Natural Resource Economist
About The Position
Entarian is seeking a Natural Resource Economist to provide economic analysis, ecosystem service valuation, strategic planning, and technical support for the NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation, Restoration Center. The role supports efforts to quantify and communicate the economic and societal benefits of habitat protection and restoration, guide investments in economic monitoring, and incorporate socioeconomic considerations into program planning and policy development. The position provides expertise in natural resource and environmental economics; analyzes program and public data; designs and conducts economic studies; develops socioeconomic metrics for restoration projects; and links ecological and socioeconomic measures to assess conservation benefits. The role also supports analyses, case studies, reports, presentations, and outreach materials, and coordinates with agency staff and external partners. Periodic on-site meetings in Silver Spring, Maryland may be required; regular remote work is acceptable. Travel may be required for meetings, workshops, trainings, and conferences.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in natural resource economics, environmental economics, or a closely related field.
- Six to eight years of professional experience related to the economic aspects of habitat and natural resources.
- Demonstrated experience providing technical expertise in economic and ecosystem-service valuation.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating the economic impacts and benefits of natural resource, habitat protection, or restoration activities.
- Demonstrated experience recommending economic monitoring investments, priorities, or strategies.
- Experience with economic survey design, data analysis, experimental design, and/or program evaluation methods.
- Experience with non-market valuation methods, such as stated or revealed preference analysis, travel cost models, hedonic valuation, or benefit transfer.
- Strong quantitative data management and analytical skills, including data preparation, quality assurance and quality control, documentation, visualization, and presentation.
- Proficiency with statistical or numerical analysis software such as R, Python, or SAS.
- Ability to clearly communicate economic analyses and findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and able to pass a background investigation to obtain a security badge for access to applicable government systems and facilities.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with federal or state agencies responsible for coastal, marine, habitat, or natural resource programs.
- Strong applied background in natural resource economics, including cost-effectiveness analysis, economic impact analysis, and non-market valuation.
- Experience using IMPLAN or similar input-output economic models.
- Experience applying economic analysis to policy, program, or natural resource management decisions.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical expertise in natural resource and environmental economics, including ecosystem-service valuation and estimates of local, regional, and national economic impacts of habitat protection and restoration.
- Recommend investments in economic monitoring and help develop strategies for demonstrating the economic and societal benefits of habitat conservation.
- Analyze existing program and publicly available data for economic evaluations, policy development, strategic planning, and program decision-making.
- Design and conduct economic studies using appropriate survey, experimental, program evaluation, and non-market valuation methods.
- Develop socioeconomic and economic metrics for habitat restoration projects, including job creation and local economic impact estimates using IMPLAN or similar models.
- Establish linkages between ecological and socioeconomic measures to evaluate benefits of habitat conservation activities.
- Support the development of economic analyses, case studies, reports, presentations, and outreach materials for technical, management, partner, and public audiences.
- Coordinate with economists, social scientists, program staff, federal and state agencies, and external partners to integrate socioeconomic monitoring and reporting into habitat conservation activities.
- Support integration of socioeconomic considerations into Restoration Center, Office of Habitat Conservation, and NOAA policies, programs, and initiatives.
Benefits
- Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
- 11 paid federal government holidays
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Basic life and supplemental life insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Tuition reimbursement
- Personal development and learning opportunities
- Skills development and certifications
- Professional membership reimbursement
- Employee referral program
- Competitive compensation plan
- Discretionary variable incentive bonuses based on factors such as individual performance, business unit performance, and/or company performance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
