OUTREACH
Executive Assistant
GS-0301-9
Ochoco National Forest
Duty Station: Prineville, Oregon
The Ochoco National Forest is conducting an outreach to identify candidates for an exciting and rewarding challenge as a GS-301-9, Executive Assistant to the Forest Supervisor with a duty station of Prineville, OR.
THE POSITION:
This position offers a valuable career opportunity at the GS-9 level for a talented, energetic individual seeking a pivotal role on a complex forest which shares employees across administrative and agency boundaries. The Executive Assistant serves as the personal assistant to the Forest Supervisor, with responsibility for providing a variety of management, analytical, advisory and technical services to the Forest Supervisor and the National Forest Leadership Team across Central Oregon. Responsibilities include coordination of schedules for internal employees and externals; research related to a wide range of issues and topics; creation and management of correspondence; guidance on intra-office and external communication for the Forest Supervisor, and exclusive control of the Forest Supervisor’s appointments. The position is non-supervisory.
As an assistant to the combined National Forest Leadership Team of the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests, the Executive Assistant collaboratively develops plans which guide operational and business administration efforts for Central Oregon with multiple internal and external partners, which may include unit training, community and partner engagement, and employee inclusion and resiliency. The Executive Assistant is pivotal in fostering trust and strictly adheres to confidentiality with sensitive and/or controversial issues and information.
The Ochoco Forest Headquarters is co-located with the Lookout Mountain Ranger District and the Paulina Ranger District, with the Prineville District of BLM located next door. The Executive Assistant must be able to work effectively with shared staff and program managers in engineering, business administration, natural resources, law enforcement, safety, recreation, lands and fire.
PRINEVILLE, OREGON:
The City of Prineville is located 35 miles northeast of Bend and 30 miles southeast of Madras.
The major highway through town is US highway 26. The population is around 10,000 in the city with approximately 17,000 living in the surrounding area. There are numerous parks in and adjacent to town; a public library; full service medical and dental facilities; shopping centers; a country club, two golf courses and numerous denominations of churches.
AROUND THE AREA:
The Ochoco National Forest and the Crooked River National Grassland are located in the heart of Central Oregon. From the rolling hills and steep overlooks of the Crooked River to the forested mountains and high prairies of the Ochocos, there is much to see and explore. There are infinite opportunities in the area, from rock hounding and fly fishing, to cross-country skiing, hiking, and wilderness backpacking, to bicycle, horse and OHV riding. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is within two hours of Prineville to the east. The Crooked River National Grassland is within a 45 minute drive of Prineville, Mt. Bachelor Ski Area is within two hours, and the Wild and Scenic Crooked River is a 20 minute drive.
SCHOOLS:
The Crook County School System in Prineville consists of four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Central Oregon Community College (COCC) in Bend offers two-year programs as well as four-year degrees through Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. There are several private schools in town and there is also an active home-school program in both counties.
HEALTH CARE:
Prineville has one major hospital and two clinics.
HOUSING:
Rental apartments and houses are available. The approximate range for the monthly cost of rentals is $700-800 for a two bedroom, one bath unit and around $900 for a three bedroom unit in either duplexes or apartments. The monthly rental cost for a three bedroom single-family house runs $1,000 and up. Prineville is a rapidly growing community with many new subdivisions. The average price for a home in Prineville is $175,000 and on rural property $250,000 and up depending on the availability of water. Temporary bunkhouse space may be available.
Central Oregon is “High Desert” which means the climate is semi-arid and has four distinct seasons. Summer brings warm, sunny days with temperatures in the high 80’s to 90’s. There can be a few days in August where the temperature will reach the low 100’s. Fall is pleasant and mild with average high temperatures of 75 degrees, and nighttime lows sometimes dipping into the 20’s. Winter is relatively mild with the snowfall in the neighborhood of 8-10 inches, but it usually melts quickly. Temperatures are normally in the low to mid 20’s and 30’s. January can bring a week or two of sub-zero temperatures. Spring is usually sunny, but cool. The growing season is relatively short as the elevation of Redmond is 3,077, Bend is 3,623 and Prineville is 3,033 feet. Madras, with an elevation of 2,242 feet, enjoys a longer growing season. The average yearly precipitation in Central Oregon ranges from 8.64 to 12 inches.
More detailed information about Central Oregon may be obtained from the following websites:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon/
CONTACT: Interested candidates, or those desiring further information, should contact Stacey Forson, Forest Supervisor, at 541-416-6625 or slforson@fs.fed.us.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
Revised 6/8/2005
“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.”
OUTREACH INTEREST FORM
Executive Assistant
GS-0301-9
Ochoco National Forest
Duty Station: Prineville, Oregon
NAME:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
MAILING ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
GOVERNMENT AGENCY EMPLOYED WITH: USFS____ BLM____ OTHER:
TYPE OF CURRENT APPOINTMENT: PERMANENT TEMPORARY TERM OTHER
CURRENT AGENCY/REGION/FOREST/DISTRICT:
CURRENT SERIES AND GRADE:
CURRENT POSITION TITLE:
If not a current permanent (career or career conditional) employee, are you eligible to be hired under any of the following special authorities?
□ PERSON WITH DISABILITIES
□ VETERANS RECRUITMENT ACT
□ DISABLED VETERAN W/ 30% COMPENSABLE DISABILITY
□ VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 1998
□ FORMER PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER
□ PATHWAYS PROGRAM
□ OTHER:_________________________________
Completed outreach forms should be emailed to:
E-mailed to: slforson@fs.fed.us