These integrated entry-level permanent seasonal Forestry Technician positions coupled with career ladders, provide a sequence of training steps that lead to progressively more advanced jobs and skillsets throughout a Forest Service employee's career. Permanent seasonal employment guarantees a minimum of 13 pay periods of work each year with the possibility of additional pay periods of work if both employee and supervisor agree. Recruitment Incentives may be offered to qualifying candidates.

Duties

Responsibilities listed are at the GS-05 level. Performs a variety of duties which are primarily designed to provide work and training experience that will prepare the incumbent for a more advanced position including survey and evaluation techniques Performs a variety of tasks involving practices relating to natural resources management programs, (i.e., timber and silviculture, recreation and trails, wildlife, fisheries, watershed improvement, range, special uses, and others). Measures tree diameters and heights and observes defects under guidance of supervisor. Traverses proposed timber sale units using plans and prescriptions, topographic maps, aerial photos, compass, Global Positioning System devices, etc. Personally performs work or inspects work performed under site preparation, planting, and timber stand improvement contracts following established procedures and which involve standard requirements and are limited in size. Contacts recreational visitors to provide factual information and answers questions about recreation opportunities, rules, regulation, and information on resource management practices on the unit. Performs routine recreation and trail maintenance and cleanup work including repairing minor damage of recreation facilities; i.e., tables, toilets, buildings, signs, fire pits, trails, etc. Conducts surveys of game and non-game wildlife, fish and plant species; counts, sorts, identifies species, and performs measurements. Records data manually and electronically using a Global Positioning System unit and computer. Assists in conducting water resource inventories, assists in implementation of water resource improvement project plans, and evaluates impacts of Forest management on the aquatic resources. Assists on range analysis and maintenance and construction of range structural improvements. Participates in noxious plant control, seeding, or similar projects by flagging boundaries, operating equipment, and carrying out studies.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
• Must be at least 16 years of age and meet requirements.

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. Specialized Experience Requirement: GS-03: Applicants must have six months of any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Examples of General experience include: Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, e.g. unpaid experience include volunteer work, such as at a park, youth camp, scouting organization, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.; Worked with tools and equipment used in laboratories or at field sites; Observed field work projects and recorded data; Identified plant or wildlife species; Collected data and used computers to input data and generate reports; Identified and cataloged artifacts and/or cultural resources. OR Successful completion of one year of study above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in a combination of courses such as range management or conservation, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences; OR An appropriate combination of general experience and education above high school as described above; OR Completion of an intensive, specialized course of study of less than one year at a technical school or through a military or government sponsored training program that was designed specifically as career preparation for the work of the position being filled. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, technical school, junior college, college or university. GS-04: Applicants must have six months of general experience (any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation) AND six months of specialized experience that is directly related to the work of the position (see specialized experience list, experience performing one or more items is considered qualifying) . 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. Examples of General experience include: Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, e.g. unpaid experience include volunteer work, such as at a park, youth camp, scouting organization, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.; Worked with tools and equipment used in laboratories or at field sites; Observed field work projects and recorded data; Identified plant or wildlife species; Collected data and used computers to input data and generate reports; Identified and cataloged artifacts and/or cultural resources. OR Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is creditable); OR An appropriate combination of experience and education above high school as described above. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university and include courses that are related to the occupation of the position. GS-05: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience at the GS 04 level. (Specialized Experience List) For the GS-05 Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: assisted in preparing reports, visual aids, and maps which provided information, general conditions of the area; and/or assisted with inspections and reported findings on various natural resource projects (i.e., timber and silviculture, vegetation management, reforestation, recreation and trails, wildlife, fisheries, watershed improvement, range, special uses, plants, and noxious weeds identification and/or control, etc.); and/or assisted in maintenance of recreation areas or features within an area and a variety of types of trails in accordance with predetermined standards and reports on condition; and/or assisted in routine observations, measurement, surveys, inventorying, and recording of scientific data used to support natural resource management reports, projects, plans, or permitted uses; and/or assisted with inspections, patrols, or contracts/permits for parts of a project; and/or used databases, software, or apps in support of data collection, data management, or in preparation of visuals for forestry or natural resource projects; and/or assisted in the preparation, building, installing and/or maintenance of features or structures to support parts of restoration or protection for wildlife, fisheries, range, botany-related, and watershed improvement projects; and/or assisted customers with a variety questions or concerns related to natural resources, forests, and/or conservation using a variety of communication methods; and/or used chainsaws and other power equipment to implement thinning, planting, pruning, fire suppression and other silvicultural projects; and/or experiences related to Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) such as but not limited to gathering of wild plants and other materials, subsistence practice such as traditional hunting and fishing, cultural burning, traditional plant uses, resource management through traditional practices and conservation principles, environmental monitoring related to the health and dynamics of the ecosystem, cultural preservation, and sharing ITEK through advocating and educating. OR A bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is creditable); OR Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business ,secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

Education

See above for education that may be qualifying for this position.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]