Forestry Technician (Lookout)

Summary

Job Corps graduates are encouraged to apply. This position is located within a National Forest. This position is established on a Forest Service unit to provide for the detection and reporting of fires from a lookout station.

Duties

• •Uses standard fire finders to locate observed smoke. Estimates distance to smokes and probable size and characteristics of fires.
• •Determines map location of fires with reference to known landmarks. Reports azimuth, distance, location, volume, color, behavior of smoke, and other pertinent information by radio or telephone.
• •Continues to observe the area and reports significant changes such as increased smoke, wind conditions, changes in color or volume of smoke, etc.
• •Observes ground lightning strikes, thunderstorms, and build-up cloud formations and reports significant observations.
• •Records and reports daily weather observations. Maintains records and log books.
• •Makes minor adjustments and maintains lookout equipment. Maintains lookout station and grounds in a neat and orderly condition.
• •Operates a radio communications center which connects other lookout stations and radio sets.
• •Receives and relays messages and information received relating to weather forecasts, fire hazard conditions, fire emergencies, accidents, and location of work crews and personnel.
• •Serves as key contact at a lookout station visited by large numbers of people during the fire season.
• •Promotes the fire prevention program by explaining State and Federal laws, policies, and regulations, as well as fire prevention methods and procedures and fire hazard conditions.

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. GS-04: Applicants must have six months of general experience (any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation) AND six months of specialized experience that is directly related to the work of the position; OR successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 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 (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is creditable); OR an appropriate combination of experience and education above high school as described above. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university and include courses that are related to the occupation of the position. Examples of General Experience includes: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding and tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities; Cleaned tools and equipment; Worked in a greenhouse or nursery moving, watering, and tending plants and performing other general labor; Worked on a landscape or construction crew; Other work experience, paid or unpaid, that demonstrates an ability to learn and perform the work of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: Forestry aid or technician work. Or forest or range fire lookout, dispatch, prevention or suppression work. 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.