What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forester (Silviculture) position at Forest Service?
Multiple career ladder positions will be filled from this announcement. To be considered for any or all of these locations, please verify that the appropriate duty location is selected in your application
This position serves as a silviculturist with primary responsibility for development, planning, and application of silvicultural methods and practices.
Please see Education section for location specific information.
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: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in 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 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-05 grade level: The educational or educational/experience requirements above are qualifying for the GS-05 grade level. No additional experience is required.
For the GS-07 grade level: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of work experience that meet this requirement could include: Performed duties applying academic theories and basic forestry principles while received instruction on the practical application of forestry principles, theories, methods, techniques and practices with an emphasis on silviculture; evaluated conditions found when conducting timber compartment examinations, surveys and data collection; conducted studies of timber stand improvement problems and prepared reports of findings; assisted higher grade foresters, or worked as a team member, in accomplishing selected portions of timber stand improvement projects; prepared recommendations for specific treatment or action needed based on standard application of silvicultural methods and practices; and/or participated in timber sale unit layout and/or sale administration activities to develop experience and an understanding of how silvicultural management objectives are met and maintained.;
OR
One full year of graduate level education;
OR
An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience;
OR
Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
For the GS-09 grade level: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of work experience that meet this requirement could include: Performed specific portions of low or standard complexity assignments in support of broad functional activities for which foresters of a higher level have overall responsibility; summarized and analyzed collected compartment, stand prescription and/or presale data for selected cutting areas; administered timber sales ensuring that contractual stipulations were carried out by the operator; corrected improper timber contractor practices and resolved misunderstandings; prepared timber reports and checked for timber trespass; conducted cruises of timber stands, delineating forest cover by use of aerial photographs and summarized such data; performed related preparation, timber stand improvement and reforestation duties; collected and summarized watershed data, and administered assigned watershed projects; planned implementation of individual vegetation management projects assigned by a Silviculturist; reviewed, recommend, and initiated development activities at tree improvement sites; and/or monitored for insect, animal and disease damage, determines treatment options in consultation with Regional experts, and carried out treatments. ;
OR
A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related;
OR
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the 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.
Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.
This position serves as a silviculturist with primary responsibility for development, planning, and application of silvicultural methods and practices.
Please see Education section for location specific information.
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: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in 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 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-05 grade level: The educational or educational/experience requirements above are qualifying for the GS-05 grade level. No additional experience is required.
For the GS-07 grade level: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of work experience that meet this requirement could include: Performed duties applying academic theories and basic forestry principles while received instruction on the practical application of forestry principles, theories, methods, techniques and practices with an emphasis on silviculture; evaluated conditions found when conducting timber compartment examinations, surveys and data collection; conducted studies of timber stand improvement problems and prepared reports of findings; assisted higher grade foresters, or worked as a team member, in accomplishing selected portions of timber stand improvement projects; prepared recommendations for specific treatment or action needed based on standard application of silvicultural methods and practices; and/or participated in timber sale unit layout and/or sale administration activities to develop experience and an understanding of how silvicultural management objectives are met and maintained.;
OR
One full year of graduate level education;
OR
An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience;
OR
Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
For the GS-09 grade level: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of work experience that meet this requirement could include: Performed specific portions of low or standard complexity assignments in support of broad functional activities for which foresters of a higher level have overall responsibility; summarized and analyzed collected compartment, stand prescription and/or presale data for selected cutting areas; administered timber sales ensuring that contractual stipulations were carried out by the operator; corrected improper timber contractor practices and resolved misunderstandings; prepared timber reports and checked for timber trespass; conducted cruises of timber stands, delineating forest cover by use of aerial photographs and summarized such data; performed related preparation, timber stand improvement and reforestation duties; collected and summarized watershed data, and administered assigned watershed projects; planned implementation of individual vegetation management projects assigned by a Silviculturist; reviewed, recommend, and initiated development activities at tree improvement sites; and/or monitored for insect, animal and disease damage, determines treatment options in consultation with Regional experts, and carried out treatments. ;
OR
A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related;
OR
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the 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.
Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.
Salary : $37,696 - $74,250
