OUTREACH
USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region, Region 10
STUDENT/INTERN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Inspiring Students to Federal Service
Job opportunities include students at all levels from high school,
vocational/technical, undergraduate, levels and graduate levels.
This recruitment notice is to provide students with updated information regarding the hiring process for
potential employment with Federal agencies. Federal agencies have embarked on a new hiring process for
interns and the intersection of the “Hiring Reform” will provide all students the opportunity to apply and
compete for positions nationwide and agency wide. These targeted approaches are to improve the
recruitment and hiring of diverse, talented men and women as well as honoring the service or our veterans.
There are several major components to the new Pathways Program. The Federal Pathways Programs were
created to address the federal government’s competitive disadvantage in recruiting the best and the brightest
at the beginning of their careers. To learn more please visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiringauthorities/students-recent-graduates/
The Pathways Programs provide three clear paths to federal internships and careers in government for
students and recent graduates:

The Internship Program is designed for current students will give students at the high school,
vocational/technical, undergraduate and graduate levels paid opportunities to work in agencies and
explore federal career. The program is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore
Federal careers while still in school. It replaces the Student Temporary Experience Program (STEP)
and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). Students may be hired on a temporary basis
for up to one year (NTE Intern) or for an indefinite period (Indefinite Intern).

The Recent Graduates Program, which replaces the Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)
terminated in 2011, will be open to individuals who have graduated from qualifying educational
institutions or programs in the last two years. Veterans may have up to six years after graduation to
apply under this new provision. The program is available to individuals who have completed qualifying
degree or certificate programs in the previous two years. Qualified veterans may have an extended
application period due to military service obligation.

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program for advanced degree candidates expands
eligibility to individuals who have received a qualifying advanced degree within the preceding two
years. The program provides an expanded eligibility window for individuals who have completed an
advanced degree within the past two years.
Note: The Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF) application process is managed by the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM), and most of the information above does not apply to the PMF program. OPM
posts PMF opportunities, once a year, usually in the Fall. For Information about this process, please go to the
PMF website at: www.pmf.gov
What you need to know
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In February and September of 2013, the Forest Service will advertise an agency wide Pathways job
announcement for Internship and Recent Graduate opportunities using the USAJobs website:
https://www.usajobs.gov/
The application period will be brief, so we recommend that you prepare your application materials in
advance (see below).
You will need to complete an application for those positions that match your academic or career goals
and for any locations you are willing to work at. During the application process, you will be asked to
choose what duty locations you would be willing to accept. The Forest Service has over 700 work
locations across the nation.
Orientation, mentoring, and training plans are requirements of the programs.
What can you do in advance to prepare?
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Get familiar with USAJobs. See “How to Apply for a Job on USAJobs” at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs/USAJOBS_Instructions.pdf
Create an account on USAJobs website. https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Account
Use the USAJobs tool to create a profile and resume
Post all relevant documents to your USAJob account, i.e. current transcripts, degree completion documentation,
letters of recommendations, and veterans preference documentation
Sign-up for e-mail notifications for Forest Service job postings using the “save search” function in your
USAJobs profile.
Subscribe to the Forest Service Jobs Twitter feed @ForestService to receive updates on the Pathways
opportunities. We will use the Twitter hashtag : #FSstudentjobs.
Go to the Forest Service website and decide which locations you would be willing to work at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/products/guide-national-forests09.pdf
You can learn more about how to apply for Pathways opportunities on USAJobs through an Office of Personnel
Management video on YouTube:
You can learn more about how to apply for Pathways opportunities on USAJobs through an Office of Personnel
Management video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQzXYVqBmZg&feature=youtu.be
Proposed Occupations for the National Pathways Postings
Social Science, Psychology, & Welfare Group Student Trainee
Human Resources Management Group Student Trainee
General Administration, Clerical, and Office Services Group Student Trainee
Natural Resources and Biological Sciences Group Student Trainee
Accounting and Budget Group Student Trainee
Engineering and Architecture Group Student Trainee
Information, Communications, and Arts Group Student Trainee
Business, Contracting, Procurement, and Industry Group Student Trainee
Physical Sciences Group Student Trainee
Education Group Student Trainee
Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, & Compliance Group Student Trainee
Information Technology Group Student Trainee
0199
0299
0399
0499
0599
0899
1099
1199
1399
1799
1899
2299
What’s The Next Step?
