Forester

**Duties**:

- Provides technical assistance to staff for conducting resource assessments and the development of conservation planning alternatives on woodlands, utilizing guidance in applicable NRCS handbooks and the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG).
- Monitors programs and policies of Federal and state agencies on forestland use and management, including applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations to inform supervisor of potential conflicts or opportunities for collaboration.
- Conducts resource inventories, obtains planning information, identifies conservation opportunities, and assists in developing conservation plans and contracts consistent with land use needs and NRCS policy.
- Utilizes NRCS computer tools such as ArcGIS, and Progress Reporting System to document plans and their implementation.
- Contacts natural resource agencies (State Department of Natural Resources, forestry contractors, consultants, conservation districts, etc.) to formulate conservation plans related to woodland planning and installation of forestry related practices.

**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:

- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. If selected you will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Direct Deposit-Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.

**Qualifications**:
**Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.**

**Basic Education Requirement**:

- _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 one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered**:
**Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-09 grade level**: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include:
**Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience **for the GS-09 grade level: 2 year(s) of progressively higher-level _graduate education _leading to a master's degree _or_ master's or equivalent graduate degree; **_OR_**

**Combination of Education and Experience**: A combination of _graduate-level education and experience_, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy.
- **Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-11 grade level**: You must possess at least one year of specialized experienc