with the WWETAC director. The participant will have the opportunity to be remote four days a week and at the duty location one day a week.

WWETAC develops and communicates the latest scientific understanding of environmental threats to forests and rangelands in the western United States. WWETAC conducts applied science and provide tools and information to help land managers assess and respond to environmental threats, leading to more resilient landscapes.

At the heart of the U.S. Forest Service’s mission is their purpose. Everything they do is intended to help sustain forests and grasslands for present and future generations. Why? Because their stewardship work supports nature in sustaining life. This is the purpose that drives the agency’s mission and motivates their work across the agency. It’s been there from the agency’s very beginning, and it still drives them. To advance the mission and serve their purpose, the U.S. Forest Service balances the short and long-term needs of people and nature by: working in collaboration with communities and our partners; providing access to resources and experiences that promote economic, ecological, and social vitality; connecting people to the land and one another; and delivering world-class science, technology and land management.

Research Project: The selected fellow will help translate science and develop WWETAC communication materials, such as newsletters, briefing papers, web content, infographics, presentations, and webinars. The fellow will collaborate with the director of WWETAC and will be mentored by a vibrant and dedicated team of WWETAC and associated staff. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to build skills in science delivery, public relations, communications, partner engagement and outreach. The participant will gain experience in collaborating with Forest Service deputy areas in developing communication content, strengthening partnership engagement through sharing project information, news, and updates, and synthesizing scientific publications for natural resources managers, forest landowners, and policy makers.

Learning Objectives: Specifically, the participant will gain experience by:

• Drafting communication materials for WWETAC, including website content, fact sheets, infographics, and newsletters, with guidance from the mentor.
• Assisting in facilitating and organizing webinars.
• Evaluating outreach effectiveness by analyzing web metrics to enhance our communication strategy.
• Synthesizing existing research and developing region-specific content and products to help natural resource managers and landowners respond and adapt to environmental threats.

The Fellow will have the opportunity to interact with scientists in Forest Service research stations, and managers in the National Forest System and other land management agencies and entities. There will be opportunities for professional development including travel. The Fellow may explore options for future job or educational opportunities and take advantage of additional training opportunities.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Jessica Halofsky ([email protected]). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 1, 2024.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year but may be extended upon recommendation of USFS and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The stipend range is $67,000-$82,000 yearly.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and USFS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, USFS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email [email protected] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be pursuing a master’s degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must be expected to be received by 6/1/2024,12:00am.

Preferred skills:

• Demonstrated success in science communication across multiple disciplines and for diverse audiences
• Ability to edit written products to improve readability, comprehension, and clarity for non-scientific / non-technical audiences
• Expertise in design and development of outreach materials (briefing papers, presentation, or publishing software)
• Creativity and the ability to generate new ideas and methods to help accomplish program goals
• Experience with graphic design and social media
• Experience in rangelands, forestry, or natural resources or collaborating with ranchers, natural resource managers, Native Alaskans, Tribal Nations, Indigenous peoples, forest landowners, state agencies or other relevant groups
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Microsoft Office applications