2010 OUTREACH NOTICE

PNW Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis Program

Anchorage Forestry Sciences Laboratory

September/October 2009

This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of these upcoming opportunities and to determine interest in these positions.

Working Title Series Grade Appointment Title Expected #

Lead QA/QC GS-0460/0408 7/9 Permanent Full-Time Forester/Ecologist 1

QA/QC GS-0460/0408 7/9 Permanent seasonal (13/13) Forester/Ecologist 1-2

Crew Leader GS-0460/0408 5/7/9 Permanent seasonal (13/13) Forester/Ecologist 2-4

Crew Member GS-0462 5, 6 Permanent seasonal (13/13) Forestry Tech 1-2

Crew Member GS-0462 5, 6 Temporary (1039 hr) Forestry Tech 3-6

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, 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 complete and submit the attached form. 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:

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, 14^th 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.

OUTREACH NOTICE FORM

Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis Program

Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab

I am interested in:

Position(s) Appointment type/Series/Grade: ___________________________________________

I am interested in this position and will check http://www.usajobs.opm.gov for the vacancy announcement, or I will call/email/fax the contact person.

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Name: __________________________________________________ Date: ________________

Address: __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Phone: _________________ E-Mail: ___________________

Are you currently a Federal employee: YES ____ NO ___

If Yes: Current title/series/grade/location: _________________________________________

Type of appointment you are currently under _______________________________________

(e.g., Career, Career-Conditional, Excepted-ANILCA, Excepted VRA, etc)

Briefly state why you are interested in this/these position/s:

ALASKA!! Openings - Anchorage Forestry Sciences Laboratory

Working Title Series Grade Appointment Title Expected #

Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis Program