Once interested applicants have a profile established on USAJOBS they now may begin the process of
searching for positions that they may be interested in. It is important to remember when applying for
positions to take some time to review the duties, of the position, the duty location of the position, and the
qualifications of the positions so you are well informed and to ensure you are eligible. Don’t forget to apply by
the closing date of each announcement! Visit this link with video tutorials to learn more about searching for
Internship positions nationwide and service wide: https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentJobs/. Visit the Resource
Tab on USAJOBS to review the Questions and Answers, How to create your resume, watch tutorials, and etc.
There is a wealth of information location within the Resource Tab.
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page
Standard Job No. FS2433
Created: 03/14/2012
Student Trainee (Hydrology), GS-1399-04
Introduction:
This Pathways Internship Program temporary position is located on a Forest
Service Unit. As a Student Intern, the incumbent is responsible for performing
a variety of regular and recurring duties in support of hydrology/physical
science professional and physical science technicians in order to obtain onthe-job training and experience in conjunction with scholastic training from an
accredited educational institution as it pertains to permanent hydrologyrelated positions within the Forest Service.
Major Duties:
Duties primarily focus on providing work and training experience to prepare the
student intern (NTE) for a more advanced, permanent hydrological-related
position through a variety of tasks that utilize established practical physical
science processes, methods, and procedures that include the following
assignments and responsibilities:
1) Gathers hydrologic and sediment data and performs routine preliminary
analysis of that data. Tabulates and orders the acquired field data in
preparing it for computer analysis.
2) Prepares charts, graphs, and figures for data analysis and publication.
3) Assists in
instruments.
the
service,
repair,
and
installation
of
hydrologic
4) Collects data from field recording instruments and makes on-site
measurements of study area conditions. Assists in completing water
resource inventories by collecting and recording data.
5) Gains
work
experience
with
hydrologists
and
performing technical duties related to forest
hydrologic cycle.
6) Assists in summarizing and analyzing water
computations. Summarizes State water laws.
7) Collects, analyzes,
laboratory.
or
transmits
water
other
professionals
management and the
resource
samples
to
data
by
water
making
quality
8) Assists in development and implementation of water resource improvement
plans.
9) Performs other duties as assigned
Factor 1: Knowledge Required by the Position (Level 1-3,350 points)
Basic working knowledge of practices and procedures applicable to the work of
the unit and experience in their application to identify and collect specimens
and other data and to perform limited analysis work.
Knowledge
of
research
objectives
and
studies
pertinent
to
the
particular
assigned area.
Skill in the safe use of tools and equipment needed to complete projects.
Knowledge of basic mathematics and the use of computers and calculators, as
necessary, for preliminary data analysis.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
Knowledge
analysis.
of
basic
hydrologic
techniques
to
perform
collection
and
simple
Knowledge of statistics to make statistical computations.
Factor 2: Supervisory Controls (Level 2-2,125 points)
Supervisor provides specific instructions regarding work methods, available
equipment and procedures to follow. The intern is expected to accomplish the
daily tasks with little independence and frequent guidance until further
experience is gained, referring new or unfamiliar work to supervisor for
additional guidance and/or assistance.
Work is subject to close controls, observation and review at various stages and
upon
completion
for
adequacy,
accuracy,
timeliness
and
adherence
to
instructions.
Factor 3: Guidelines (Level 3-2,125 points)
The intern uses written technical, procedural guidelines that are clear,
straightforward, require little interpretation, and allow for only minor
deviations. Such guidelines include technical manuals, equipment/instrument
handbooks, diagrams and drawings, standard operating procedures, radiation
protection, health physics practices, radiological laboratory operations and
Federal or agency regulations.
