Forestry Aid (Timber Sale Preparation)

Job Title: Forestry Aid (Timber Sale Preparation)
Department: Department Of Agriculture
Agency: Forest Service
Sub Agency: Forest Service
Job Announcement Number: PERM-OCR-0462-345-SALEPREP)

SALARY RANGE: $24,933.00 - $40,706.00 /year

OPEN PERIOD: Thursday, April 15, 2010 to Thursday, April 14, 2011
SERIES & GRADE: GS-0462-03/05
POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time Permanent - No time limit
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 05
DUTY LOCATIONS: 100 vacancies - Throughout the Nation
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: US citizens

JOB SUMMARY:
Applications for this position are being processed through an on-line applicant assessment system that has been specifically configured for USDA Forest Service applicants. Even if you have already developed a resume in USAJOBS, you will need to access this on-line system to complete the application process. To obtain information about this position and TO APPLY, please click on http://www.avuecentral.com/vacancy.html?ref=RBXTS.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:
See Other Information.

Duties
Additional Duty Location Info:

100 vacancies - Throughout the Nation

DUTIES:(The duties described reflect the full performance level of this position)

Performs timber sales preparation duties, such as cruising timber, in support of timber sales activities.

Qualifications and Evaluations
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
MINIMUM FEDERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Grade 03: Qualifying experience for the GS-3 level includes six months general experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or that provided familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the occupation.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Experience requirements may be met by successful completion of one (1) academic year of post high school education which included at least 6 semester/9 quarter hours in any combination of courses such as range management or conservation, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the experience requirements.

Grade 04: Qualifying experience for the GS-4 level includes six months general experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or that provided familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the occupation AND six months specialized experience at the GS-3 level that is directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Experience requirements may be met by successful completion of two (2) academic years of post high school education which included at least 12 semester/18 quarter 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/4 quarter hours in mathematics is creditable.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the experience requirements.

Grade 05: Qualifying experience for the GS-5 level includes one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4. Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Experience requirements may be met by successful completion of a four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelors' degree or the equivalent. Education must include at least 24 semester/36 quarter 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 6 semester/9 quarter hours in mathematics is creditable.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the experience requirements.

See Other Information for further requirements.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledges, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.

Benefits and Other Info

BENEFITS:
See Other Information.

OTHER INFORMATION:
The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

Please check Job Posting Information, Summary, for the area of consideration (i.e., Who May Apply), and time limit information.

Work may require travel within 49 miles (commuting distance) away from the official duty station to a remote worksite.

BASIS OF RATING: The category rating procedure is used to rank and select eligible candidates. Under category rating, applicants who meet basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position and whose job related competencies have been assessed are ranked by being placed in one of the following categories: Quality, Well Qualified, and Eligible. Candidates placed in the Quality category will be assessed based on Education, High Ability, or Experience. Well Qualified candidates are those who clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements but do not necessarily meet the criteria for the Quality category. Candidates in the eligible category meet basic minimum qualification requirements but do not meet the criteria for the Well Qualified category. Preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Drug testing is a requirement for certain positions. See "Other Significant Facts" portion of this announcement for information specific to position being filled.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements as of the closing date of the announcement or on the date a referral list is generated from an Open Continuous announcement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure the work history portion thoroughly documents the duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments that are directly related to this position in order to verify specialized experience.

If selection is made at a lower grade level, promotion to the target grade will be non-competitive upon completion of training, performance, and specialized experience requirements.

Applications submitted in postage-paid Government envelopes will not be accepted.

Applications received become the property of the USDA Forest Service and will not be returned.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: The USDA Forest Service provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the point of contact listed on the vacancy announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

BENEFITS: A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holiday; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation, flexible work schedule, training and development opportunities, family/worklife program, etc.

Transfer of Station/Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. The position may require a Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret security clearance or be subject to a Public Trust background investigation at the time of appointment, and may be subject to reinvestigation every five years thereafter. A favorable adjudication of the clearance or background investigation at the time of appointment and on reinvestigations is a condition of employment.

Some positions have other conditions of employment not specified in this announcement. Applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer.

As a condition of employment, all male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service. If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

This position is being advertised under both merit promotion (internal) and demonstration project (external) procedures under separate announcements. Applicants who wish to be considered under both procedures must apply to each announcement and follow the specific instructions applicable to each method.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: Generally, preference is granted to veterans who entered the military service prior to October 14, 1976; or served on active duty during the period from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992, and who are otherwise eligible; or who served on active duty during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or who have served in a military action for which they received a Campaign Badge or Expeditionary Medal. This includes the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) awarded to those who participated in Operation Joint Endeavor or Operation Joint Guard. Also, you may be entitled to veterans' preference if you are a disabled veteran; you have received a Purple Heart; you are the spouse or mother of a disabled veteran; or you are the widow, widower, or mother of a deceased veteran. Applicants will be required to provide proof prior to appointment to validate their claim for preference. More detailed information is available on the Main Menu screen under the selection entitled, "Veteran Information."

