Forest Management Technician (GNA Crew Member) (Technologists & Technicians)

Seasonal

  State of Oregon

  Salem, Oregon, United States

The Oregon Department of Forestry is currently hiring four (4) seasonal positions located in John DayThese positions will generally work a 7 to 8 month season (March to November) depending on weather conditions.  This recruitment will be used to fill these Forest Management Technician positions and may be used to fill other Forest Management Technician positions as they occur in the Central Oregon District.  For questions regarding these positions, please call Ryan Miller, John Day Unit Forester, at (541) 575-1139.

UNDERFILL OPTION: The goal of this recruitment is to fill positions at the Forest Management Technician level, however, we encourage candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for Laborer/Student Worker level to apply.  If we are unable to fill the positions at the higher level we will consider underfilling them at the Laborer/Student Worker level until the selected candidate meets the minimum qualifications for the Forest Management Technician level up to two years.  Minimum qualifications for both the Forest Management Technician and Laborer/Student Worker are located in the Qualifications & Desired Attributes Section of this announcement.

These seasonal positions are represented by Service Employees International Union.

The Oregon Department of Forestry's (ODF) Mission is – To serve the people of Oregon through the protection, management, and promotion of a healthy forest environment, which will enhance Oregon's livability and economy for today and tomorrow. ODF is a multi-programmed, multi-funded public agency chartered and structured to administer the forest laws and policies of the State of Oregon, within the framework of sustainable forests, for the benefit of all Oregonians.

These positions reside in the Department's Federal Forest Restoration Program in the Central Oregon District. The purpose of the Federal Forest Restoration program is to increase the pace, scale, and quality of restoration on federal land.

The purpose of these positions are to perform a wide variety of manual tasks in the areas of fuels reduction and timber stand improvements through thinning, piling and burning of fuels. These positions are supervised by the John Day Unit Forester and will function as a team member of a five person crew lead by an NRS1 Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) position also located in the John Day Unit. This crew will work to achieve the goals and objectives given to them by the Unit Forester. The primary function of these positions are to accomplish additive work on USFS National Forest projects. As a cooperatively funded position with the Malheur National Forest, the GNA Crew will assist the Malheur National Forest in accomplishing their management goals including but not limited to timber sale planning, pre-commercial thinning, piling, prescribed burning, both piles and broadcast, and brushing roads.  In addition, these positions will perform fire suppression duties as needed.  The incumbents in these positions are expected to have or be able to acquire FFT2 or higher ICS fire qualification(s) upon hire and be able to perform firefighting duties as needed.

The Oregon Department of Forestry: Serving Oregonians by protecting Oregon's forests.

 

Duties & Responsibilities

 

Major duties include but are not limited to:

Timber Stand Improvement: 

  • As Crew Members these positions work as a part of a crew in selecting, cutting, bucking, limbing, pruning, stacking and burning in an effort to improve forest stand health and vigor, while reducing the fuel loading within the thinning units.  Crew members will be required to use a chain saw, pruning saws, and various hand tools including duties of driving agency vehicles. These positions will assist with timber sale preparation activities such as marking, delineation, operation of GPS units to locate sale boundaries, and other activities as needed.  


Slash Burning: 

  • As Crew Members, these positions assist to eliminate all slash on the units through the use of burning either piles or broadcast burning.  These positions will be required to utilize drip torches and be able to mix and apply proper slash fuel and fire to the units to reduce the amount of forest fuels.


Suppression:

  • These positions perform wildland fighting activities by serving as member on a hand crew. Constructs fire line using hand tools by scraping, digging and chopping or burning out to remove flammable materials. Performs mop up duties by scraping, digging, chopping and applying water to remove heat. Assists in the operation and monitoring of vehicle mounted pumps. May collect weather observations as assigned. 


Because the Department's highest priority work is a forest fire emergency, this position will be utilized during those emergencies to provide assistance in a variety of ways.  That assistance may be directly aiding the emergency effort in the field or at the Salem headquarters.  It also may be in providing backup to fill in for another position that is being used in direct aid to the emergency, or it may be in performing an essential function in some capacity either within this Program or elsewhere in Salem or in the field.

