Region:  The Southwestern Region consists of approximately 2,000 permanent and 1,500 temporary employees in 11 National Forests and 4 National Grasslands in New Mexico, Arizona, and the panhandle area of Texas and Oklahoma.  The Southwestern US is one of the most diverse and rapidly growing regions of the country.  In 1997, New Mexico became the first state in the continental US in which “minority groups” collectively represent over 50 percent of the state’s population.  This “minority-majority” demographic situation is an indication of the complexity, diversity and opportunities that the Southwestern Region faces as it carries out its mission of “caring for the land and serving the people.”  The Region’s programs represent the full complexity of resource management in the Forest Service with an emphasis on customer service and contributing to the Southwestern quality of life.   Recreation, Urban-Wildland Interface and forest restoration are some of the focus areas of the Region.

Location:  Tucson is the seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States, located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. As of July 1, 2006, a Census Bureau estimate puts the city’s population at 518,956, with a metropolitan area population at 946,362. In 2005, Tucson ranked as the 32rd largest city and 52nd largest metropolitan area in the U.S. It is the largest city in southern Arizona and the second largest in the state.   The city’s elevation is 2,389 ft above sea level. Tucson is located in the Sonoran desert, surrounded by five minor ranges of mountains: the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tortolita Mountains to the north, the Santa Rita Mountains to the south, the Rincon Mountains to the east, and the Tucson Mountains to the west. The high point of the Santa Catalina Mountains is 9,157-foot Mount Lemmon, the southernmost ski destination in the continental U.S., while the Tucson Mountains include 4,687-foot Wasson Peak.

Demographics: The racial makeup of the city is 70.15% white, 4.33% black or African-American, 2.27% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 16.85% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more races. 35.72% of the populations were Hispanic. The Native American inhabitants in the area include primarily Tohono O’odham (formerly called the Papago), living in the city, on the nearby San Xavier reservation, and in the Tohono O’odham Nation, who may be descendants of the prehistoric inhabitants, as well as 6,800 Yaqui, living in the city (largely in the Old Pascua and Barrio Libre neighborhoods), on the nearby Pascua Yaqui reservation, and in the Yoem Pueblo in the town of Marana.

Recreational Opportunities:  The city is home to more than 120 parks, including Reid Park Zoo. There are five public golf courses located throughout the area. Several scenic parks and points of interest are also located nearby, including the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and Biosphere 2 (just north of the city, in the town of Oracle).

Mt. Lemmon, 25 miles north (by road) and over 6,700 feet above Tucson, is located in the Coronado National Forest. Outdoor activities in the summer include hiking, birding, rock climbing, picnicking, camping, sky rides at Ski Valley, fishing and touring. In the winter, skiing and/or sledding is sometimes available at the southern most ski resort in the continental U.S. Summerhaven, a community near the top of Mt. Lemmon, is also a popular destination.

Tucson is a popular winter haven for cyclists, and is one of only eight cities in the U.S. to receive a gold rating or higher for cycling friendliness from the League of American Bicyclists. Both road and mountain biking are popular in and around Tucson with popular trail areas including Starr Pass and Fantasy Island. Maps can be found online for both road and mountain bikers. Tucson is the home to the Tour de Tucson, a famous cycling event held annually in November.

Performing Arts: Theater groups include the Arizona Theatre Company, which performs in the Temple of Music and Art, a mirror image of the Pasadena Playhouse; the Invisible Theatre; Live Theatre Workshop; Beowulf Alley; and the Gaslight Theatre, which performs melodramas. Additionally, many bands perform at the numerous local clubs.  Musical groups include the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1929, the Arizona Opera Company, founded as the Tucson Opera Company in 1971, the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, founded in 1939, Tucson Girls Chorus, Catalina Chamber Orchestra, Southern Arizona Symphony and Civic Orchestra of Tucson.

Mariachi music is popular and influential in Tucson, and the city is home to a large number of Mariachi musicians and singers. Mariachi is celebrated annually at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference.  Among other things, there is a vibrant underground ska, metal, and punk rock, scene in Tucson.

