This position is located with the Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW), Anchorage Forestry Sciences Laboratory (AFSL) and has a duty station of Anchorage, Alaska. The incumbent is responsible for performing a variety of recurring and complex duties in support of the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program.

Duties

Works with a team of technicians and professionals, collecting forestry and forest health monitoring data on permanently established fixed radius plots. Assists in locating field sites using aerial photographs and topographic maps. Collects forestry, botanical, and geographic measurements according to nationally standardized protocol and field procedures. The incumbent obtains data on: tree growth and mortality; forest type, stand size and stand age; anthropogenic treatments and/or natural disturbances; insects and disease; soil attributes; and understory vegetation composition. Assists in field manual interpretation when assessing complex or unusual situations. Uses botanical keys to identify plants encountered and assists in the collection and preservation of specimens. Records all measurements utilizing a personal data recorder. Uploads and edits data on a daily basis. Completes accurate and concise plot summaries of all field visits. Actively participates in the safety program, assisting in identifying hazards and mitigating actions. Travels by boat, small aircraft, and helicopter as necessary to access field sites. Lives and works on a marine vessel for extended periods of time with limited personal space and continuous background noise from engines and generators.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
• This position requires initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.
• As a field going position working in brown or black bear habitat, this position is required to be firearm certified for personal and/or crew safety.
• Executive Order 12564 requires that employees designated to carry a firearm to be subject to random drug testing.
• The ability to obtain and maintain weapons certification is a condition of employment in this position, which involves receipt of a negative pre-certification drug test result, passing a minimum background investigation.
• The ability to obtain and maintain weapons certification also includes passing firearm classroom training, passing the shooting proficiency test, and enrollment in the random drug testing pool.

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. GS-05: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level; OR a bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or that included 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, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 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 college or university. Examples of specialized experience include: Performing technical duties in support of professional scientists conducting research projects in one or another of the fields of timber, recreation, wildlife, watershed, forest management, or forest fire research. Observing measuring and recording a variety of scientific phenomena that affect forest, range, or watershed conditions. Assisting in developing and adapting sensing and recording instrumentation and in establishing and calibrating instruments for specific experiments. Selective Placement Factors As a field going position working in brown or black bear habitat, this position is required to be firearm certified for personal and/or crew safety. Executive Order 12564 requires that employees designated to carry a firearm to be subject to random drug testing. This position will be subject to random drug testing. The ability to obtain and maintain weapons certification is a condition of employment in this position, which involves receipt of a negative pre-certification drug test result, passing a minimum background investigation, passing firearm classroom training, passing the shooting proficiency test and enrollment in the random drug testing pool. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use. Incumbent must have and maintain a valid driver's license. 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. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition {Title18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(9)}. A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is generally defined under the statute, as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent or guardian. The term "convicted," as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set-aside, or pardoned, or any person whose civil rights have been restored unless the pardon, expungement or restoration of civil rights expressly prohibits the possession of firearms or ammunition. Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statute are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information proved by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment, [Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001].

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]