Supervisory Forester (Silviculture)

Summary

Positions may be filled at one or more listed duty locations. Duty location will be determined at the time of offer. Forestry position responsible for developing and implementing silvicultural programs to support forest management objectives. For additional information about this position, please contact Gloria Cirulli at [email protected]. USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties

• •The duties are at the GS-11 level.
• •Makes on-the-ground examinations and analyses of forest areas to determine which areas require short- or long-range cultural treatment in terms of the total ecosystem.
• •Provides advice, technical support, and evaluation of proposed and ongoing timber sale programs to prevent loss of timber productivity and damage to the environment.
• •Reviews and approves project plans for special administrative studies of silvicultural methods and techniques in planting, seeding, site preparation, timber stand improvement, and tree and shrub improvement projects.
• •Plans, coordinates, and administers the technical phases of forest area control of animals, insects, or diseases affecting reforestation and regeneration programs.
• •Serves as a full member of the unit management team and shares in setting unit goals and objectives and developing overall unit plans.
• •Plans, coordinates, and evaluates the timber stand improvement program; prescribes cutting practices based on an examination of stand conditions and esthetic or other resource requirements.
• •Inspects all phases of reforestation and stand improvement projects; appraises the degree of conformance with policies, procedures, and silvicultural plans; and recommends corrective action as required.
• •Participates in preparation and review of environmental analysis reports and environmental impact statements.
• •Reviews silviculture prescriptions to ensure that plans, treatment, and harvesting techniques are compatible with long-range land management plans.
• •Provides advice, technical support, and evaluation of proposed and ongoing timber sale programs to prevent loss of timber productivity and damage to the environment.
• •Coordinates silvicultural needs with other resource specialists.
• •Maintains liaison with employees of Federal and State governments, local officials, and private organizations or landowners who are affected by, or have a shared interest in, the Forest land management practices and problems in the forest area.
• •Plans, coordinates, and conducts training on silvicultural principles and practices.
• •Performs supervisory duties at least 25% of the time.

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. Basic Requirement: GS-0460: Degree: 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 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-11: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as some of the following: Performed vegetation management duties including timber management, harvesting, reforestation, timber stand improvement, and fuels management; assisted in analyzing technical issues and/or provided advice and assistance on forestry resource management policies and practices; assisted in reviewing or developing standard plans for well-established programs or projects; recommended short-range plans for a component of a forestry resource management program OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR Combination of education and experience. 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.

Education

See above for education that is qualifying for the specific grade level.