Forestry Technician

Full Job Description

This position performs technical fieldwork supporting forestry programs, including collecting and analyzing forest resource data, assisting with timber sales, mapping, and forest inventories.

Supports forest management activities such as planting, thinning, pest and disease control, and environmental planning, while ensuring data accuracy and compliance.

Duty location is negotiable within any BLM California office. Positions are temporary (6 months/1,039 hours) with no promotion potential.

To qualify for this position, you must meet the below qualification requirements.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.

This experience must be comparable in scope, complexity, and responsibility to the work performed at the next lower grade level.

Experience may have been gained in the Federal service, private sector, military, or volunteer work, Peace Corps, Ameri Corps, or other work, and must be clearly documented in your resume.

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. This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) that must be met.

To be considered you must meet one of the below requirements: Experience in at least one of the following: forestry aid or technician work; engineering, range, or soil conservation technician work that involved the application of cultural, resource conservation, or land management practices on non forest or ranch lands when combined with knowledge of forestry operations and equipment; Farming or ranching work that involved application of cultural and soil and water conservation practices, including safety and use of equipment, and that provided a basic understanding of land use; or forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work.

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or (b) 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 (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science.

No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable.

To qualify for the GS-05 level you must meet the above IOR and have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 as indicated by the following examples: Experience in the collection of forest and woodland management data regarding location, size, character, species, extent, volume, rate of growth, and quality of timber.

Examining timber stands to determine need for insect and disease control work. Experience marking boundary layout of timber sales, designating timber to be removed in timber sales.

Experience in map reading, compass use, navigation, or traversing.

OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject 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 (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science.

OR A combination of specialized experience and qualifying education.

To qualify for the GS-06 level you must meet the above IOR and have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 as indicated by the following examples: Experience determining or supporting work related to tree measurements, map reading, compass use, species identification, defect recognition and determination, quality determination, traversing, use of aerial photos, and use of timber cruising tools and techniques.

Interpreted silvicultural prescriptions and timber marking/damage assessment guides to designate harvest timber/hazard tree.

Measured amount and quantity of timber in designated timber sale areas, applied instructions issued in a cruise plan, performed boundary layout of timber sales.

OR one year of graduate level education directly related to the work of a Forestry Technician such as forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject matter field directed related to the position; OR a combination of experience and education to meet the total experience.

To qualify for the GS-07 level you must meet the above IOR and have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 as indicated by the following examples: Experience utilizing computer programs required for data collection, cruise processing, traversing, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

Experience interpreting complex silvicultural prescriptions and marking guides to designate harvest timber/hazard tree.

Wrote reports describing timber sale, resource, topographic features, and compliance of timber marking with guidelines.

Provided technical assistance to specialists in the development of complex logging plans and preliminary road location, administered limited timber sale contracts.

OR one year of graduate level education directly related to the work of a Forestry Technician such as forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject matter field directed related to the position; OR A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Duties involve rigorous fieldwork and travel requiring above average physical performance, endurance, superior conditioning, and at least average agility and dexterity.

Work requires prolonged standing, walking crouching and crawling over uneven ground, recurring bending and reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing up to 50 pounds, shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar strenuous activities.

Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in the field in forested environments where exposure to extremes of heat and cold, rough and slippery terrain, wet weather, biting/stinging insects, irritating or occasionally hazardous chemicals, hostile wildlife, snakes, deadfalls and other hazards are common.

Work may require long distance travel by passenger vehicle or commercial aircraft, and operating 4-wheel-drive vehicles under adverse conditions.

Incumbent may be required to live in backcountry camps for several days. The incumbent is required to adhere to all safety rules and regulations and to use personal protective equipment. Major Duties:

• This position supports the National Salvage Implementation Team.
• Examine timber stands to assess insect, disease, and post-fire damage and determine treatment needs.
• Perform timber cruising duties, including estimating volume, quality, and defect using standard measurement methods and species identification.
• Interpret silvicultural prescriptions and marking guides to designate harvestable timber.
• Conduct field surveys and layout timber sale boundaries, roads, and property lines; prepare maps and boundary documentation.
• Compute tree summaries and timber volumes using applicable tables and appraisal methods.
• Prepare reports describing timber sales, resource conditions, topography, and marking compliance.
• Use analog and digital forestry tools to collect, analyze, and document resource data and support contract package development.
• Provide technical assistance to team members and perform physically demanding fieldwork requiring travel and endurance.