The Superior National Forest located in northeast Minnesota is seeking 
candidates to fill a number of temporary positions this summer.  These 
positions are located on the East Zone (EZ) Tofte and Grand Marais, and 
the West Zone (WZ) Aurora, Ely, and Cook.  If you are interested in one of 
the positions listed below, please contact the appropriate person listed 
with each position for additional information on how to apply.  

Forestry Technician (reforestation and stand exam) �C Applicant serves as a 
member of the district’s reforestation or inventory crew.  
Responsibilities include but are not limited to: assisting in contract 
administration, site preparation, and plantation improvement contracts; 
performing survival and stocking evaluation exams using a personal data 
recorder; and layout, etc.  Candidate may be required to work 
independently at various times of the summer.  The work week is typically 
Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, and can be physically 
demanding.  Contacts: WZ �C Chad Kirschbaum (218) 365-7574 
[email protected]. 

Series and Grade: GS-462-3 (Forestry Aid)       Vacancy Announcement: 
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Series and Grade: GS-462-4                      Vacancy Announcement: 
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Series and Grade: GS-462-5                      Vacancy Announcement: 
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Forestry Technician (sale preparation) - Applicant serves as a member of 
the district’s sale preparation crew.  Duties include:  marking trees in 
timber sale units, flagging or painting timber sale unit boundaries, using 
Global Positioning System (GPS) to record unit boundaries and other unit 
features.  The work week is typically Monday through Friday, 40 hours per 
week.  The work can be physically demanding.  Contacts: EZ -   Gene 
Dressely, 218-387-3249 or [email protected], WZ �C Leslie Escobedo, 218-
666-0026 or [email protected], Cari Johnson, 218-229-8807 or 
[email protected].

Series and Grade: GS-462-4              Vacancy Announcement: 
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Series and Grade: GS-462-5              Vacancy Announcement: 
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Forestry Technician (fire �C engine operator) �C Applicant serves as a 
member of the district’s fire crew.  Duties include: driving fire engines 
to wildland fire locations; using water, foam, or other specialized fire 
equipment to fight fires; performing many strenuous activities like 
constructing fire line, laying out hose to reach a fire, or mopping up 
after a fire; conducting operations safely.  Schedules can be quite 
variable and can include long work hours depending on the level of fire 
activity.  Contacts: EZ -   Vance Hazelton, 218-387-3251 or 
[email protected], Mike Mansson, 218-387-3226 or [email protected], or 
Cory Berg, 218-663-8610 or [email protected], WZ �C Steve Teeter, 218-365-
7568 or [email protected], or Jeb Backe, 218-365-7557 or [email protected]. 

Series and Grade: GS-462-3 (Foresty Aid)        Vacancy Announcement: 
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Series and Grade: GS-462-4                      Vacancy Announcement: 
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Series and Grade: GS-462-5                      Vacancy Announcement: OCRT-462-
5-ENGINE-DT

Forestry Technician (wilderness) �C Applicant is part of the district’s 
crew working in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).  Duties 
include:  routine maintenance of wilderness campsites involving tasks such 
as felling trees or digging latrines; trail maintenance; checking visitor 
permits; restoring campsites.  Work usually consists of 8 day trips and 10 
hour days.  The work is physically demanding, requiring employees to be 
able to live and work in remote settings.  Contacts: EZ - Jon Benson, 218-
663-8085 or [email protected], WZ - Steve Cochran, 218-365-7610 or 
[email protected]

Series and Grade: GS-462-4                      Vacancy Announcement: 
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Series and Grade: GS-462-5                      Vacancy Announcement: 
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Forestry Technician (recreation) �C Applicant works in the district 
recreation program.  Typical duties include:  trail maintenance activities 
such as clearing fallen trees or maintaining trail tread; campground 
maintenance activities; performing maintenance at boat landings such as 
installing signs or maintaining parking areas.  The work can be physically 
demanding, and usually consists of a 40 hour work week, Monday-Friday. 
Contacts: EZ Ann Schwaller 218-663-8083, WZ �C Tim Engrav 218-666-0025 or 
[email protected] and Carl Skustad, 218-365-7615 or [email protected].

Series and Grade: GS-462-4                      Vacancy Announcement: 
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Series and Grade: GS-462-5                      Vacancy Announcement: 
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Biological Science Technicians (Wildlife) �C Applicant primarily serves in 
the wildlife completing surveys and assisting in data gathering efforts.  
Applicant will also serve in reforestation completing and inspecting work 
in this area.  The work can be physically demanding and a typical work 
week is 40 hours a week.  Contacts:  WZ �C Susan Catton, 218-365-7572 or 
[email protected].

