Overview

• Open & closing dates

   09/22/2020 to 10/01/2020

• Service

  Competitive

• Pay scale & grade

  GS 5

• Salary

  $34,916 to $45,393 per year

• Appointment type

  Permanent

• Work schedule

  Full-Time

  Location

  1 vacancy in the following location:

  • Coeur d’Alene, ID

  Relocation expenses reimbursed

  Yes You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

  Duties

  Summary

  This position is located in the Northern Region, Region One on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

  The incumbent perform timber stand improvement duties including contract inspection for tree planting and thinning contracts, conducting reforestation examination and other forms of stand examination.

  For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Jason Jerman at (208) 769-3054 or jason.jerman@usda.gov.

  Learn more about this agency

  Responsibilities

  • Recommend areas that require remedial action based on data gathered.
  • Follow silvicultural prescription and direct work to accomplish timber stand objectives.
  • Perform resource work in other areas, such as timber stand thinning, pruning, inspecting wildlife contracts, fire suppression, or burning slash.
  • Examine plantations to assess number of tree seedlings present, condition, and growth and survival rates, and evidence of animal, insect or disease damage.
  • Determine the relative abundance and species of seed cones by observing the developing cone and pollen buds.
  • Examine sapling and larger stands to collect and record data on stocking, density, condition, insects, disease, site index, and ground vegetation.
  • Select prospective parent seed trees using established procedures to determine which trees have superior growth characteristics.
  • Operate chainsaw and other power equipment to implement thinning, planting, pruning, fire suppression and other silvicultural projects.
  • Inspect silvicultural contract work (e.g., genetic tree improvement, planting, thinning, seeding, site preparation) for compliance with contract.
  • Assist or act as contracting officer representative on various silvicultural contracts.
  • Explain necessary steps for compliance to contractor and report violations to contracting officer representative.
  • Discuss inspected work and contract requirements when monitoring activity of contractors.

  Travel Required

  Occasional travel – Occasional travel may be required for training, meetings and field work in more remote locations on the district. Camping might be expected when working in remote locations.

  Supervisory status

  No

  Promotion Potential

  None

  • Requirements

    Conditions of Employment

    • Must be a U.S. Citizen or 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.
    • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
    • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
    • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

    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.

    Specialized Experience Requirement:

    For the GS-05 level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level. Preparing a land unit for planting, thinning, or weeding; preparing maps and providing data for contract preparation and unit examination; keeping records on the results of routine vegetation or timber test and sampling procedures; and preparing test reports using well established guidelines to compute, compile and present data.

    Substitution of Education for Experience: For the GS-5 level: 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.

    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.

    Education

    See above for education that may be qualifying for the GS-05 grade level.

    Additional information

    Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

    Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

    Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran’s Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

    Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses – 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

    This position is being concurrently announced under Demo Vacancy Announcement # 20-R1SVCOA-10899257-DP-DJ . This announcement is open to all qualified candidates. Applying to both announcements may expand the possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.

    Information on special hiring authorities such as the Veteran’s Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, and individuals with disabilities may be found
    on the USAJOBS website.

    This announcement may be used to fill positions with a seasonal work schedule where full-time work is guaranteed for 13 pay periods and when not working, you will be placed in non-pay/non-duty status.

    This is a bargaining unit position represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

    Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

    Government Housing is not available.

    This position is eligible for telework.

    This agency offers alternative and flexible work schedules.

    We may select from this announcement or any other sources to fill one or more vacancies.

    Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination will be made at the time of job offer.

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    How You Will Be Evaluated

    You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

    You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

    • Contracting/Procurement
    • Forest Management
    • Technical Competence

    Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

    If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

    Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

    To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10899256

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  • Required Documents

    The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

    • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor’s phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
    • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

    In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim any of the following:

    • Current Permanent Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
    • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
    • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligible Applicants: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
    • VEOA and VRA: please review theRequired Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
    • If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority not listed above, please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.

      A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

      Apply here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/579430800?PostingChannelID=RESTAPI