Completion of a probationary or trial period may be required, depending on the type of appointment. During this time period, employee's conduct and performance will be monitored in order to determine if employee will be retained.

PERMANENT OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: This is a continuously open vacancy announcement for one or more locations throughout the Forest Service. The number and location of positions to be filled will be dependent upon individual unit needs. These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full-time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay period's full-time employment). Positions may be filled as career ladders or could be filled at the full performance level dependent upon the individual unit's needs. Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, and bargaining unit status will vary by location. Pay rates vary depending on location. See the OPM website at www.opm.gov for additional information on pay rates.

To ensure that you receive consideration, applications submitted through the on-line application process must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time the day before a referral list is issued. A scannable application package submitted by mail must be received at the correct address and scanned prior to issuance of referral list. When there are no applicants for specific locations, the search area may be broadened when generating referral lists to include locations in the closest city nearby. To obtain more information about the US Forest Service and individual locations, go to www.fs.fed.us (a search can be done by State or by Name). We encourage applicants to contact supervisors at the chosen locations for specific information. To ensure continued interest and availability, applicants will be notified via e-mail reminding them to re-certify their application every 60 days. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age upon appointment. Some positions have other conditions of employment not specified in this announcement. Applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.

HOW TO APPLY: In order to determine if you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for this position, please submit the following information:

1. Experience/Employment Information:

a. Apply On-Line at www.avuedigitalservices.com/usfs/applicant.html. This online application process allows applicants to submit employment information that can be printed for personal use and saved and/or edited on the website for future use. The application process contains all the data elements that are required for resumes submitted for federal employment and may be submitted electronically. OR

b. Apply by Scannable Questionnaire: This Questionnaire requires completion of a scannable form. You must request the instructions and form and submit the scannable application form and supporting documentation by mail. Locations and their codes will be listed in the application package. A facsimile of the scannable form cannot be accepted.

2. Eligibility Information: The following documents must be electronically attached to your application to verify your eligibility and basic qualifications. Failure to provide this documentation may result in disqualification.

a. If you are claiming 5-point veteran's preference, you must submit a DD-214, Member 4 copy. If you are claiming 10-point preference you must submit a DD214, Member 4 copy, an SF-15 (Application for 10-Point preference) and a letter (dated 1991 to present) from the VA or military department indicating your disability rating. Applicants claiming preference based on service performed after October 14, 1976, must specify on the application the Campaign Badge upon which they are basing their claim. If you are still on active duty and claim veteran's preference, then you must submit documentation such as a: (1) official orders or citation entitling you to a campaign badge; (2) statement of service from a commanding officer or someone else in authority attesting to your active duty which identifies dates of entry and anticipated separation; rank at time of discharge; and anticipated character of discharge; or (3) in the case of someone claiming service during the first Gulf War or since 9/11/01, any official document attesting to your presence on active duty during the appropriate calendar periods. Veterans who fail to submit the supporting documentation with their application will not be granted veterans preference. If you are not able to attach the forms to your application, you may fax to 253-573-9869, please include name on all documents.

b. Transcripts (official or unofficial) are required if education is used to meet basic qualifications requirements or meet education criteria in the quality category. Transcripts should be attached to the Avue profile or faxed to 253-573-9869; please include name on all documents.

3. CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Notice of Expected Separation, performance appraisal information for current Federal employees or other proof documents are required if requesting priority placement consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). CTAP and ICTAP candidates must be well qualified. Submit SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action or equivalent document to verify current or former federal employment status should also be submitted.

TO REQUEST A SCANNABLE FORM: Please refer to the contact name and phone number listed in this vacancy announcement.

How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications for this position are being processed through an on-line applicant assessment system that has been specifically configured for USDA Forest Service applicants. Even if you have already developed a resume in USAJOBS, you will need to access this on-line system to complete the application process. To obtain information about this position and TO APPLY, please click on http://www.avuecentral.com/vacancy.html?ref=RBXTS.

If you are unable to apply online, you may contact the employing office for alternate application procedures. Please call ASC HRM Staffing at 1-877-372-7248, option 2 or email at fsjobs@fs.fed.us.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
See Other Information.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
ASC HRM Staffing
Phone: 1-877-372-7248, optio
Email: fsjobs@fs.fed.us Agency Information:
USDA
Do not send mail. Refer to
announcement for information.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
US

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:
You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledges, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.