Tucson is also home to a small but committed independent music scene, nearly all of which is concentrated in the city’s downtown area. The Bled, Golden Boots, The Supersuckers, Calexico, and Giant Sand are among the many bands based in Tucson. Local performers also receive some airplay (and occasionally play live) on the community radio station KXCI. The Tucson Area Music Awards, or TAMMIES, are an annual event.

Climate:  Tucson has two major seasons, summer and winter. Summer is characterized by low humidity, clear skies, and daytime high temperatures that exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The average overnight temperature ranges between 68 °F and 85 °F.  The monsoon can begin any time from mid-June to late July, with an average start date around July 3. It typically continues through August and sometimes into September.  The evening sky at this time of year is often pierced with dramatic lightning strikes.  Winters in Tucson are mild relative to other parts of the United States. Daytime highs in the winter range between 64 °F and 75 °F, with overnight lows between 30 °F and 44 °F.  Although rare, snow has been known to fall in Tucson, usually a light dusting that melts within a day.

Schools:  Tucson is served by eleven school districts which offer many programs for students with special needs.  There are, additionally, a large number of publicly funded charter schools available, many of which have specialized curriculums.  The University of Arizona was established in 1885.  It is the second largest university in the state in terms of enrollment with over 37,000+ students. Pima Community College has six campuses with the University of Phoenix having four campuses.  Prescott College and Northern Arizona University each have a branch campus.

Economy: Much of Tucson’s economic development has been centered on the development of the University of Arizona, which is currently the second largest employer in the city. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, located on the southeastern edge of the city, also provides many jobs for Tucson residents. Its presence, as well as the presence of a US Army Intelligence Center (Fort Huachuca, the largest employer in the region in nearby Sierra Vista), has led to the development of a significant number of high-tech industries, including government contractors, in the area. Today, there are more than 1,200 businesses employing over 50,000 people in the high-tech industries of Southern Arizona.

The City of Tucson, Pima County, the State of Arizona and the private sector have all made commitments to create a growing, healthy economy with high-tech industries as its foundation. Advanced technology companies like Raytheon Missile Systems, Texas Instruments, IBM, Intuit Inc., Universal Avionics, Misys Healthcare Systems, Sanofi-Aventis, Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., and Bombardier all have a significant presence in Tucson. Roughly 150 Tucson companies are in the optics industry, earning Tucson the nickname “Optics Valley”.

Tourism is another major industry in Tucson, which has many resorts, hotels, and attractions. A significant economic force is middle-class and upper-class Sonorans, who travel from Mexico to Tucson to purchase goods that, are not readily available in their country. In addition to vacationers, a significant number of winter residents, or “snowbirds”, are attracted by Tucson’s mild winters and contribute to the local economy. Snowbirds often purchase second homes in Tucson and nearby areas, contributing significantly to the property tax base. Other snowbirds and “perpetual travelers” can be seen in large numbers arriving in autumn in large RVs towing small cars.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT:

The vacancy announcement for this position will be posted on USAJOBS at http://www.usajobs.gov/.  Applicants should apply through USAJOBS.

OUTREACH RESPONSE:

Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, should contact the following and return the Outreach Notice Response Form:

Estella Smith

(602) 225-5298                                    

emsmith@fs.fed.us

OUTREACH INTEREST FORM

US Forest Service, Southwestern Region

Regional Office: EAP/WSA Staff

Biological Technician (Plants) GS-0404-05 Term Position

Tucson, AZ

 

Please respond to Estella Smith; emsmith@fs.fed.us

Title of Position:

Biological Technician (Plants)

Pay Plan, Series, Grade:

GS-0404-05

Response Information:

Date:

Name:

Address:

E-mail Address:

Phone:

Are you currently a Federal employee?

Yes

No

If yes:                                        Agency:

Location:

Current Position, Series and Grade:

Status (Permanent or Temporary):

If you are not a current permanent (career or career conditional) employee are you eligible for appointment under any of the following special authorities:

Person with Disabilities:

Veterans Readjustment:

Former Peace Corps Volunteer:

Disabled veteran w/30% Compensable Disability:

Student Career Experience Program:

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1988:

Other:

Describe skill level and interest: