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Law Enforcement Officer

Forest Service


Job Location:

Yreka, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 51632 - 51632
Posted: 6 October 2026 (6 hours ago)
Application Deadline: 3 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

This position is being concurrently announced under Pathways Recent Graduate program as announcement number 26-NPT-LEIRG. Current federal employees may apply to both announcements for consideration.

The incumbent serves as a basic Law Enforcement Officer trainee and performs tasks related to law enforcement and investigate activities within the Forest Service programs. For additional information about the duties please contact


Duties
  • Duties listed are at the GL-07 performance level.
  • Patrol public lands to include recreation areas timber sale actives and other resource use activities to enforce and prevent violations.
  • Detect and enforce criminal law offenses including but not limited to: timber theft wildland arson livestock trespass archeological resource protection and drug control laws that affect law enforcement operations.
  • Assists in conducting preliminary investigations of illegal or suspicious activities including interviewing and interrogating witnesses and suspects to obtain information.
  • Prepares investigative reports coordinates findings with law enforcement supervisors and testifies in hearings and trials.
  • Provide support in identifying arresting and transporting suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.

Requirements
Conditions of employment

    • Must be at least 21 years of age.
    • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
    • Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
    • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
    • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
    • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities visit .
    • Must possess and maintain a valid drivers license.
    • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
    • This position requires initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968 amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
    • Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business- related travel.
    • As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may 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 period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
    • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable) and are required to work nights weekends and holidays.
    • Physical Requirement- Position is subject to successful completion of multiple pre-employment physical efficiency battery assessments.
    • Medical requirement- Position is subject to successful completion of pre-employment medical examination.
    • Conditional Offer Suitability Assessment- This authorization for release of information is part of the E.O. 14074.
    • There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here; however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
    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 Managements 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.

    SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

    Physical Demands:
    Due to the physical and vigorous requirements of this position the incumbent must meet the established medical and physical standards/requirements set forth by USDA as its considered essential to perform the duties of this position The work requires a person with good physical health and stamina to work under pressure along with the ability to lift and carry heavy objects and have the physical agility and dexterity. Ability to operate specialized motorized equipment such as motorcycles all-terrain vehicles boats and snowmobiles may be required.

    Maximum Entry Age: This is a primary law enforcement position under the provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Applicants must be 37 years of age or under prior to their appointment date for entry into this position. Applicants who are age 37 or over may subtract any of their prior federal service that is in approved primary/rigorous positions and that is creditable for retirement from their current age to meet this age requirement. Applicants must provide proof of this creditable service prior to appointment. Applicants who are entitled to veterans preference or who are applying under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act are eligible to request a waiver to the maximum age instances where the maximum entry-age is waived the corresponding mandatory retirement age for these individuals will also be higher because it will be reached after 20 years of coverage under special retirement provisions for the entitlement to an immediate enhanced annuity.

    Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18 USC Section 1001).

    Firearms Requirement:The incumbent is required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position so they must meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlines in the Gun Control Act of 1968 amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. The incumbent must qualify semiannually with all weapons issued by the USDA and maintain proficiency.


    SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

    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.

    For the GL-05: You must have must have three years of progressively responsible experience one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level. General experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: 1. Performing routine administrative and field support tasks that required following established procedures such as reviewing basic regulations and policies to understand work requirements and assisting with simple assignments under close supervision. 2. Assisting higher-graded staff with basic investigative support duties including observing scenes helping gather straightforward facts and preparing draft notes or portions of reports while learning proper documentation practices. 3. Conducting basic research on regulations and directives to resolve routine questions and preparing draft notes or portions of reports seeking supervisory assistance when instructions were incomplete or situations were unfamiliar. 4. Engaging with the public to explain procedures and regulations gathered preliminary information from witnesses or complainants and coordinated with supervisors and partner agencies as directed to support mission objectives. 5. Participating in required training and applying learned procedures to assigned tasks and recognizing when guidance was needed and requested assistance appropriately when encountering unfamiliar work situations.

    OR Bachelors degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school leading to a Bachelors degree;

    OR appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. 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 GL-07: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: 1. Assisting in conducting misdemeanor investigations by helping secure crime scenes collecting basic physical and documentary evidence interviewing witnesses under guidance and drafting portions of investigative reports using established investigative methods. 2. Performing entry level patrol duties to prevent detect and report violations of Federal laws and regulations related to natural resources property employees and public use; issued warnings as directed and referred non routine or complex violations to higher graded officers. 3. Supporting enforcement operations-including search warrant execution arrests and prisoner transport-by completing assigned tasks such as custody documentation evidence handling support and maintaining scene control in compliance with Forest Service law enforcement policies. 4. Researching regulations directives and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to resolve routine questions and applied guidance to developmental assignments; sought supervisory input when encountering unfamiliar conditions or potentially sensitive resource protection issues. 5. Interacting with forest users witnesses and partner agencies by explaining rules and procedures collecting preliminary information and assisting with coordination during multi-agency operations and public safety activities.

    OR One full year of graduate level education;

    OR an appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience;

    OR Superior Academic Achievement (go to this site to determine if you are eligible: General Schedule Qualification Policies). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work. Please note that Superior Academic Achievement can only be applied if you have graduated or completed all the requirements for a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work.


    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 may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

    Additional information

    Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

    Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

    This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE AFGE or NAGE.

    Position(s) will be located at Forest Office within local commuting area of Yreka California or Challis Idaho. Final determination of the duty station will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer.

    Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. For more information refer to the
    Office of Personnel Management Salary and Wages web page.

    Grooming/Attire/Appearance Standards Federal grooming standards typically require employees in law enforcement uniformed services and public-facing roles to maintain a neat clean and professional appearance.


    PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However promotion is not guaranteed.

    RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE: The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at
    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.

    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:

    Unclear Seniority


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