Forester (Silviculture)

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 (See Required Documents Section for resume requirements). Basic Requirement: GS-0460 Series Completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree that included a major field of study 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- A 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement listed above, you must also possess the experience listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-12 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service or equivalent private sector experience. Specialized Experience is defined as meeting at least one of the following: Prepared silvicultural/vegetative portions of environmental analysis reports and impact statements; Planned and administered a timber management program which may have included providing technical direction in all phases of reforestation and timber stand improvement; Directed studies on problems created by timber management practices, including the regeneration of cut-over areas; AND/OR Developed land use plans for a multiple-use forest resource area, specifically management of vegetation, with diverse and complex problems. 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: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
This position is located on the Tongass National Forest, Alaska Region, Supervisors Office, Forest Management Staff. Develops and/or reviews silvicultural plans and programs including compartment prescription, reforestation, timber stand improvement, and tree improvement, as well as participation in NEPA planning for vegetation projects. Point of contact: Sheila Spores by email at sheila.spores@usda.gov. See Additional Information section for more.