Pre-Announcement Outreach Notice

GS-0430-7/9 –Botanist

MALHEUR NATIONAL FOREST

Supervisor’s Office, John Day, OR

and

Emigrant Creek Ranger District, Hines, OR

POSTED: Feb. 25, 2016

The Malheur National Forest may soon be hiring two permanent professional botanists. One position will be at the Supervisor’s office in John Day, OR, and the other position will be at the Emigrant Creek Ranger District in Hines, OR. This outreach notice is open to current Forest Service employees, other Federal and State employees, and the general public. The purpose of this outreach notice is to determine the potential applicant pool for these positions, and to establish the appropriate recruitment method and area of consideration. Responses received from this outreach notice will be used to make this determination.

If you are interested in these positions, respond to this outreach by March 17, 2016. The vacancy announcement will be forwarded to all who respond to this outreach.

Anyone interested in further information about these positions may contact Joseph H. Rausch, Malheur Forest Botanist, at 541-575-3141, 541-620-2715 (cell) or jhrausch@fs.fed.us.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To be referred for these positions, you must meet the qualification requirements for the GS-0430 BOTANIST series covered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions; as well as meet Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions. Information on these qualifications can be found on the internet at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/botany-series-0430/

and

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/

THE POSITIONS:

The botanists will assist in development and execution of the botany program on the Forest. The emphasis will be on ensuring that Forest Service policies and the National Environmental Policy Act are followed for rare and sensitive plants. The current sensitive species list for the Forest includes 88 species. There are no federally-listed plants on the Forest. Work will be both field and office oriented.

Duties: 

Participate on interdisciplinary (ID) teams to provide the documentation and coordination necessary for the effective management of rare and sensitive plants, lichens, and fungi. The ID team develops, analyzes, and implements forest health and fuels reduction projects, timber sales, range analysis and water developments, recreation and special uses, and habitat enhancement projects. Provide specialist input by collaborating with other team members to identify capabilities, limitations, sensitivity, and resilience of the ecosystem at multiple scales, and determining existing resource conditions. Develop integrated restoration practices, best management practices, and site specific mitigation aimed at meeting Land and Resource Management Plan standards and guidelines, maintaining or enhancing long-term site productivity, and containing and mitigating detrimental resource conditions.

Conduct and lead surveys for special status species and non-native invasive species. Assist in conducting vegetation inventories and population monitoring in compliance with selected protocols to contribute to baseline data for project environmental assessment and to botany program data. Incumbent may assist with collection and planting of native plant materials. Assist in training and coordinating field crews. Work may also involve assisting range staff with vegetation monitoring.

Maintain survey, element occurrence, and monitoring records in appropriate data bases using the Forest Service Natural Resources Manager program for data entry. Knowledge of ArcGIS is necessary.

Knowledge of Forest Service regulations and the NEPA process are desired. In addition to a strong technical proficiency, a key consideration is the ability to effectively engage with fellow ID team members, and the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external partners.

Prepares scientific information for environmental assessments and/or environmental impact statements. Will be responsible for writing biological evaluations. Monitors effects of Forest Plan implementation on plant communities and interprets trends where management emphasis changes, including fire and grazing programs.

Ideally the successful candidate will be familiar with the flora (including vascular plants, non-vascular plants, lichens, and fungi) of the Blue Mountain area (northeastern Oregon). They will need to be able to identify all plant species encountered, including difficult groups such as grasses, sedges, mosses, and willows.

Working Conditions:

The work involves both field and office work. Fieldwork will occupy much of the time from May through October, and occasionally will involve travel away from the duty station. Some office work is to be expected even in the field season.

Field work requires a considerable amount of physical activity, such as long periods of standing, cross-country walking over rough, uneven, or rocky terrain, and lifting and carrying moderately heavy items.  Exposure to extreme weather conditions, biting insects, black bears, and rattlesnakes may occur. Must be willing to work alone in remote areas, and must be able to obtain a Government driver’s license. Good navigation skills and ability to use Garmin and Juno GPS devices will be necessary.

Office work will include writing reports, data entry and management, and attending interdisciplinary team meetings. Participation in collaborative groups and public meeting processes may require attending night meetings.

ABOUT THE MALHEUR NATIONAL FOREST:

The Malheur National Forest is at the center of a nationally recognized effort that is doubling the scale of restoration in Eastern Oregon. If you are looking for an opportunity to do ground breaking nationally recognized work, we are certain you will find a refreshing approach to leadership in natural resource management.

The Malheur National Forest encompasses 1.7 million acres of wilderness, rangeland, and general forest in the majestic Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon.  It sustains a diversity of vegetation ranging from juniper-sagebrush woodlands and bunchgrass grasslands to high elevation alpine forests of sub-alpine fir and white bark pine.  Extensive tracts of ponderosa pine, western larch, Douglas-fir, grand fir, and lodge pole forests occur between the juniper/grassland foothills and alpine peaks.  Elevations range from 4000 feet to 9038 feet atop Strawberry Mountain.  The majority of the Forest lies in Grant and Harney counties, with portions in Baker, Crook, and Malheur counties.  U.S. Highway 395 bisects the Forest north-to-south, and U.S. Highway 26 from east-to-west.  The Forest has three Ranger Districts:  Blue Mountain and Prairie City to the north, and the Emigrant Creek Ranger District on the southern portion of the forest.

The Forest provides the headwaters of the Middle, Main, and South Forks of the John Day River system which provides habitat for wild runs of salmon and steelhead. The Forest has two Wildernesses and two Wild and Scenic Rivers as well as lands along a State Scenic Waterway.  The Forest has the second largest grazing program in Region 6 and is the home of incredibly rich archaeological resources.  The Forest has a high frequency of wildfires in a fire-dominated ecosystem, with a correspondingly large fire and aviation program that includes a rappel base and a single engine air tanker base.

For more information on the Malheur National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur/

THE DUTY STATIONS

FOREST SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE

The Forest Supervisor’s office currently houses forest staff and the Blue Mountain Ranger District. The person hired at the Forest Supervisor’s office will provide services to the Supervisor’s Office, the Blue Mountain Ranger District, and Prairie City Ranger District.

JOHN DAY AND NEARBY COMMUNITIES

The upper John Day River Valley is home to the majority of the 8000 residents of Grant County. John Day/Canyon City constitutes the primary population “center” (est. Population 2500) and county seat.  It is a full service community with a hospital, medical and dental offices, elementary, junior high and high school, restaurants, motels, bed and breakfasts, city swimming pool, and historical museums.  There is a county airport with a local flying club, fairgrounds, 4-H opportunities, soccer, baseball, and softball leagues. Prairie City is located 12 miles east of John Day and Mount Vernon is 8 miles west of John Day.

The area offers numerous outdoor recreational opportunities including hunting (elk, deer, upland birds), fishing, hiking, mountain biking/cycling, camping, beautiful scenery, and winter sports such as cross country and back country skiing or snowmobiling. It offers wide open, uncrowded spaces for those seeking peace and solitude.

The closest urban centers include Baker City, Oregon (1 ½ hours northeast); La Grande, Oregon (2 ½ hours northeast); Bend, Oregon (3 hours west); Boise, Idaho (3 hours east); and Pendleton, Oregon (3 hours north).

Housing is limited in the area. Rentals of small apartments and mobile homes range from $400-$600/month, with rental houses costing $600-$1,000/month. Houses to buy range from $75,000-$150,000 for a 1 or 2 bedroom home, up to $300,000+ for a large home with land.

The local weekly newspaper is the Blue Mountain Eagle. http://www.bluemountaineagle.com

More information on the area is available on the Grant County Economic Growth Council website:

http://www.grantcounty.com/

EMIGRANT CREEK RANGER DISTRICT

The Emigrant Creek Ranger District consists of a Ranger and Ranger District Management Assistants (RDMA).  The staff areas are: Administration, Rangeland Management, Vegetation Management/Fuels, Planning, Fire, Fish and Wildlife, and Heritage Resources. There are approximately 45 permanent employees on the district.

BURNS/HINES COMMUNITY

The District office is located in Hines, Oregon, on the south side of the Burns/Hines community.  Burns/Hines is considered the gateway to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (36 miles) and the Steen’s Mountains located south of town (50 miles).  The Strawberry Mountains Wilderness (50 miles) and Malheur National Forest are located north and west of town.

The approximate population of Burns/Hines is 5500.  As the service center for Harney County, an area roughly the size of the State of Massachusetts, Burns/Hines is a full-service community.  There are two large grocery stores, hardware and ranch supply stores, clothing stores, a variety of restaurants and large motels, two drug stores, several fitness centers, bed and breakfasts, two lumber yards, a number of service stations, as well as many other services and stores.  The closest urban centers include Bend, Oregon (2 hours west), Ontario, Oregon (2 hours east), and Boise, Idaho (3.5 hours east).

There is a full set of schools, from kindergarten through high school.  Extension campuses for both Treasure Valley Community College and Eastern Oregon University are located in the community.

A state of the art hospital, medical, dental, and optical clinics are located in Burns.  There are three nursing homes and/or assisted care living facilities.  Health programs include home health, hospice, public health, mental health, as well as specialized services such as orthopedic and fracture clinics, orthodontic services, and physical therapy.

Harney County has about 7600 residents, with Burns as the county seat.  There are a number of other federal and state agencies in the community including Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Police, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Dept of Transportation, Employment, Family Services, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Station.  The base economy is about evenly split between ranching, light manufacturing, and government.

Located at an elevation of 4142 feet, Burns/Hines is located at the transition between the shrub-steppe ecosystem of the High Desert and the ponderosa pine forest.  Summers are warm (80-90’s), with low humidity, and cool summer nights.  Winter days are cool (temps in 10-20’s), with little snowfall.  Average snow depth in the valley is 1 foot or less; 3 feet or more in the mountains.  Days are typically sunny in both winter and summer.

The area offers numerous outdoor recreational opportunities including hunting (elk, deer, antelope, upland birds, waterfowl), fishing, horse riding, birding (especially during Spring migration), hiking, mountain biking/cycling, rock hounding, camping, dramatic scenery, history, and winter sports such as cross country and back country skiing or snowmobiling.  It offers wide open spaces for those seeking peace and solitude.  Deer and quail are common residents in most neighborhoods within the community.  Managed wild horse herds are still found throughout the Harney Basin.

Housing is limited in the area. Rentals of small apartments and mobile homes range from $400-$600/month, with rental houses costing $600-$1,000/month. Houses to buy range from $75,000-$150,000 for a 1 or 2 bedroom home, up to $300,000 for a large home with land.

The local weekly paper is the Burns Times Herald   http://www.burnstimesherald.info/

More information is available on the Harney County Chamber of Commerce website:

http://www.harneycounty.com/

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.”

CURRENT STATUS:

Thank you for your interest in our Vacancy!

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