Job Announcement
United States Forest Service – Olympic National Forest, Olympia, WA
Youth and Community Engagement Resource Assistant
Please Respond By August 1, 2020
Delivering Benefits to a Multicultural Public – Resource Assistant Program
The Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS) will be advertising a Youth and Community Engagement Resource Assistant (RA). This is a 34 week full-time work experience from approximately early-September 2020 to mid-May 2021. Created in 1984, and modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s, NYC is a non-profit job training and experiential education program for youth and young adults to learn and work in the field of natural resource management. NYC will recruit and hire the selected RA candidate providing personnel and Human Resources HR needs during the placement. www.nwyouthcorps.org
Position: Youth and Community Engagement Specialist
Interviews: Will occur as qualified applications are received
Target start date: September 1, 2020 (earlier start date is available to fit applicant schedules)
Duration: 34 weeks (approximately 8.5 months)
Status: Full time
Duty Location: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal Ranger District, Quilcene, Washington
Staff Area: Public Services
On the Olympic National Forest, the Public Services Staff Area coordinates: recreation, heritage, lands, minerals, special uses, youth engagement, conservation education, public involvement, partnerships, and volunteer and service programs.
Overview
The Olympic National Forest seeks a Youth and Community Engagement Resource Assistant to work in the Public Services Staff Area in Quilcene, Washington.
The Olympic National Forest covers over 632,000 acres on the Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of Washington State. The Forest is divided into two Ranger Districts with the Pacific Ranger District offices located in Forks and Quinault and covering the land on the west side of the Peninsula. The Hood Canal District Ranger District is located on the east side of the Peninsula, along Hood Canal, with the District Office in Quilcene.
The Olympic Peninsula is a unique geophysical providence surrounded on three sides by saltwater. U.S. Highway 101 is the main travel route paralleling the Pacific Coast on the west, Strait of Juan de Fuca on the north, and inland waters of Puget Sound on the east. This 6,500 square mile area is an association of complex, winding ridges, rugged and precipitous mountains, deep canyons, and tree covered slopes.
The Olympic Peninsula has an incredible variety of environments within short distances. Within less than 50 miles between Mt. Olympus and the Pacific Ocean, the vegetation changes from the lush, temperate rain forests of the Hoh, Queets, and Quinault Valleys to an arctic environment of lichens and mosses above 7,000 feet. Heaviest precipitation occurs in the fall, reaching a peak in December and then decreasing in spring. Winter snowfall on the Peninsula ranges from 10 inches in the lower valleys to greater than 250 inches in the higher mountains. Summers are relatively dry, with warmer temperatures averaging near 70 degrees.
Position Description
The Resource Assistant Program is a rigorous and immersive paid internship for individuals interested in Forest Service careers. Resource Assistants (RAs) work with Forest Service staff to complete mission-critical work that demonstrates leadership, critical thinking, and strategic communication. Through direct training, experience, and exposure, RAs gain the tools to launch their natural and cultural resource careers.
Through a partnership with Northwest Youth Corps, the selected applicant will play a key role in helping to develop and implement a strategic, inclusive, and sustainable youth and community engagement program on the Olympic National Forest in coordination with U.S. Forest Service personnel and key partners.
Duties include:
∙Leading conservation education events at sites throughout the forest and enhancing the visibility and awareness of public lands.
∙Designing and executing youth service-learning and community engagement strategies on the Olympic National Forest.
∙Supporting employment recruitment efforts for the U.S. Forest Service.
∙Providing critical coordination support for partners in organizing service-learning, volunteer, and conservation education events in communities and on the National Forest.
∙Implementing and coordinating community events with the U.S. Forest Service and partner organizations.
∙Work with partners to deliver culturally responsive and inclusive programming.
∙Lead community outreach and conservation education activities at schools and festivals.
∙Work with U.S. Forest Service personnel and partner organizations to evaluate project/event performance, participant feedback, and provide recommendations for improvements.
∙Work with potential partners and key U.S. Forest Service personnel to evaluate the opportunities and challenges to program implementation on the Olympic Peninsula.
∙Support social media promotion to attract partners and volunteers to become stewards of our National Forests.
∙Assist in program communications and social media to share program and event successes.
∙Work with U.S. Forest Service staff and partners to support employment recruitment efforts.
∙Managing multiple tasks and projects, often with limited supervision.
Requirements
∙Must be able to work during evenings and weekends in a community-based setting with some regularity and maintain a flexible schedule. This work is often done alone and occasionally is done with other Resource Assistants or permanent staff. Position is not eligible for overtime, but excess hours can be flexed within pay period. Excess hours are not encouraged.
∙Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle by the time of employment. Government vehicles are available for work-related travel but Resource Assistants are responsible for travel to and from duty station.
∙Successful completion of a background check.
∙Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents over 17 years old.
Program Benefits
∙NYC will provide RA a total stipend of $17,000 divided across an 8.5 month term
∙The RA will receive health care coverage (premium 100% covered by NYC) and workers compensation
∙The RA will be provided a travel, training, and relocation reimbursement fund of $2,750.
∙The RA will be provided a weekly housing and commuter fund of $217.25 ($7,386.50 total)
∙The RA will receive 57 hours of flexible paid leave.
∙RA will have Direct Hire Authority with the United States Forest Service upon completion of their 960 hours of service.
Additional Information
If you have questions about the Youth and Community Engagement Resource Assistant Internship, please reach Northwest Youth Corps Internship Program Officer Andrew Tagge at andrewt@nwyouthcorps.org or Olympic National Forest Public Service Staff Officer Nicole LaGioia at nicole.lagioia@usda.gov .
The Community
Quilcene is located on the northeast part of the Olympic Peninsula along the waters of Hood Canal, the westernmost arm of Puget Sound. Clams, oysters, and shrimp are harvested from area waters, and the Olympic Mountains to the west offer many opportunities for hiking, camping, and enjoying the National Forest and Olympic National Park. The Washington State Ferry System connects the Olympic Peninsula to the Seattle urban area where sports, arts, and entertainment associated with a major city may be found. The population of Quilcene is approximately 700. The city of Port Townsend, 30 miles north of Quilcene has a population of 9,000. The median price of a home in Jefferson County is $305,000 (2010). For more information on the area, check out the links from the Jefferson County homepage at www.co.jefferson.wa.us or the North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce website at www.emeraldtowns.com
Application Instructions:
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – Olympic NF Community Engagement Resource Assistant” when applying.