WORKING CONDITIONS

May serves as a daily driver for the crew vehicle.  As a driver will be required to drive vehicles obeying all traffic laws and drives on steep narrow forest roads. Required to work various shifts including holidays, nights, weekends, and long hours on short notice.  Assignments to emergency incidents may require employee to be away from duty station for up to 21 days.  Expected to work under adverse conditions such as noise, smoke, heat, rough terrain, dust, inclement weather and exposure to poison oak, bees and poisonous snakes/insects.  Requires occasional exposure to heavy equipment operations, aircraft, hazards of burning and/or falling material, and chemical and biological pesticides.

 

Qualifications, Required & Requested Skills

 

Minimum Qualifications

FOREST MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN

  • Eighteen months of experience working in the field of Forestry or Forest ManagementOR
  • Associate Degree in Forestry, Forest Engineering, Forest Recreation, or a related natural resource field of study; OR
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience.


UNDERFILL OPTION - LABORER/STUDENT WORKER ($2,200 - $2,996 monthly)

  • Must be 18 years of age at time of hire.


NOTE: Transcripts are required to be attached to your application if you are using education or coursework to meet the minimum qualifications. Transcripts must clearly show 1) your name; 2) the name and address of the institution; 3) the degree received and; 4) required courses completed with a passing grade. For application purposes, unofficial copies are acceptable; however official or original documents may be requested to validate education. Transcripts must be attached to your application and WILL NOT be accepted as verification of education after the announcement has closed.

NOTE: This position requires the operation of a State vehicle for the purpose of conducting official State business. An Oregon driving record check will be conducted on the top applicants to ensure a valid license and acceptable driving record.  If your license is from outside Oregon, you must submit at least a three year court/DMV printout at the time of interview.

An unacceptable driving record includes:

  • Conviction of a major traffic offense within the previous 24 months which includes reckless driving, driving under the influence, failing to perform the duties of a driver, criminal driving while suspended or revoked, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, felony hit and run, etc.;
  • Felony revocation of driving privileges or felony or misdemeanor license suspension within the previous 24 months;
  • More than 3 moving traffic violations in the previous 12 months;
  • A careless driving conviction in the previous 12 months;
  • A Class A moving traffic violation in the previous 12 months.


DESIRED ATTRIBUTES:

  • Experience with reading and interpreting aerial photos and USFS/ODF fire maps.
  • Knowledge and experience with timber cruising and basic forestry related skills (use of clinometer and GPS.)
  • Qualified as Firefighter (FFT2).
  • Proficient with a chainsaw.
  • Successful completion of S-212.
  • Experience driving on improved and unimproved forest roads.

 

Additional Information

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

To improve communication with all applicants the State of Oregon requires an e-mail address be provided on all applications.  If you do not currently have an e-mail address and do not know where to go to get one, please refer to our Applicant Frequently Asked Questions web page to view several links to internet providers where you can get a free e-mail account. The State of Oregon does not endorse any particular provider.

To ensure clear communication, please unfilter emails from neogov.com and governmentjobs.com.

Please note: The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement.  Pay and benefits on all job announcements may change without further notice.

If you require an alternate format in order to complete the employment process, you may call ODF Human Resources at 503-945-7200.

Only complete applications will be considered. Your answers to the supplemental questions must be reflected in the work experience section of your application. Be sure to answer all supplemental questions and attach all required documents. Responses to the supplemental questions will determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, any special qualifications and/or desired attributes for the position. Do not submit a resume in place of completing the Supplemental Questionnaire or the Work Experience section of the application. 

Qualified applicants whose responses most closely match the requirements for this position will be invited to interview. Transcripts must be submitted to receive credit for education coursework at the time of application.

Veterans - 
If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the minimum qualifications, veterans' preference points will be added to your score. To receive veterans' preference points you MUST attach to your electronic application the following required documentation:

  • A copy of the DD214/215 for the five (5) point preference;
  • OR A copy of the DD214/215; AND a veteran's disability preference letter from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs for the ten (10) point preference.

For more information on veterans' preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org, and select veterans' preference.

PLEASE NOTE: The Oregon Department of Forestry does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete U.S. Department of Homeland Security form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.
 
THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO WORK FORCE DIVERSITY