The intern uses judgment to select the most appropriate guidelines to apply and
make minor adaptation to adjust for specific conditions such as changes in
equipment or instrumentation.
Factor 4: Complexity (Level 4-2,75 points)
Assignments consist of duties involving related steps, processes, or methods
designed to orient the intern in the practical application of policy, basic
rules and regulations.
Factors to be considered differ with the subject, phase, or issues involved in
each assignment. Applicable alternatives are few and easily recognizable.
Assignments are usually screened to eliminate difficult or unusual problems.
Factor 5: Scope and Effect (Level 5-2,75 points)
The overall objective is to provide the intern with work experience in a
professional field and to benefit the Forest Service in technical tasks
completed on a timely basis.
The work is formulated primarily to continue the training of the intern in
increasingly more complex activities which result in increasing the effect on
the accurate completion of projects.
Factor 6: Personal Contacts (Level 6-2,25 points)
Contacts include higher grade professional and technical employees within the
unit and in other water resource management agencies.
Factor 7: Purpose of Contacts (Level 7-1,20 points)
The purpose is to obtain, clarify, or give facts or information regardless of
the nature of those facts.
Factor 8: Physical Demands (Level 8-2 20 points)
The work requires physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking
over rough, uneven, steep and/or rocky surfaces with recurring stooping,
reaching, bending, wading in streams, or similar activities. May require
lifting of moderately heavy objects up to 50 pounds.
Factor 9: Work Environment (Level 9-2 20 points)
The work requires moderate risks, discomforts, or unpleasantness such as dust,
hot or cold weather, wading in streams, etc. Special safety precautions are
required and the employee will use protective clothing and/or equipment when
warranted by the specific job.
Standard Job No. FS2434
Created: 03/14/2012
Student Trainee (Hydrology), GS-1399-05
Introduction:
This Pathways Internship Program temporary position is located on a Forest
Service Unit. As a Student Intern, the incumbent is responsible for performing a
variety of regular and recurring duties in support of hydrology/physical science
professional and physical science technicians in order to obtain on-the-job
training and experience in conjunction with scholastic training from an
accredited educational institution as it pertains to permanent hydrology-related
positions within the Forest Service.
Major Duties:
Duties primarily focus on providing work and training experience to prepare the
student intern (NTE) for a more advanced, permanent hydrological-related
position through a variety of tasks that utilize established practical physical
science
processes,
methods,
and
procedures
that
include
the
following
assignments and responsibilities:
1) Develops, assembles, evaluates, adapts, and presents in tabular or graphic
form, technical data in the fields of water data collection, stage data,
stream discharge, rainfall, and wind gaging including special flow
computations, current velocity analyses, flow and discharge estimations,
special data collection and study programs.
2) Prepares criteria for use in calibrating stream flow
controlled channels; makes detailed analyses for use by
considering possibility of applying engineering theories to
fall of water, water slopes, natural and artificial controls,
in open and
engineers in
the rise and
etc.
3) Maintains liaison with other elements of the Ranger District, with
personnel at higher Forest-level echelons, with other Federal, state and
local agencies and with public and private interests having a common
interest in the collection and dissemination of the information and data.
4) Prepares correspondence, in draft form, relating to all phases of the
work; initiates directives for securing data needed. Drafts simple
environmental assessments or portions of complex analyses.
5) Gathers hydrologic and sediment data and performs preliminary analysis of
the data. Tabulates and orders the acquired field data and codes the data
for computer input and, on occasion, inputs the data into the computer.
6) Services, repairs, and installs a variety of hydrologic instruments.
7) Assists in the preparation of water quality monitoring plans including
computer data storage and retrieval. Prepares and implements watershed
restoration plans.
8) Performs other duties as assigned.
