OUTREACH NOTICE
USDA FOREST SERVICE, REGION 6
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Cle Elum Ranger District
Student Trainee
(Natural Resources Management and
Biological Sciences)
Pathways GS-0499-05
Summer 2016
Description: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Cle Elum Ranger District will be
advertising for one GS-0404-05 Student Trainee (Natural Resources Management and
Biological Sciences), located in Cle Elum, Washington. This is a basic trainee position designed
to orient the incumbent to the use of geospatial technology and Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) for land, natural resources and ecosystem management.
The incumbent will work primarily in both the office and field to intern in a variety of natural
resource/recreational capacities. The trainee will participate with higher graded specialists in
the maniplation and/or analysis of geospatial data that supports resource management
decisions. They may be involved in creating simple thematic map products and applying basic
geographic and cartographic principles for the resolution of simple issues in geospatial
database construction and map compilation.
The position will require a variety of routine and frequently complex field tasks involving
techniques and practices relating to natural resources, i.e., water, plants, animals, recreation
and soils. Assignments support field projects and program planning activities. Such tasks
might include the following: Independently, or as part of a team, records data, and performs
measurements; identification of native local plants and/or distinguishing them from invasive nonnative plants; collecting seeds and mapping plant populations for native revegetation projects;
utilizes topographic maps, photographs, and data that identify a variety of natural resource
areas and conditions; drafting of maps or diagrams of survey areas; t natural resource tool
development for outdoor education programs.
The incumbent must also be able to Identify and classify principal natural resource types in
assigned geographic areas. There may be requests to collect natural resource samples and
make determinations, such as species identification, habitat condition, injury, and/or disease.
Involvement in habitat projects such as watershed development and recreational management
planning is possible. The individual is fully responsible for compliance with all Forest Service
safety rules and regulations, and performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Prefered applicants should have some course work in biology, natural
resource, ecology, geography, geographic information systems or a related discipline, or have
an equivalent combination of education and experience . Applicants must have the ability to lift
a minimum of 50 pounds and to carry heavy loads. The position will be filled at a GS-05 pay
grade ($15.49/hr), based on applicant qualifications. Only United States citizens will be
considered for these positions. Applicants must have a current driver’s license and be an
OUTREACH NOTICE
USDA FOREST SERVICE, REGION 6
enrolled student at least part-time.
Physical Demands: This position requires field work for up to four or five months (Falling
somewhere around May 1 through September 30th). The incumbent may encounter
temperature extremes, rough walking surfaces, steep terrain, rain, wind, and possibly snow.
There may also be periods of low activity due to computer work.
Location: The position’s duty station is located at Cle Elum Ranger Station, Cle Elum,
Washington, 82 miles east of Seattle, and 27 miles west of Ellensburg.
ABOUT THE OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST: This forest
encompasses more than 4-million acres in Washington State and stretches north to south from
the Canadian border to the Goat Rocks Wilderness - a distance of about 180 miles. The forest
lies east of the Cascade Crest, which defines its western boundary. The eastern edge of the
forest extends into the Okanogan highlands, then south along the Okanogan and Columbia
Rivers, and then to the Yakima River valley. Because of this wide geographic range, the forest
is very diverse - from the high, glaciated alpine peaks along the Cascade Crest and the
numerous mountain ranges extending eastward from the crest, through deep, lush valleys of old
growth forest, to the dry and rugged shrub-steppe country at its eastern edge. Precipitation
varies widely - from more than 70-inches along the crest to less than 10-inches at its eastern
edge. This greatly affects the forest and vegetation types across the area.
Cle Elum Ranger District: The Cle Elum Ranger District encompasses approximately
375,000 acres and extends from near the city of Ellensburg and the Yakima River to the crest of
the Cascades in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Snoqualmie Pass areas. It is bordered by the
Wenatchee River Ranger District to the north along the Wenatchee Mountains - Mt. Stuart
divide and by the Naches Ranger District to the south along the Manastash Ridge divide. To
the west of the district is the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Government housing
may be available for a rate of $5/day.
HOW TO APPLY: Please apply online through www.usajobs.gov. Under the Student and
recent graduate jobs, the position will be advertised thourgh Pathways as a student trainee
(Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences) Intern Not-To Exceed graduation.
There are no conversion opportunities associated with this postion. The applicant must be a
student in a degree seeking program. The work will be fulltime during the summer months and
possibly during the winter months as parttime. The student must be enrolled at least half-time
(6-9 credits, depending on school halftime designation) for fall semester or previous spring.
Transcripts will be requested upon selection. The job will open for a 5 day period in the month of
March. Specify Cle Elum, Washington as the location (duty station), and GS-5: 0499-05. Please
provide your contact info and when the announcement number is released, you will be emailed.
FOR MORE INFO: Helen Lau, District Botanist hlau@fs.fed.us
(509) 852-1074 (Cle Elum Ranger Station)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of 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
OUTREACH NOTICE
USDA FOREST SERVICE, REGION 6
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 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.
Outreach Response Form
USDA Forest Service
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Cle Elum Ranger District
Position Title/Series/Grade: Student Trainee (Natural Resources Management and
Biological Sciences), GS-0499-5 Pathways Intern NTE
Location: Cle Elum, WA
_____________________________________________________________________
I am interested in the position and will check www.usajobs.opm.gov for the position
announcement when it is posted at a later date.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: ______________________________________Date: ____________________
Address: ____________________________________Phone: ___________________
E-Mail: ___________________
Current Federal Employee?
Yes_____
No
If yes, current
title/series/grade/location:_________________________________________
If yes, type of appointment you are currently under
________________________________
(e.g., Career, Career-Conditional, Excepted, Excepted VRA, etc)
This form is not an application for the position. You may send résumés and/or
transcripts when responding to this outreach notice.
If you think you are interested in this position, please return this form by e-mail or FAX
by March 1st, 2016 to:
Helen Lau
E-mail: hlau@fs.fed.us
Phone: (509)852-1074
FAX:
(509)674-3800
Thank you for your interest in employment with the Cle Elum Ranger District.