Introduction

The Naches/Cle Elum/Wenatchee River/Entiat/Chelan/Methow Ranger Districts on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (see map below) will soon begin filling temporary positions in the Botany and Invasive Plant Program for the 2020 field season. Positions will be filled at the GS-5 and GS-7 levels.

This is a TEMPORARY SEASONAL position with a maximum six month tour schedule (Not To Exceed 1039 hrs.). The anticipated start date will most likely be mid-May, with the tour potentially running through October and November. The duty station is in Naches, Cle Elum, Leavenworth, Entiat or Winthrop, WA. Housing may be available for these employees. The position will be full-time (40 hours/week).

 

Summary of Positions

If selected, candidates will most likely work a flex schedule.  Selected individuals should be prepared to work in inclement weather and other adverse conditions.

 

Biological Science Technician (Plants) GS-7

Announcement #21-TEMP4-R6-2515-7DT-CB (Cle Elum and Naches)

Primary responsibilities include:

    • Conducting surveys for various sensitive plant, fungi, lichen and bryophyte species and habitats
    • Assists with revegetation and ecological restoration duties such as planting, seed collection, and assessing status of existing/ongoing revegetation efforts.
    • Assist with data management and report writing
    • Driving or hiking to field locations
    • Use ArcGIS for mapping for desktop and mobile applications
    • Oversee and coordinate field work for GS-4 and GS-5 technicians including management of electronic data collection
    • Treat invasive plant sites by hand-pulling or herbicide in wilderness and non-wilderness landscapes 

Biological Science Technician (Plants) GS-5

  • 21-TEMP4-R6-3510-5DT-SB Plants/Invasive -Leavenworth
  • 21-TEMP4-R6-5608-5DT-NB Plants-Cle Elum
  • 21-TEMP4-R6-5608-5DT-NB Plants-Naches
    • Conducting surveys for various sensitive plant, fungi, lichen and bryophyte species and habitats
    • Assists with revegetation and ecological restoration duties such as planting, seed collection, and assessing status of existing/ongoing revegetation efforts.
    • Assist with data management and report writing
    • Driving or hiking to field locations
    • Use ArcGIS for mapping for desktop and mobile applications
    • Treat invasive plant sites by hand-pulling or herbicide in wilderness and non-wilderness landscapes

Biological Science Technician (Plants/Invasive) GS-5

  • 21-TEMP4-R6-2736-5DT-NB Range/Invasives-Winthrop
  • 21-TEMP4-R6-3510-5DT-SB Plants/Invasive -Cle Elum
  • 21-TEMP4-R6-3510-5DT-SB Plants/Invasive -Leavenworth2
  • 1-TEMP4-R6-3510-5DT-SB Plants/Invasive -Naches
  • 21-TEMP4-R6-3510-5DT-SB Plants/Invasive -Entiat
  • 21-TEMP4-R6-3510-5DT-SB Plants/Invasive -Chelan

Primary responsibilities include:

    • Treat invasive plant sites by hand-pulling or herbicide in wilderness and non-wilderness landscapes
    • Conducting surveys for various invasive plant species
    • Current WA pesticide applicator’s license or ability to attain a license
    • Assists with revegetation and ecological restoration duties such as planting, seed collection, and assessing status of existing/ongoing revegetation efforts.
    • Driving or hiking to field locations
    • Assist with surveys for various sensitive plant species and habitats
    • Use ArcGIS for mapping for desktop and mobile applications

Specific for the Range/Invasive positions in Winthrop

    • Fencing; construction, maintenance, installing/removing temporary electric fence
    • Grazing allotment inspections of water developments and of forage utilization

FOR FEDERAL USFS POSITIONS

  • Accepting Applications/Vacancies Open: October 30th – November 9th
    • Applications submitted in USAJOBS before 11:59 EST November 9th, 2020
  • Application Review/Coordinated Selections/Job Offers: Dec. 2020 or Jan. 2021
  • Start Dates Range From: Most likely mid-May 2020

 


How to Apply: Applicants must apply online at https://www.usajobs.gov/.  You will be required to create a USAJOBS account and either create a resume or upload your own.  Use the position titles listed to navigate to the appropriate position.  Click “Apply Online” and follow the prompts to complete the online application.  Be sure to indicate all cities you are interested in working in.  For the Ranger District, select Winthrop, Entiat, Chelan, Leavenworth, Cle Elum and Naches, WA. You can select all or specific districts.

For general information on jobs in Region 6 (Oregon and Washington) with the USFS: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r6/jobs

Required Documents

For a complete list of required documents, refer to the USAJOBS vacancy announcement.

  • Resume that includes the following information: 1) job information for which you are applying; 2) personal information; 3) education; 4) work experience; and 5) other qualifications.
  • College Transcripts, since education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or you are substituting education for specialized experience. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application, however, if selected an official college transcript will be required.
  • DD-214 and/or SF-15 Application for 10-point Veteran Preference if claiming Veterans’ Preference or eligibility for appointment under the VRA, VEOA, or 30% Disabled Veterans hiring authority.

Selection Considerations for this position

  • Bachelor’s degree with 24 semester/36 quarter hours of botany or plant science-related courses, and one year of GS-6 experience or the equivalent if applying for GS-7. One year of experience is required at the GS-4 level or equivalent if applying for GS-5. One year of experience is required at the GS-4 level or equivalent if applying for GS-4.
  • Familiarity with Pacific NW flora, or better yet, with the Central Washington Flora (GS-7)
  • Capable of keying vascular plants to the species level using various applicable taxonomic keys (GS-7)
  • Capable of working in rugged outdoor settings, self-motivated under minimal supervision (all positions)
  • Team player with an excellent work ethic (all positions)
  • Valid driver’s license is required (all positions)

 

Interested applicants may contact the Hiring Manager.  Those desiring further information should contact the Hiring Manager listed below. Application period ends November 9, 2020

Kelly Baraibar – Winthrop kelly.baraibar@usda.gov

509-860-7365

Brigitte Ranne – Entiat/Chelan/Leavenworth brigitte.ranne@usda.gov

509-682-4941

Helen Lau-Cle Elum/Naches helen.lau@usda.gov     

509-852-1074

THE FOREST

ABOUT THE OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST:  This forest encompasses more than 4-million acres in Washington State and stretches north to south from the Canadian border to the Goat Rocks Wilderness – a distance of about 180 miles. The forest lies east of the Cascade Crest, which defines its western boundary. The eastern edge of the forest extends into the Okanogan highlands, then south along the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers, and then to the Yakima River valley. Because of this wide geographic range, the forest is very diverse – from the high, glaciated alpine peaks along the Cascade Crest and the numerous mountain ranges extending eastward from the crest, through deep, lush valleys of old growth forest, to the dry and rugged shrub-steppe country at its eastern edge. Precipitation varies widely – from more than 70-inches along the crest to less than 10-inches at its eastern edge. This greatly affects the forest and vegetation types across the area.