2010 OUTREACH NOTICE
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Northwest Research Station, Anchorage Forestry Sciences Laboratory
Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program
This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of
these upcoming opportunities and to determine interest in these positions.
Lead QA/QC: Forester/Ecologist (GS-0460/0408-7/9), Permanent Full-Time
QA/QC: Forester/Ecologist (GS-0460/0408-7/9), Permanent seasonal (13/13)
Crew Leader: Forester/Ecologist (GS-0460/0408-5/7/9), Permanent seasonal
(13/13)
Crew Member: Forestry Tech (GS-0462-5/6), Permanent seasonal (13/13)
Crew Member: Forestry Tech (GS-0462-5/6), Temporary (up to 1039hrs)
The Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab anticipates hiring permanent,
permanent seasonal, and temporary (6 months maximum) positions to serve on
the data collection team in Alaska. These positions are with the Pacific
Northwest Research Station’s Alaska Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)
Program (http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fia). The Alaska FIA Program is part of
the Forest Service’s nationwide forest census and conducts forest
inventories and forest health monitoring on all forestlands, across all
ownership. FIA installs permanent research plots, and these are measured
every 10 years. A wide range of forestry variables are collected on all
plots, and a sub-sample receives additional forest health measurements,
including vegetation, lichens, soils, fuels, and crown measurements.
Alaska is divided into two units, Coastal and Interior. During the 2010
field season, all positions will be working within the Coastal Unit, with
inventory work conducted in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska from
Ketchikan to the Kenai Peninsula and with a special emphasis on the Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge. While in Alaska, field operations will be based
primarily aboard a research vessel, the Maritime Maid
(http://maritimehelicopters.com/boat.htm). Travel to and from field sites
is accomplished predominantly by helicopter flights, with occasional
skiff, float plane, or truck access. In future years, work may be divided
between Alaska’s Coastal and Interior units.
Positions with FIA in Alaska are adventurous, challenging, and rewarding.
The terrain traversed flying, hiking, and working can be immensely
spectacular, but it can also be very physically and mentally challenging.
Physical fitness and flexibility to changing situations are key qualities
for success.
The permanent seasonal positions are 13/13 (some possibly 18/8), meaning
that a minimum of 13 two-week pay periods of work per year (about six
months) are guaranteed. Additional work may be possible. The Alaska
season usually lasts 8 to 9 pay periods, so the guaranteed 13 pay periods
of work generally includes an assignment with FIA crews in California,
Oregon, or Washington. Temporary appointments last approximately 4-6
months (6 months not guaranteed) and may not exceed 1039 hours. The Lead
QA/QC position is full time, and the majority of duties --outside of the
Alaska field season-- will occur in the Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab
office.
Duties common to all positions: A majority of the duties will be devoted
to data collection operations of which, about four to five months will be
spent in the field. Crews of two to four people will collect field data
for inventory and forest health monitoring. Duties include photo
interpretation, locating inventory plots, and measuring various tree and
site information. Duties also include daily documentation, downloading,
and editing of field data. The Alaska field season lasts from May through
early or mid August. After a series of trainings in Anchorage, the field
season work schedule is 11 days in the field, with 8-12 hours per day, and
4 days off in Anchorage.
The Crew Leader and QA/QC positions have additional duties as noted:
Crew Leader: The Crew Leader position leads a crew of two to four people
collecting field data for annual inventory and forest health monitoring in
all parts of the state. Crew leaders share duties as helicopter managers
and will receive training leading to helicopter manager certification.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC): QAs perform all the duties of
crew leaders. Additionally, they are responsible for developing pre-season
procedural training, conducting a certification test for other
crewmembers, reviewing all field data for accuracy, and performing quality
control checks of field plots. Duties of the QA/QC staff require
meticulous attention to detail.
Lead Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC): The Lead QA/QC performs
all QA/QC duties and also assumes leadership of the QA program by: leading
preparations for upcoming field season, heading pre-season training
efforts, participating in various regional and national FIA development
teams, and maintaining expertise in all aspects of FIA programs.
Work Environment: Alaska provides a wide diversity of ecological
communities, which include coastal Sitka spruce and hemlock rain forests,
interior mixed spruce and birch boreal forests, and expansive black spruce
bogs. Extensive areas of alpine tundra, shrub land, high peaks, and
glaciers occupy the non-forest areas. Work conditions in these areas are
often arduous. Work may be performed in inclement weather (cold, rain,
snow), on steep, slippery, and/or brushy slopes, and in the presence of
biting insects. A significant amount of off-trail hiking is required.
Employees must carry a 45lb pack daily, with pack weights occasionally
exceeding 55lbs. Excellent physical conditioning is absolutely essential.
Alaska crews are required to travel in small aircrafts, helicopters, and
boats. Employees carry a firearm for bear protection and, consequentially,
are subject to a federal background investigations and pre-hire and random
drug testing. Living quarters on the research vessel are extremely
cramped, background noise (from generators) is constant, and motion
sickness is a problem for some employees. Although attempts are made to
honor special dietary requirements, all food is prepared by a contracted
cook.
Anchorage is nestled between the Chugach Mountains and the upper shores of
Cook Inlet in the heart of Alaska’s Southcentral Gulf Coast. It is central
to many recreational opportunities and offers many cultural activities
from a performing arts center to outdoor music festivals. With a diverse
population of about 300,000, Anchorage offers most of the amenities found
in much larger cities (Museum of History and Art, Performing Arts Center,
Native Heritage Center, shopping centers, and several large hospitals).
The city trail system offers ample recreation opportunities and a sense of
wilderness within the city. There are over 120 miles of groomed X-country
ski/hiking/biking trails (30 miles lighted), over 70 ball fields, 5 golf
courses, and numerous small parks and playgrounds.
If you are interested in any of these positions please contact one of the
individuals listed below. Be sure to indicate which positions interest
you. To apply for these positions, you must apply when vacancy
announcements are posted on www.usajobs.opm.gov. We hope to see the
vacancy announcements posted in late November or early December.
If you would like more information on positions at the Anchorage Forestry
Sciences Lab, please contact:
Brendt Mueller
Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab
3301 C St., Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 743-9408
Fax: (907) 743-9482
Email: [email protected]
or
Steve Trimble
Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab
3301 C. St., Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 743-9417
Fax: (907) 743-9482
Email: [email protected]
FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEES ON THE WORKFORCE REDUCTION AND PLACEMENT LIST
WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY CONSIDERATION AND CTAP/ICTAP CANDIDATES WILL RECEIVE
THE APPROPRIATE CONSIDERATION.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Thank you for your interest in this position
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status (not all prohibited bases apply
to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotapes,
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, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9401 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA
Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
