Scientist VII

Cherokee Federal•Lafayette, LA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Cherokee United Services is seeking a Scientist VII to lead advanced quantitative research in Lafayette, Louisiana. This senior-level scientist will partner closely with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and federal teams to evaluate land change, wetland restoration outcomes, and impacts on coastal natural resources through rigorous statistical analysis, reproducible R-based workflows, and scientific publication.

Requirements

Ph.D. in coastal wetlands ecology, ecology, environmental science, statistics, quantitative ecology, or a closely related scientific discipline required.
At least seven years of post-Ph.D.-level experience in coastal wetlands ecology required.
Deep knowledge of coastal ecosystems, including wetlands, aquatic habitats, wildlife, natural resources, and the effects of climate change and land change.
Demonstrated expertise applying statistical methods to ecological field data, remote-sensing data, and large data streams from continuous hydrologic monitoring.
Experience creating custom statistical analyses, including model development, fitting, diagnostics, evaluation, and interpretation.
Advanced proficiency with R and RStudio required.
Demonstrated ability to manage and analyze datasets of varying sizes, formats, geographic scales, and timeframes.
Experience developing analytical frameworks for data collection, data management, and data analysis in partnership with scientific and resource-management stakeholders.
Strong data visualization and presentation skills, with the judgment to communicate technical results effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Proven scientific writing, report development, manuscript leadership, and peer-reviewed publication experience.
Ability to lead collaborative teams, exercise sound scientific judgment, and manage competing priorities within project deadlines.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to successfully complete a federal background investigation and obtain/maintain required USAccess credentials.
Willingness to complete required federal IT and information-security training.
Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Nice To Haves

Working familiarity with SAS and experience converting, replicating, or validating SAS analyses in R preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead collaborative analytical efforts with partners supporting the Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) and related aquatic ecosystem research.
Develop analytical frameworks that address land change, coastal restoration effectiveness, wetland condition, and impacts on natural resources.
Independently perform mathematical and statistical analyses of ecological field data and associated environmental datasets.
Develop, fit, evaluate, and interpret statistical models using appropriate quantitative inference methods.
Analyze data collected through field monitoring, remote sensing, long-term monitoring programs, and continuous hydrologic monitoring technologies.
Manipulate, integrate, quality-check, and prepare large, complex datasets from multiple formats and spatial or temporal scales for analysis.
Create data summaries, graphics, visualizations, and presentations that clearly communicate analytical findings to scientists, partners, managers, and non-technical audiences.
Develop, maintain, update, and document efficient, transferable analytical code in the R software environment and RStudio.
Convert and validate legacy analytical code, including code developed in SAS, for use in R-based analytical workflows.
Troubleshoot analytical workflows, resolve code issues, and improve efficiency, reproducibility, and usability of data-processing and modeling tools.
Lead development of reports, technical products, scientific manuscripts, and peer-reviewed journal publications.
Ensure scientific products follow USGS Fundamental Science Practices, applicable standard operating procedures, and required review processes.
Prepare monthly activity summaries, analysis progress updates, code documentation, data products, visualizations, and written deliverables.
Meet established project schedules and work effectively within collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned