Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Preparation)

The USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region, Chippewa National Forest is seeking candidates for 1 Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Preparation), GS-0462-06. This is a Permanent, Full-time position located in Deer River, MN.  The purpose of this Outreach Notice is to inform prospective applicants of the upcoming opportunity. To express interest in the position, please respond to this outreach by visiting the Forest Service Outreach website HERE. If you have questions please contact Mike Bildeaux, Implementation Team Leader, at michael.bildeaux@usda.gov or 218-246-3482. Respond by July 14, 2020

**An Open Continuous Recruitment (OCR) vacancy announcement on www.USAJobs.gov will likely be used to fill this vacancy. The vacancy announcement number and open dates will be sent to outreach respondents and posted on the Forest Service Outreach website when it is known. Please also monitor USA Jobs for advertisement.

The position will be located in Deer River, MN at the Chippewa National Forest’s Deer River Ranger District office. The Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Preparation), GS-0462-06 position performs a variety of routine and frequently complex tasks involving techniques and practices relating to timber sale preparation. Successful accomplishment of the following assignments supports field projects and other program activities for the unit.

GS-06: Conducts timber cruises and surveys within varying stand conditions to locate and estimate the quantity of timber on a given area, according to species, type, and quality. Estimates volume, defect, and quality of timber in a given area. Measures and defects timber on the ground using maps and written cruise plans provided by an advanced cruiser that explain sampling intensity, plot locations, type of cruise and any special instructions. Under supervision of a professional forester, and using pre-established marking rules, selects and marks trees to be harvested or left uncut. Lays out boundaries of cutting areas as outlined in the NEPA, 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. Marks trees using marking rules in areas complicated by variations in type, species composition, defect, site, age, class, etc. Prepares area maps, marks unit boundaries and occasionally uses GPS to record boundary locations.  Is able to follow clear direction given by supervisor or other senior personnel and implement it efficiently, producing high quality outcomes that meet Regional standards.  Summarizes cruising and marking data and prepares reports and topographic maps indicating quantity of timber, condition of area, difficulties to be encountered, etc. As assigned, assists in other aspects of natural resource management, such as inspection of forestry planning and cutting contracts to ensure state required Best Management Practices are implemented. Monitors and inspects for compliance (with terms) of timber contracts. Performs other resource or fire duties as qualified and assigned.

The Chippewa National Forest is located in north central Minnesota, approximately 200 miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Chippewa was the first National Forest established east of the Mississippi River in 1908. The Forest has a rich history, ranging from pre-contact times to the early logging era and CCC days. The Forest includes approximately 666,600 acres of checkerboard ownership with other public, private, and tribal lands interspersed. A portion of the Forest is within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Because of this relationship, Forest employees coordinate and consult closely with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Mixed northern conifer and hardwoods blanket the rolling uplands of the Chippewa. Water is very abundant on the National Forest and includes the Mississippi River headwaters region. In addition there over 1300 lakes, 923 miles of rivers and streams, and 400,000 acres of wetlands within the proclamation boundary.  The Chippewa provides world class fishing opportunities to visitors. Other water orientated recreation such as canoeing, camping, boating, and swimming are popular on the Chippewa. Trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and scenic drives weave their way through the Forest. For more information, visit our Chippewa National Forest Website.

Benefits: To help attract and retain the best talent America has to offer, the Federal Government provides an array of traditional and contemporary benefits to employees, retires, and their families. This benefits “package” is one of the reasons applicants make the Federal Government their employer of choice. Some benefits include: holidays, life insurance, health insurance, flexible spending accounts, pensions, thrift savings plan, workers’ compensation, long-term care insurance, liability insurance, severance pay, lump sum annual leave payments and survivor benefits. Please see the Office of Personnel Management description of federal benefits .

The Chippewa National Forest also offers a Health and Wellness Program that allows employees to incorporate a fitness plan into their regular work schedule. 

Work Schedule: Maxiflex is a flexible work schedule that contains core hours on fewer than 10 workdays in the biweekly pay period.  A full-time employee has a basic work requirement of 80 hours for the biweekly pay period, but may vary the number of hours worked on a given workday or the number of hours each week within the limits established by the Forest Service unit and supervisor. 

The Deer River community has a population of 940 people and is rich in history, heritage and scenic beauty. A community with an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities to enjoy the Chippewa National Forest including: hiking, fishing, camping and winter snowmobiling. Deer River Chamber

Grand Rapids hosts a population of 11,097 people. Known for recreation opportunities, scenic beauty of the Highway 38 National Scenic byway, preserved heritage and vibrant arts and entertainment. Grand Rapids Chamber

Tips on writing a Federal resume and applying for Federal jobs can be found on the USAJobs Channel