Series and Grade: GS-404-5              Vacancy Announcement: OCRT-404-5-WLDLF-
DT
 
Biological Science Technician (plants) �C Applicant serves as part of the 
Forest’s invasive plant treatment crew.  Duties include: herbicide 
application to invasive plant populations (using backpack sprayer or truck 
mounted sprayer), field surveys for invasive plants, collecting field data 
and entering it into spreadsheets and databases, using GPS units.  
Applicants need to have valid driver’s license. Work week is Monday-
Thursday, 40 hours/week.  Contact:  WZ - Jack Greenlee, 218-229-8817 or 
[email protected]

Series and Grade:  GS-404-4             Vacancy Announcement:  OCRT�\404�\
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Series and Grade:  GS-404-5             Vacancy Announcement:  OCRT�\404�\
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Biological Science Technician (wildlife or fisheries) �C Applicant serves 
on the Forest’s Fisheries and Monitoring crew.  Duties include: conducting 
Forest Plan implementation monitoring surveys, aquatic passage projects, 
stream surveys, riparian planting inspections, electro-shocking, etc.  
Applicants need to have a valid driver’s license.  The work can be 
physically demanding and usually consists of a 40 hour work week, Monday-
Friday.  Duty location is Ely, MN.  Please send resume to contact person 
to apply for position.  Contact:   Jason Butcher, 218-626-4307 or 
[email protected]. 

Information Receptionist - Responsibilities include issuing BWCAW permits, 
answering phones and general forest questions, general clerical duties.  
Schedules include weekends and holidays.  Contacts: EZ -   Renee Frahm, 
218-663-8064 or [email protected], WZ - Becca Manlove, 218-365-2093 or 
[email protected].

Series and Grade: GS-304-4              Vacancy Announcement: 
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Biological Science Technician (soils) �C Primary duties include soil 
monitoring on timber harvest sites and/or potential prescribed burn sites. 
This will include pre-field preparation, field data collection   and data 
entry.  Typical work week is Monday - Friday, 40 hours and can be 
strenuous and under a variety of weather conditions.  Applicants typically 
work as two-person crews but may work alone. A majority of the work would 
be in the field and may require travel and/or overnight travel. Knowledge 
of basic soil and soil management principles is desirable. Applicants need 
to possess a valid driver’s license.  Duty station is Ely, MN. Please send 
resume to contact to apply for position.  These positions are STEPs and 
will be filled as a GS-404-3 or GS-404-4 depending on education and 
experience.  Contact: Jim Barott, 218-365-2099 or [email protected]. 

How to Apply:
Eligible college students can be hired through the Student Temporary 
Employment Program (STEP).  A resume and official transcripts are 
required.  Contact person listed under each position for additional 
information. 

Or, apply on-line through Avue Digital Services at 
https:www.avuedigitalservices.com/usfs/applicant.html.  Vacancy 
Announcements are listed under each position by series and grade.  
Candidates can select from any of the following locations: 

West Zone (WZ) position locations - Aurora, MN; Cook, MN; Ely, MN
East Zone  (EZ)  position locations - Grand Marais, MN; Tofte, MN

Hourly wages for: GS-3 = $11.95; GS-4 = $ 13.41; GS-5 = $15.00 

Example of Minimum Qualification Requirements for GS-3, GS-4 and GS-5 
Forestry Technicians 

Grade 03: Qualifying experience for the GS-3 level includes six months 
general experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform 
the work of the position or that provided familiarity with the subject 
matter or processes of the occupation. 

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Experience requirements may be 
met by successful completion of one (1) academic year of post high school 
education which included at least 6 semester/9 quarter hours in any 
combination of courses such as range management or conservation, 
agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, 
mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences. 

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of 
successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the 
experience requirements.

Grade 04: Qualifying experience for the GS-04 level includes six months 
general experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform 
the work of the position or that provided familiarity with the subject 
matter or processes of the occupation AND six months specialized 
experience at the GS-03 level that is directly related to the line of work 
of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the 
particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the 
duties of the position. 

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Experience requirements may be 
met by successful completion of two (2) academic years of post high school 
education which included at least 12 semester/18 quarter hours in any 
combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant 
science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed 
management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and 
oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, 
or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is 
creditable. 

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of 
successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the 
experience requirements.

Grade 05:  Qualifying experiences includes one year of specialized 
experience equivalent to GS-4. Specialized experience is experience which 
is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled 
and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, 
skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. 

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Experience requirements may be 
met by successful completion of a four (4) year course of study leading to 
a bachelors' degree or the equivalent. Education must include at least 24 
semester/36 quarter hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, 
agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, 
wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources 
(except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, 
civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 
semester/9 quarter hours in mathematics is creditable. 

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of 
successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the 
experience requirements. 

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