Forester
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Job Summary
You will serve as a Forester for the Bureau of Land Management.
Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which youre selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
GS-05: This is a trainee position where the employee works under the guidance of a supervisor or higher graded forester. Duties are performed at a reduced level of responsibility while receiving on-the-job and other appropriate training.
GS-07: This is an advanced trainee position. The incumbent works with increasing independence in the completion of assignments based upon gained experience and training. More difficult assignments are provided as the incumbent progresses.
GS-09: This position serves as a Forester.
Job functions include:
- Work involving forest landscapes forest and woodland sale planning forest product sales and administration reforestation and forest stand improvements.
- Performs tasks associated with logging systems sale planning and layout and road layout.
- Duties may include timber sale planning environmental assessment preparation logging systems contract preparation timber sale contract administration reforestation and timber stand improvement.
- Plans and implements technical projects and performs duties in support of forestry-oriented multiple-use land management programs including coordination of appropriate staff to accomplish the work.
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
- Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
- Direct Deposit participation required.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit have and maintain a valid drivers license throughout employment.
This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest meet the organization goals and mission of the agency and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the determining if your employment advances the public interest the agency will consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 07/28/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To receive credit for experience your resume MUST state either full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position you must meet at least one of the following:
- A. A degree 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 was in forestry. The curriculum must have been sufficiently diversified to include courses in each of the following areas:
- Management of Renewable Resources -- 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 -- 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 -- 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-
- B. A combination of education and experience which included 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.
For GS-05
- There is no Specialized Experience Requirement for this series at this grade level. You must meet the Basic Qualification Requirement as stated above in order to qualify for the GS-05 level.
- Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) assisting with the development or implementation of forest management plans such as timber sale planning reforestation timber stand improvement or landscape forestry; (2) assisting with preparing/analyzing logging and harvest plans silvicultural treatments or timber sale contracts to ensure compliance; (3) interacting with various groups of people to investigate exchange or report information related to forest programs. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
- Education: Successful completion of 1 full year of graduate level education that included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally as stated in the basic requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of transcripts.-OR-
- Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successful completion of a bachelors degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college university or major subdivision based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grad-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on 4 years of education or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place for example 2.95 3.0 2.94 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society. -OR-
- Combination of education and experience: To compute this first determine your education as a percentage of the education requirement and then determine your specialized experience as a percentage then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 100% to qualify. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of your transcripts.
- Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) preparing and/or implementing timber sale and silvicultural service contracts; (2) executing long range forest management plans such as logging systems road layout harvesting tree improvement or landscaping; (3) developing forest management plans forest inventory analysis environmental assessments or forest history reports; (4) preparing data briefings or trainings to explain or exchange forest management information to the general public. -OR-
- Education: Successful completion of 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a masters degree OR masters OR equivalent graduate degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally as stated in the basic requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of transcripts. -OR-
- Combination of education and experience: To compute this first determine your education as a percentage of the education requirement and then determine your specialized experience as a percentage then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 100% to qualify. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of your transcripts.
This position has a mandatory education requirement.
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name school name grades credit hours earned major(s) grade point average or class ranking and date the degree was conferred if applicable. A typed list of courses grades semester/quarter hours GPA etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications U.S. Department of Education. information Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. elated Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual at managerial discretion providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations 630). All Department of Interior (DOI) employees their spouses and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim permit lease small tract entry or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position existing work at the higher grade level and recommendation by the positions supervisor.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
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