Subject Matter Expert V

JOB DESCRIPTION

A government contract requires that this position be restricted to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. You must provide documentation that you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident to qualify.

Position Summary:

Cherokee Federal is seeking a Subject Matter Expert V in St. Petersburg, Florida. This position supports coastal and marine research focused on geologic, geophysical, geomorphic, oceanographic, and landscape-ecology processes affecting coastal environments.

Compensation & Benefits:

Starting Salary Range for Subject Matter Expert V: Pay commensurate with experience.

Benefits That Set Us Apart

When considering your next opportunity, compensation is only part of the picture. We offer a benefits package designed to invest in your future and support your life outside of work.

Highlights include:

• Up to a 6% 401(k) company match to help you build long-term financial security

• Paid time off as part of our comprehensive benefits package, so you have the flexibility to rest, recharge, and enjoy what matters most

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus prescription drug coverage

• Basic life and AD&D insurance, with supplemental life options

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

• Paid holidays

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options

• Professional development, training, and certification support

• Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, and identity theft protection

Because taking care of our employees isn’t just a promise, it’s part of who we are.

Benefits are subject to change and eligibility requirements apply.

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities:

Includes the following:

• Conduct advanced coastal and marine research supporting projects, including Southwest Florida, Hurricane Ian supplemental, and other funded research initiatives.

• Independently plan, execute, analyze, and document research and development activities using sound scientific judgment and established methods.

• Develop, apply, calibrate, and interpret numerical models of shoreface, barrier-island, and coastal landscape evolution under varying environmental scenarios.

• Model barrier-island landscape change under differing conditions of sediment supply, sea-level rise, storms, sediment transport, and other relevant physical processes.

• Conduct research involving coastal morphology, morphodynamics, sedimentary systems, geomorphology, and near-surface geologic frameworks.

• Compile, process, analyze, and interpret oceanographic, sedimentologic, geomorphic, geophysical, and geospatial datasets.

• Plan and conduct field investigations at barrier-island and coastal study sites, including locations in southwest Florida and other approved field locations.

• Collect sediment samples using percussion coring, sand augers, and other approved sampling methods.

• Conduct Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System (RTK-GNSS) surveying and support ground-penetrating radar surveys, as assigned.

• Process, analyze, interpret, and document sediment cores, sand-auger samples, and other geological materials using standard and emerging laboratory methods.

• Develop geomorphological models and design corresponding field, laboratory, and modeling investigations.

• Use Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to analyze and interpret coastal, marine, geologic, geomorphic, and spatial datasets.

• Create, manage, document, and support the release of scientific datasets, metadata, figures, graphs, maps, and other research products.

• Develop publication-quality figures, graphs, visualizations, and supporting materials for scientific reports, data releases, presentations, and manuscripts.

• Provide technical input to USGS data releases and ensure products meet applicable documentation, quality, and scientific-review requirements.

• Lead or co-lead the preparation of technical reports, scientific publications, peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, and other written research products.

• Clearly document field methods, laboratory methods, numerical-modeling methods, analytical processes, interpretations, results, and conclusions.

• Collaborate with scientists, project teams, Federal and state partners, and other research collaborators to discuss project progress, findings, and technical needs.

• Participate in project meetings, technical reviews, field planning activities, and research discussions.

• Maintain organized research records, datasets, model files, analytical scripts, laboratory records, quality-control documentation, and project files.

• Follow established standard operating procedures, field protocols, laboratory protocols, applicable permits, and Federal and state requirements.

• Comply with all applicable Federal information-security, privacy, safety, property-protection, and facility-security requirements.

• Submit required status reports, technical updates, travel documentation, and other deliverables in accordance with project schedules and Task Order requirements.

• Travel as required to support approved fieldwork, research activities, meetings, and project needs.

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

No supervisory/management authority

Basic Qualifications:

Reporting & Analysis:

• Proficiency using MATLAB for numerical modeling, scientific analysis, visualization, and data processing required.

• Proficiency using Esri ArcGIS software for geospatial data management, mapping, analysis, and visualization required.

• Experience compiling, processing, analyzing, and interpreting coastal, marine, oceanographic, geologic, geomorphic, or geospatial datasets required.

• Ability to independently develop research approaches, evaluate complex data, interpret results, and communicate defensible scientific conclusions.

• Strong scientific writing skills, including the ability to clearly describe research methods, data, results, interpretations, and conclusions.

Compliance & Quality Support:

• Knowledge of sedimentologic methods, core-processing methods, laboratory analysis techniques, and associated quality-control practices required.

• Demonstrated ability to create publication-quality figures, graphs, maps, and visual data products required.

• Ability to prioritize assignments, manage multiple research tasks, meet project deadlines, and maintain high standards for scientific integrity and data quality.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Doctoral degree in geology, marine science, environmental science, coastal science, oceanography, geomorphology, or a closely related field required.

• Multiple years of post-graduate research experience in coastal, marine, geologic, geomorphic, oceanographic, or related environmental research required.

• Demonstrated specialized knowledge of coastal morphology and morphodynamics required.

• Experience planning and conducting coastal or marine fieldwork required.

• Ability to travel and safely perform fieldwork in coastal, marine, and barrier-island environments.

• Ability to successfully complete a Federal background investigation and maintain required access credentials.

• Ability to work independently with limited oversight while collaborating effectively with scientists, technical staff, and research partners.

• Must be a US Citizen.

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; may occasionally require standing or moving about the office for extended periods.

• Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Python packages for scientific computing, numerical modeling, data processing, geospatial analysis, or automation preferred.

• Experience using RTK-GNSS equipment for field surveying, elevation data collection, or geospatial data acquisition preferred.

• Experience supporting ground-penetrating radar surveys or processing marine/coastal geophysical data preferred.

• Familiarity with scientific-data documentation, metadata development, data-release processes, and Federal scientific-review standards preferred.

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a climate-controlled environment.

Company Information:

Behind every government mission stands skilled, mission-driven talent: people whose expertise and dedication turn complex challenges into successful outcomes. Cherokee United Services, part of Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, is that team. We modernize aging systems, deliver care where it’s needed most, and keep missions supplied, staffed, and moving across defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. For more than 60 federal clients, we take on the work others won’t, and deliver where it counts. If that’s the kind of work you’re looking for, you’ve found your team. Learn more at cherokee-federal.com.

#CherokeeFederal #LI-DH1

Cherokee Federal is a military friendly employer. Veterans and active military transitioning to civilian status are encouraged to apply.

Legal Disclaimer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Many of our job openings require access to government buildings or military installations. Candidates must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Cherokee Federal is a federal contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). As required by VEVRAA, we take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans. Protected veterans are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.

Cherokee Federal takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.

Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities or those with sincerely held religious beliefs. To request an accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing. Cherokee Federal maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

This position may be contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation. The scope of the investigation will be commensurate with position requirements and applicable law.