Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Forester (Silviculture)
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
24-R1GV-12242288-G-DC Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, December 14, 2023 to Tuesday, December 26, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. Your answers will be used to determine your eligibility to apply to this job opportunity announcement. You will be considered under the eligibility option(s) to which you answer YES. Select YES to all eligibility options for which you want to be considered. If you respond NO to meeting the criteria for all the eligibilities, you will not be considered for the position(s) under this announcement.

NOTE: You must submit the required supporting documentation to receive consideration for EACH selected eligibility. Failure to provide the required documents will result in an ineligible rating and your application will be excluded from consideration.
(limit characters)
2.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
(limit characters)
3. Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee? (limit characters)
4. Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment? (limit characters)
5. Are you a Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment AND you have held or currently hold a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised? (limit characters)
6.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

 For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
(limit characters)
7.
Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) who is claiming eligibility under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act and: 

• was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,

• served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a single break in service of two or more years; and,
• performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; and,

• if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and whose most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance.
  
Note: 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 LWOP) 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.
(limit characters)
8. Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below: 

• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating? 
OR 
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
(limit characters)
9.
Are you:

• a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• eligible for veterans' preference?

Note: If you are currently on active duty you may be considered under the two provisions above provided you submit  a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. (limit characters)
2. Are you a current or former Political appointee, Presidential appointee, and/or non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointee? (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Forester (Silviculture) GS-0460-09 position with the USDA Forest Service. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information described below, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected. Your responses are subject to verification. (limit characters)
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and experience needed to qualify for this position. Your responses to the Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience questions, as well as the other questions in the questionnaire, in conjunction with the information provided in your completed application, will be evaluated to determine your qualifications for this position. Read all responses before making your selection. If you do not meet basic requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If your transcripts do not show the specific course work information described below, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. You may need to submit transcripts for multiple degrees earned or schools attended. (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected). THE RESUME OR APPLICATION MATERIALS YOU SUBMIT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SUPPORT THE ANSWERS YOU CLAIM UNDER THIS AND OTHER QUESTIONS. (limit characters)
This section will be used to determine if you meet the Specialized Experience and/or Education Requirements to qualify for this position. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT(S) ARE REQUIRED FOR ANY QUALIFICATIONS BASED ON EDUCATION. PROVIDE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS AS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL COURSEWORK. (limit characters)
1. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the Basic Requirements for 0460 Forestry series. Please select only one response.
(limit characters)
2. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the Basic Requirements for the Forester, GS-0460-09 position. Please select only one response.
(limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
3. The position requires the incumbent possess a current and valid State driver's license. If selected for this position, you will be asked to provide a copy of your driver's license prior to entering on duty. I certify that I possess a current and valid State driver's license (limit characters)
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. Responsible for the development, planning, and application of silvicultural methods and practices for the assigned unit.
(limit characters)
5. Make recommendations to the timber management assistant (TMA) about techniques, policies, and procedures to increase the effectiveness or improve the quality of treatments.
(limit characters)
6. Participate in timber sale unit layout and sale administration to ensure that silvicultural management objectives are maintained.
(limit characters)
7. Conduct examinations of timber compartments and stands on the unit to recommend basic land management decisions.
(limit characters)
8. Make plantation and natural regeneration survival examinations to determine that results meet accepted standards.
(limit characters)
9. Review and recommend plans, sale design, layout, and marking in accordance with approved silvicultural prescription and environmental assessment reports for the timber harvest program
(limit characters)
10. Implement plans and participates in the collection of genetic material (cones and scion) from selected trees.
(limit characters)
11. Compile reports on work accomplishments for assigned areas of responsibility.
(limit characters)
12. Coordinate checks and inspections to determine the effectiveness of culture treatments.
(limit characters)
13. Administer or supervise the administration of timber stand improvement contracts.
(limit characters)
14. Participate in the preparation of financial and work plans for assigned programs by estimating, combining, and coordinating project plans into an annual unit work plan.
(limit characters)
15. Make silviculture prescriptions and action plans for timber stand improvement (TSI) and reforestation work necessary to attain timber management objectives using aerial photographs and on-the-ground observation and measurements.
(limit characters)
16. Prepare or participates in the environmental analysis of projects and may draft environmental documents for projects.
(limit characters)
17. Prepare multiple-use compartment prescriptions and environmental assessment reports based on field examination.
(limit characters)
18. I certify that I have read the announcement and have attached all supporting documents as required in the "Required Documents" section of the vacancy announcement. I understand that failure to submit all required legible documents prior to the closing date of the announcement may result in loss of consideration.
(limit characters)
19. I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by me with my application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that I have truthfully and accurately represented my work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). I understand that the information provided may be investigated. I understand that misrepresenting my experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in or with my application may be grounds for not hiring me or for terminating me after I begin work. I also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
(limit characters)