Factor 1: Knowledge Required by the Position (Level 1-3,350 points)
Basic working knowledge of practices and procedures applicable to the work of
the unit and experience in their application to identify and collect specimens
and other data and to perform limited analysis work.
Knowledge of research objectives and studies pertinent to the particular
assigned area.
Skill in the safe use of tools and equipment needed to complete projects.
Knowledge of basic mathematics and the use of computers and calculators, as
necessary, for preliminary data analysis.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
Knowledge of basic hydrologic techniques to perform collection and simple
analysis.
Knowledge of statistics to make statistical computations
Factor 2: Supervisory Controls (Level 2-2, 125 points)
Supervisor provides specific instructions regarding work methods, available
equipment and procedures to follow. The intern is expected to accomplish the
daily tasks with little independence and frequent guidance until further
experience is gained, referring new or unfamiliar work to supervisor for
additional guidance and/or assistance.
Work is subject to close controls, observation and review at various stages and
upon completion for adequacy, accuracy, timeliness and adherence to
instructions.
Factor 3: Guidelines (Level 3-2, 125 points)
The intern uses written technical, procedural guidelines that are clear,
straightforward, require little interpretation, and allow for only minor
deviations. Such guidelines include technical manuals, equipment/instrument
handbooks, diagrams and drawings, standard operating procedures, radiation
protection, health physics practices, radiological laboratory operations and
Federal or agency regulations.
The intern uses judgment to select the most appropriate guidelines to apply and
make minor adaptation to adjust for specific conditions such as changes in
equipment or instrumentation.
Factor 4: Complexity (Level 4-3,150 points)
Work consists of preparing criteria for use in calibrating stream flow in open
and controlled channels, making detailed analysis for use by engineers, studies
methods and procedures applicable to the work and participates in the
development and testing of ADP programs. Work also involves the developing,
assembling, evaluating, adapting, and presenting in tabular or graphic form,
technical data. Also work consists of maintaining and monitoring project cost
estimates, time lines and network analyses that define projects and
organizations.
The intern is expected to solve technical problems for which guides and
precedents are established. The intern is also expected to be able to answer
lower-level interns’ questions concerning the work in order to ensure that the
work is in compliance with the instructions.
Factor 5: Scope and Effect (Level 5-3,150 points)
The work involves the performance of a few specific, routine tasks or duties
that are primarily designed to orient the intern in the methods, practices, and
the specialty area of the organization.
The work efforts facilitate the work of other professional and technical
personnel in the organization and have limited impact beyond the immediate
organizational unit.
Factor 6: Personal Contacts (Level 6-2,25 points)
Contacts include higher grade professional and technical employees within the
unit and in other water resource management agencies.
Factor 7: Purpose of Contacts (Level 7-2,50 points)
Purpose of contacts is to receive work orders orally and in a brief outline of
overall objectives and results. Purpose is also to give work orders to
subordinate interns, to maintain liaison with other elements of the Forest and
District and to resolve problems related to assignments.
Factor 8: Physical Demands (Level 8-2 20 points)
The work requires physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking
over rough, uneven, steep and/or rocky surfaces with recurring stooping,
reaching, bending, wading in streams, or similar activities. May require lifting
of moderately heavy objects up to 50 pounds.
Factor 9: Work Environment (Level 9-2 20 points)
The work requires moderate risks, discomforts, or unpleasantness such as dust,
hot or cold weather, wading in streams, etc. Special safety precautions are
required and the employee will use protective clothing and/or equipment when
warranted by the specific job.
EVALUATION STATEMENT
Student Trainee (Hydrology), GS-1399-05
Evaluation Factors
Knowledge Required by the Position
Supervisory Controls
Guidelines
Complexity
Factor Level
1-3
2-2
3-2
4-3
Point Total
350
125
125
150
Scope and Effect
Personal Contacts
Purpose of Contacts
Physical Demands
Work Environment
Total Points:
5-3
6-2
7-2
8-2
9-2
150
25
50
20
20
1015