Forestry Technician (Recreation, Timber, Range)

Full Job Description

This position is located on a Forest Service.

This position is established to perform a variety of routine and frequently complex tasks involving techniques and practices relating to natural resources management programs, (i.e., timber, recreation, and range).

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-07: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6); OR one full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (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); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience.

The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Examples of specialized experience include: Performing Forestry technician work; or 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.

Forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work.

Techniques and practices relating to natural resources management programs, (i.e., timber and silviculture, recreation and trails, wildlife, fisheries, watershed improvement, range, special uses, and others).

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. Major Duties:

• Prepares, develops, and executes timber cruises and sample surveys for resource information and estimate quality and quantity of timber for purpose of appraisal, sales administration, management planning, and logging plans.
• Assembles and summarizes data and prepares reports and maps regarding areas cruised.
• Lays outs sales in accordance with EAR and other instructions, considering variables such as accessibility, steep slopes, stream protection, nesting tree protection, wildlife impacts, fuels management and regeneration requirements.
• Brings to attention of responsible individual situations where specific prescriptions do not fit ground conditions.
• Independently marks trees using and adapting complex marking rules in areas complicated by variations in type, species composition, defect, site, age, class, etc.
• Gathers, compiles, and recommends improvements for developed and dispersed recreation sites on the unit. Recruits and trains volunteers.
• Serves as inspector and contracting officer’s representative on service contracts ensuring work is completed properly. Performs limited law enforcement duties under close supervision of a qualified law enforcement officer.
• Patrols recreation areas for compliance by day visitors and campers with established rules and regulations posted in the area.
• Inspect recreation areas, areas of concentrated public use, and special use permits for compliance with the permit and management plans, public health regulations, and safety plans.
• Functions as Collection Officer for recreation sites. Collects fees, count, reconciles money collected, and ensures deposits are made appropriately.
• Performs all aspects of Special Use Permit administration for activities within undeveloped and developed areas of the unit.
• Assists with putting together project proposals and with conducting studies for providing input in National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) project analysis. Collects, compiles, and summarizes recreation data as required for data systems.
• Monitors and leads crews maintaining existing trails, facilities, etc. to ensure they are in operable condition. Assists with the selection and recommendation of new trail and facility locations or with the closing of old sites.
• Participates in the development of plans and programs for range management by collecting data for grazing allotment plans and advising management as to what improvements are needed and what management practices can be affected.
• Implements maintenance and construction of range structural improvements.
• Contacts range permittees and communicates to them Forest Service range policies and basic requirements of permit.
• Counts designated permitted livestock to ensure number are in compliance with permit, checks range condition including structures, and checks for trespass livestock.
• Develops plans for the installation of range and soil condition and trend transects. Installs permanent and pace transects.
• Obtains required measurements, records information concerning forage density, production and types, vigor, rate of growth, and soil depth, compaction, and erosion.