Forest Service Hiring for Forester (Silviculture) at United States Full Time

Summary This position is located in the Pacific Northwest Region, Region 6 on the Fremont-Winema National Forests for the Lakeview Ranger District in Lakeview or Bly, Oregon The incumbent serves as a silviculturist with primary responsibility for development, planning, and application of silvicultural methods and practices. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Michael A. Ramsey at 541-947-6328 or [email protected]. Responsibilities The responsibilities listed below are at the full performance level. Responsible for the development, planning, and application of silvicultural methods and practices for the assigned unit. Participate in timber sale unit layout and sale administration to ensure that silvicultural management objectives are maintained. Review and recommend plans, sale design, layout, and marking in accordance with approved silvicultural prescription and environmental assessment reports for the timber harvest program. Implement plans and participates in the collection of genetic material (cones and scion) from selected trees. Participate in the preparation of financial and work plans for assigned programs by estimating, combining, and coordinating project plans into an annual unit work plan. Make silviculture prescriptions and action plans for timber stand improvement (TSI) and reforestation work necessary to attain timber management objectives using aerial photographs and on-the-ground observation and measurements. Prepare multiple-use compartment prescriptions and environmental assessment reports based on field examination. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement: Forestry GS-0460: Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree that included a major field of study in forestry; or a related subject-matter field that included a total of at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours of course work were in forestry. The curriculum must have been sufficiently diversified to include courses in each of the following areas: Management of Renewable Resources — study of the science and art of managing renewable resources to attain desired results. Examples of creditable courses in this area include silviculture, forest management operations, timber management, wildland fire science or fire management, utilization of forest resources, forest regulation, recreational land management, watershed management, and wildlife or range habitat management. Forest Biology — study of the classification, distribution, characteristics, and identification of forest vegetation, and the interrelationships of living organisms to the forest environment. Examples of creditable courses in this area include dendrology, forest ecology, silvics, forest genetics, wood structure and properties, forest soils, forest entomology, and forest pathology. Forest Resource Measurements and Inventory — sampling, inventory, measurement, and analysis techniques as applied to a variety of forest resources. Examples of creditable courses include forest biometrics, forest mensuration, forest valuation, statistical analysis of forest resource data, renewable natural resources inventories and analysis, and photogrammetry or remote sensing. OR Combination of education and experience — courses equivalent to a major in forestry, or at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours were in forestry. The requirements for diversification of the 24 semester hours in forestry are the same as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-7 level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level; OR one (1) full year of graduate level education; OR an appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience; OR Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For the GS-7 level: Qualifying specialized experience includes meeting one or more of the following: Performed duties applying academic theories and basic forestry principles while received instruction on the practical application of forestry principles, theories, methods, techniques and practices with an emphasis on silviculture; evaluated conditions found when conducting timber compartment examinations, surveys and data collection; conducted studies of timber stand improvement problems and prepared reports of findings; assisted higher grade foresters, or worked as a team member, in accomplishing selected portions of timber stand improvement projects; prepared recommendations for specific treatment or action needed based on standard application of silvicultural methods and practices; and/or participated in timber sale unit layout and/or sale administration activities to develop experience and an understanding of how silvicultural management objectives are met and maintained. For the GS-9 level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level; OR two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or have received a master’s or equivalent graduate degree in biological science or directly related coursework. OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (beyond 18 semester hours). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For the GS-9 level. Qualifying specialized experience includes meeting two or more of the following: Performed specific portions of low or standard complexity assignments in support of broad functional activities for which foresters of a higher level have overall responsibility; summarized and analyzed collected compartment, stand prescription and/or presale data for selected cutting areas; administered timber sales ensuring that contractual stipulations were carried out by the operator; corrected improper timber contractor practices and resolved misunderstandings; prepared timber reports and checked for timber trespass; conducted cruises of timber stands, delineating forest cover by use of aerial photographs and summarized such data; performed related preparation, timber stand improvement and reforestation duties; collected and summarized watershed data, and administered assigned watershed projects; planned implementation of individual vegetation management projects assigned by a Silviculturist; reviewed, recommend, and initiated development activities at tree improvement sites; and/or monitored for insect, animal and disease damage, determines treatment options in consultation with Regional experts, and carried out treatments. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran’s Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran’s Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed. This is a bargaining unit designated position. Government Housing is not available. Daycare facilities are not available. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/ We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.