Outreach Notice

Director, USDA National Agroforestry Center and

National Program Leader for Agroforestry Research

Supervisory Social, Biological, or Physical Scientist

GS-0101/0401/1301-15

U.S. Forest Service

Washington Office, Research & Development

Washington, DC

Introduction:

The Forest Service will soon advertise a Supervisory Biological Scientist, GS-0401-15.  This position serves as the national program leader for agroforestry research and also the Director of the USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), based in Lincoln, Nebraska.  The position is located in Washington, DC, within the Forest Management Sciences Staff, Office of the Deputy Chief for Research & Development, in the Forest Service’s national headquarters. As national program leader, the position is responsible for developing strategies and priorities and recommending activities and budgets for agroforestry research and technology transfer throughout the agency;  for integrating Forest Service agroforestry research and science delivery activities with other USDA agencies, including the Agricultural Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture; for providing knowledge and tools to agencies that delivery agroforestry assistance to landowners, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, State forestry agencies, and conservation districts; and working to advance agroforestry with interested non-governmental organizations based in the nation’s capital.  The mission of the NAC is to accelerate the application of agroforestry through a national network of partners, which is realized through three major activities: 1) Conducting applied research to provide science-based knowledge and tools that assist in planning, designing and managing agroforestry systems and practices; 2) Distilling new science into practical and easy to understand products and services; and 3) Delivering science and technology into the hands of people who assist landowners to increase the adoption of agroforestry. The NAC’s key customers are natural resource professionals who work with farmers, ranchers, woodland owners, Tribes, and communities.  The NAC organization consists of a full-time center director (this position) in Washington, DC, and a staff of 10 in Lincoln, NE, that includes research scientists, technology transfer specialists, and technical/administrative support.  For more information about the USDA National Agroforestry Center: http://nac.unl.edu.   

The salary range at the GS-15 level is $123,758 to $155,500. The selected candidate will be eligible for a full benefits package including health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits, vacation and sick leave. 

Major Duties:

The incumbent serves as the Forest Services’ national agroforestry program leader for research, development, and applications, and line manager for the NAC’s personnel and resources. The NAC is a Washington Office (WO) detached unit of Research & Development (R&D) with integrated R&D and technology transfer programs that are jointly sponsored by R&D, State & Private Forestry, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. To accomplish the Center’s mission the Director works closely with Forest Service Regions/Areas, Research Stations, Institutes and national program leaders, and a wide range of other USDA/federal, state, Tribal, university, non-governmental, and international cooperators.  The incumbent will travel periodically to the Center’s office in Lincoln, NE to meet with employees. The Director also represents the Forest Service on interagency working groups that advance agroforestry across USDA and address related issues such as sustainable development, local/regional food systems, organic agriculture, and small, beginning farmers and ranchers.

Duty Station Specifics:

Washington, DC is the official duty station.  After December, 2013, the office will be located in the Sidney R. Yates building. Presently, we are temporarily located in Rosslyn, VA, while the Yates building is being renovated.  Additionally, three major airports - Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles Intl Airport and Baltimore-Washington Intl Airport - provide convenient air service in/out of the Washington, DC area.

Community Information:

Washington, DC, the Nation’s capital, is the center of a metropolitan area extending into Maryland and Virginia.  With the City of Baltimore to its north in Maryland, it forms a consolidated metropolitan area of more than six million people.  Washington, DC is the legislative, administrative, and judicial center of the United States. 

Forest Service employees are strongly encouraged to use mass transit or carpools to get to work.  To commute, the area is served by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority www.wmata.com subway and buses, rail systems, cars and vanpools.  The Forest Service is a participant in the transit subsidy program and will reimburse a portion of public transportation cost for each month.  There is no on-site parking provided.  There are commercial parking lots within 2 to 4 blocks walk of the Yates Building.  Daily parking ranges from $5.00 to $20.00.  

Additional information concerning the Washington Metropolitan area can be located at www.epodunk.com

There are excellent educational opportunities available.  The Washington, DC are has a large number of public and private secondary schools and over a dozen colleges and universities, including the University of Maryland at College Park; American, George Washington, and Georgetown Universities in the District of Columbia, and George Mason University in Virginia.  

There are a half-dozen major hospitals providing state-of-the-art medical care for both routine and highly-specialized situations.   

Recreational Opportunities:

Washington and surrounding areas offer exceptional recreation opportunities, with outstanding boating, hiking, bicycling, fishing, and camping close at hand.  In addition to the Smithsonian Institution, there are other outstanding museums and historical sites in the city and close-in suburbs.  Within easy weekend travel are historic Williamsburg and Yorktown, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and Shenandoah National Park, Atlantic Ocean beaches, and Baltimore and Philadelphia.   Civil war national battlefields are nearby, including Manassas, Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg.  

The metropolitan area also has outstanding performing arts venues, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and three other major venues offering outdoor concerts in the spring, summer, and early autumn.  Further, there are a dozen active stages performing plays from Shakespeare to modern playwrights, many with programs year-round. 

There is the full slate of professional sports teams and a wide variety of collegiate team sports available.   There a wide variety of amateur sports teams of different age and skill levels throughout the urban area. 

Weather and Climate:

Summer in Washington (June to August) can be hot and humid, with temperatures often passing 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).  From late November to March, there usually is some snow and ice.  However, the accumulated snow and ice generally melts in short order.  Spring and autumn are usually long and very pleasant.

Further Information:

To receive further details concerning this position, please contact current NAC Director Andy Mason at (202) 205-1694 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or the supervisor of the position, Acting Forest Management Sciences Director Rich Guldin at (703) 605-5252 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  When this position is advertised, the announcements will be posted on the internet: (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov).

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider