The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will soon be advertising to fill a GS-408-11 Ecologist position. The position is permanent, full time located at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Wenatchee, WA.

Reply by October 15th , 2019

About the Position

This position reports to the Deputy Fire Staff-Fuels and is responsible for forest restoration planning, and working closely with the districts and other programs in support of the Forest’s Restoration Strategy.

The incumbent will work in the office and the field to conduct and implement landscape level evaluations that support the planning and implementation of management activities in order to achieve the objectives of multi-resource restoration activities. These analyses will include remotely sensed data (stereo-photography, Lidar), national datasets (Landfire) and field data (stand exams, field visits). Specific duties may include:

  • Photo-interpretation of forest patches and fuels conditions
  • Modeling of fire, insect, disease, and other landscape processes
  • Data management and data analysis
  • Written and oral reporting
  • Field reconnaissance and data collection
  • Collaboration with multiple discipline leads, collaborators, and partners
  • Monitoring of various indicators of ecosystem health, including fire effects, and treatment effectiveness
  • Supervising field technicians

See PD# FS2397 for more information about the position.

 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS:

 

Tour of duty may include weekends, overtime and irregular hours.

Housing is not provided.

 

The Forest:  The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest covers approximately 4 million acres.  The Okanogan is called the “Sunny Okanogan” and for good reason.  Summers are hot and dry, and winters are famous for brilliant clear skies and plenty of snow.  The 1,706,000-acre Okanogan portion of the forest has two distinct sides, east and west, referred to as the Methow and Okanogan valleys.  Each area is a destination in itself and together they offer days and days of things to do and see. The Okanogan portion of the forest includes the Pasayten and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wildernesses.

 

The 2.2 million acre Wenatchee portion of the forest extends about 135 miles along the east side of the Cascade crest from Lake Chelan in the north to the Yakama Indian Reservation in the south.  Vegetation varies from grasslands and sage brush to beautiful Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir with alpine fir in the higher elevations. Nearly 40% of the Wenatchee’s forest land in designated as wilderness area including:   The Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, Glacier Peak, Henry M. Jackson, Alpine Lakes, William O. Douglas, Norse Peak and the Goat Rocks.

 

Recreation:  Recreational opportunities abound in the area.  If you are a skier, there are three major ski areas within 60 minutes of Wenatchee as well as several small local ski areas.  There are various cross country ski trails and opportunities for heli-skiing.  The forest’s trail and road systems allow for snowmobiling, horse back riding, mountain biking, trailbike riding and snowshoeing.  Wildlife habitat provides a wide array of hunting opportunities from elk, deer and bear to pheasant, chukkar and grouse.  Streams, ponds, rivers and lakes harbor several varieties of trout and furnish water sport enthusiasts a fanfare of ventures.  Whether it’s scenic vistas, para-gliding, rock climbing, kyacking or camping activities you enjoy, the Okanogan-Wenatchee provides abundant opportunities.

 

The Community:  The Wenatchee Valley is nestled on the shores of the mighty Columbia River. It is located in Central Washington just 100 miles southeast of Seattle and 165 miles west of Spokane. The Greater Wenatchee Area has  approximately 48,000 residents who enjoy living in a region with four distinct seasons.  Housing cost and other local information can be found at http://www.city-data.com/city/Wenatchee-Washington.html , http://www.wenatcheewa.gov/ , http://east-wenatchee.com/ . The schools, services, museums, health and athletic clubs, hospitals and airports are only part of what makes Wenatchee one of the most desirable places to live, work and play.

 

Education:  The community’s higher education needs are met by Wenatchee Valley College, a comprehensive community college featuring two-year degree programs and transfer programs in conjunction with state four-year institutions including Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University and Washington State University. The Wenatchee and Eastmont school districts serve 9,000 students in 11 elementary schools, two special education schools, four middle and junior high schools, an alternative high school, and two senior high schools, one AAA and one AAAA.  In addition to public education, three private religious schools, a Head Start program, and numerous pre-schools and kindergartens serve the area.  All the school districts in Wenatchee are proud to offer students ample opportunity for academic and athletic excellence.

 

Health Care: Established in July, 2013, Confluence Health is an affiliation between Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and Central Washington Hospital. With over 350 physicians and mid-level practitioners, Confluence Health provides primary care to area residents and also draws patients from throughout the region for specialty care.   Over 60 dentists, hygienists, orthodontists, and dental laboratories serve the Wenatchee area. Wenatchee also has a life flight helicopter stationed at Central Washington Hospital and Executive Flight possesses three jet air ambulances stationed at Pangborn Airport in East Wenatchee.

 

 

“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.”

 

The purpose of this outreach notice is to inform prospective applicants of this opportunity and to determine interest in the position.

 

“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.”

 

If you are interested in the position, please fill out the attached response form and email it to Matt Castle at:  matthew.castle@usda.gov

If you submit a response, you will be notified when the single vacancy announcement is advertised.

 

 

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is an equal opportunity employer.

 

Thank you for your interest in our vacancy!

Outreach form linked here: Forest Ecologist Outreach