Forester
What you'd do
You will serve as a Forester for the Bureau of Land Management. Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
Major duties
GS-05: This is a trainee position where the employee works under the guidance of a supervisor or higher graded forester. Duties are performed at a reduced level of responsibility while receiving on-the-job and other appropriate training. GS-07: This is an advanced trainee position. The incumbent works with increasing independence in the completion of assignments based upon gained experience and training. More difficult assignments are provided as the incumbent progresses. GS-09: This position serves as a Forester.Job functions include: Work involving forest landscapes, forest and woodland sale planning, forest product sales and administration, reforestation, and forest stand improvements. Performs tasks associated with logging systems, sale planning and layout, and road layout. Duties may include timber sale planning, environmental assessment preparation, logging systems, contract preparation, timber sale contract administration, reforestation, and timber stand improvement. Plans and implements technical projects and performs duties in support of forestry-oriented, multiple-use land management programs, including coordination of appropriate staff to accomplish the work. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
What you need to qualify
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 07/28/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. A degree in Forestry or a related subject-matter field that included a total of at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours of course work was in forestry. The curriculum must have been sufficiently diversified to include courses in each of the following areas: Management of Renewable Resources -- examples of creditable courses in this area include silviculture, forest management operations, timber management, wildland fire science or fire management, utilization of forest resources, forest regulation, recreational land management, watershed management, and wildlife or range habitat management. Forest Biology -- examples of creditable courses in this area include dendrology, forest ecology, silvics, forest genetics, wood structure and properties, forest soils, forest entomology, and forest pathology. Forest Resource Measurements and Inventory -- examples of creditable courses include forest biometrics, forest mensuration, forest valuation, statistical analysis of forest resource data, renewable natural resources inventories and analysis, and photogrammetry or remote sensing. -OR- B. A combination of education and experience which included courses equivalent to a major in forestry, or at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours were in forestry. The requirements for diversification of the 24 semester hours in forestry are the same as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. -AND- For GS-05 There is no Specialized Experience Requirement for this series at this grade level. You must meet the Basic Qualification Requirement as stated above in order to qualify for the GS-05 level. For GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) assisting with the development or implementation of forest management plans such as timber sale planning, reforestation, timber stand improvement, or landscape forestry; (2) assisting with preparing/analyzing logging and harvest plans, silvicultural treatments, or timber sale contracts to ensure compliance; (3) interacting with various groups of people to investigate, exchange, or report information related to forest programs. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of 1 full year of graduate level education that included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally as stated in the basic requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of transcripts. -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successful completion of a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grad-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society. -OR- Combination of education and experience: To compute this, first determine your education as a percentage of the education requirement and then determine your specialized experience as a percentage, then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 100% to qualify. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of your transcripts. For GS-09 Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) preparing and/or implementing timber sale and silvicultural service contracts; (2) executing long range forest management plans such as logging systems, road layout, harvesting, tree improvement, or landscaping; (3) developing forest management plans, forest inventory analysis, environmental assessments, or forest history reports; (4) preparing data, briefings, or trainings to explain or exchange forest management information to the general public. -OR- Education: Successful completion of 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree OR master's OR equivalent graduate degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally as stated in the basic requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience: To compute this, first determine your education as a percentage of the education requirement and then determine your specialized experience as a percentage, then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 100% to qualify. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of your transcripts. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
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