Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Cottonwood, ID. Information about Cottonwood and the surrounding area can be found here. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Duties

Plans and implements technical projects and performs leadership duties in support of forestry-oriented, multiple-use land management programs. Develops land use plan proposals, alternatives, and modifications for resource management plans and revisions. Recommends support and funding needs. Interprets field examination data and makes preliminary treatment recommendations for harvest, post-harvest, and timber stand improvement projects. Negotiates with potential and/or existing contractors for revisions or modifications of existing contracts. Analyzes issues and concerns for BLM managers and drafts responses, conclusions, and recommendations. Investigates reports of unauthorized use including affected site examination and preliminary determination of the extent of damages. Performs on-the-ground technical evaluations of forest and woodland products sale program activities. Adapts and develops contract stipulations and exhibits to meet special conditions or issues to satisfy BLM objectives or reduce environmental impacts. Designs, prepares and administers forest development projects including site preparation, reforestation, seedling protection, precommercial thinning and fertilization, vegetation management and stand conversion. Devises and applies effective solutions to new and unique cruising and appraisal problems. Collects data during field examination of forest stands, compiles data, and updates inventory records. Drafts public and press releases on forestry program activities, conducts meetings/open houses on forestry program proposals and impact assessments for NEPA compliance, and collaborates with interest groups and other agencies.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• May require a one year probationary period.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. FOR GS5: You must meet the minimum Individual Occupational Requirements for the GS-0460 Forester position listed in the Education section below. There are no additional specialized experience requirements for the GS-5 grade level. FOR GS7: In addition to meeting the education requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-5 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: served as Forester Trainee with demonstrated work experience in entry level Forestry topics such as Trespass, Survey and Records, Prescriptions/Planning, Silviculture Projects, Forestland Cruising and Appraisal, and/or Forest and Woodland Product Sales. -OR- Education: have 1 year of graduate-level education that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcripts Required) -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM's General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. (Transcripts Required) - OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (Transcripts Required) FOR GS9: In addition to meeting the education requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-7 level that demonstrated a working knowledge of established methods & techniques of the science of forestry which would enable the forester to perform recurring assignments of moderate difficulty, i.e., the methods & techniques are well established, apply to most situations encountered, and do not require significant deviation from the established methods. Examples of Specialized experience may include: applied basic forest management principles and practices that included forest ecology, silviculture, and/or timber harvest practices; drafted public press releases on forestry program activities; evaluated field examination data and made preliminary treatment recommendations; and/or administered forest development projects and woodland products sale program activities. -OR- Education: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcripts Required) - OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (Transcripts Required) 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. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: Work is divided between activity in an office environment and moderate to heavy physical activity in the field. The ability to safely operate four-wheel drive vehicles and ATVs is necessary. During winter conditions, operation of over-snow vehicles such as snow machines and the Thiokol are necessary. The ability to walk over steep, rough, uneven or rocky terrain at extreme elevations is required. Also hiking through extremely dense brush, logging slash and tree covered terrain, often wet or occasionally snow covered is required. Work Environment: Some work is performed in an adequately lighted, heated, and air conditioned office. However, considerable outdoor activity is required to complete project work. The outdoor activity involves working in isolated or back country areas, working at high altitudes, working alone, working in extreme weather conditions, and travel in hazardous terrain. Safety precautions are required, and the employee must wear protective equipment in the forest area.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement which requires that you have:
1. Achieved a bachelor's degree or higher 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-
2. Achieved a combination of education 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.

You must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Contacts

• Address BLM Idaho State Office BLM Idaho State Office, ID-953 1387 South Vinnell Way Boise, ID 83709-3904 US
• Name: Idaho HR
• Phone: 208-373-3921
• Email: [email protected]