This position is a Forester, GS- 0460-9/11 working for the R3-Div of Natural Resources and Conservation Plng. This position is also open to the public under announcement R3-24-12448977-SJ-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

As a Forester your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Plans, coordinates, and executes the technical phases of the forest planting and seeding programs, including the inventory of plantable areas and the timber stand improvement program, prescribing cutting practices based on an examination of stand conditions or other resource requirements. Makes on-the-ground examinations and analyses of forest areas to determine which areas require short or long-range silvicultural treatment in terms of the total ecosystem. Plans, coordinates, and executes proposed and ongoing timber sale and preparation programs to prevent loss of timber productivity and damage to the environment based on an on-the ground inventory of sample plots and stands, maps, and aerial resource photography. Inspects logging operations to ensure fulfillment of silvicultural objectives and assure that watershed, recreational, aesthetic, and wildlife values are protected, and contract stipulations are observed. Participates in fire management activities across the complex by assisting in prescribed burning and wildfire suppression as a collateral duty firefighter.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
• Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Driver’s License: Selectees MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
• Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 07/18/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Degree: 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: a) 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; b) 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; c) 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification [GS-9]: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-7 in the Federal service. Experience includes performing 4 or more of the following: (1) implementing plans or recommendations for timber management, harvesting, reforestation, stand improvement or fuels management; (2) inspecting forest management or timber sale contract activities; (3) assisting with spatial analyses and management of geospatial data; (4) inventorying and monitoring forested habitats; and (5) providing training on forest inventory protocols. OR Possess two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field directly related to Forestry. OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Minimum Qualification [GS-11]: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-9 in the Federal service. Experience includes performing 4 or more of the following: (1) administering vegetation management projects for timber management, harvesting, reforestation, stand improvement or fuels management; (2) inspecting work for forest management or timber sale contracts to ensure all contract provisions are met in accordance with contract objectives; (3) reviewing standards for prescribed burning that affects the health of the ecosystem; (4) utilizing GIS to capture and manage remote sensing data; and (5) implementing forest inventory protocols. OR Successfully completed 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a discipline directly related to Forestry. OR A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. 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: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Contacts

• Address
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]