1 Permanent Seasonal Position Outreach

BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN (PLANTS)

GS-0404-07 18/8

Duty Station – Trout Lake, WA

or

BOTANIST

GS-0430-07 18/8

Duty Station – Trout Lake, WA

MT ADAMS RANGER DISTRICT

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf

Reply Due: June 20th, 2014

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is conducting an outreach to identify candidates for an exciting and rewarding challenge as a member of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Botany Program.  This position has a guarantee of 18 pay periods of full time employment each year.   Additional work beyond the 18 guaranteed periods may be offered if a need and financial resources are available.  This position will have a duty station at Mt. Adams Ranger District located in Trout Lake, Washington.  The position has a strong field component, and will work primarily across the south zone of the forest.  The position requires a valid driver’s license, and ability to work independently in all kinds of weather and terrain.

This position serves as a Biological Technician/Botanist assisting the journey level Botanist assigned to the south “zone” of the forest (Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens Districts) with a variety of botanical duties in support of Forest activities, including data collection to support National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, conservation of Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) botanical species, maintenance of native plant material availability for restoration purposes, and coordination of a large invasive species control program. Major duties of the position include survey, identification, and data entry for TES plant species, invasive species, and native species for propagation; preparation of reports summarizing data and management recommendations; administration of projects, which may sometimes involve working as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or inspector for contracts, and coordinating volunteers; data summarization, analysis, and mapping; environmental education, training and awareness programs ensuring that employees, volunteers, partners and others can identify target plant species; and assigned phases of program administration, contract preparation, budgeting, etc.

We are seeking an individual who has:

• Professional knowledge of plant taxonomy in order to identify plants during field inventories and to confirm identification utilizing other resources.
• Knowledge of basic principles, concepts and methods of forestry and biological/ecological field work for the purpose of characterization of forest and ecosystem attributes.
• Knowledge of computer functions related to data input, retrieval, and routine analysis of data.
• Ability to perform recurring assignments independently in both the field and the office.
• Skill in technical writing and public speaking sufficient to complete written or verbal reports, information responses, and develop and present program recommendations.
• A safe and professional working attitude.
• The ability to create a work environment that respects, appreciates, and accepts the contributions and perspectives of all employees.
• Curiosity, and enthusiasm for the natural world.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is one of the oldest National Forests in the United States. Included as part of the Mt Rainier Forest Reserve in 1893, this area was set aside as the Columbia National Forest in 1908, and subsequently renamed the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 1949.  Located in southwest Washington State, the forest comprises about 1.4 million acres and includes the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982.  While Mt. Adams Ranger District is located in a rural setting, several of the larger metropolitan population areas in the Pacific Northwest access the forest for many types of recreational activities.  Portland-Vancouver and Wenatchee are located within a few hours’ drive of the district.

Candidates may learn about the Forest, our programs, and our opportunities by visiting its award-winning web site.  http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf

Community and Locale

The Mt. Adams District Office is located in Trout Lake, Washington, along Highway 141, an important recreation and access route through Washington’s central Cascade Mountains.  Trout Lake is a small community with a rural atmosphere that reflects the tremendous outdoor opportunities in the area.  Klickitat County is a rural setting, with a population of 18,000.

Many employees live in nearby towns, including White Salmon, Carson, and Stevenson, WA, as well as Hood River, Oregon.  The Trout Lake community, including outlying areas, has a population of approximately 500.  This is a setting that appeals to candidates who are seeking a lifestyle provided by a small rural community.  The town has a grocery, gas station, three restaurants, three churches, and a Buddhist temple.  Accommodations are provided by a motel, several bed and breakfasts, rental cabins, and two RV parks.  The Trout Lake School District provides K-12 education for about 150 students.  The high school program offers learning center facilities with access to college-level courses.  A community hospital is located in 23 miles away in White Salmon, where you can also find other essential services such as banks, drivers licensing, and utility offices.

http://www.mtadamschamber.com/

http://www.skamania.org/

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.