Forestry Worker

Summary These positions are located in Yosemite National Park, in the Facilities Management Division. This is a Career/Career-Conditional Full-time appointment. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the selectee lives outside of the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation. Responsibilities Incumbent climbs and performs tree hazard removal work in a variety of broadleaf and coniferous trees. Uses specialized equipment and techniques developed for tree work to perform these tasks. Recognizes tree defects, species characteristics, and other environmental conditions that may affect or compromise climber safety. Uses chainsaw to take down trees of all sizes and complexity with accuracy in developed and non-developed areas. Uses tree felling cuts and specialized tools to fell trees in desired direction. Recognizes tree species, defects, wood characteristics and environmental hazards that may alter desired felling results. Designs, installs, utilizes, and maintains complex material handling gear and rigging systems. Uses rigging gear to catch, lower, or move large sections of trees in very limited spaces, such as above or between buildings, without causing damage to property or equipment. Operates heavy equipment to maneuver logs, trees, and slash around standing trees and buildings on uneven terrain without damaging property or equipment. Drives loaded trucks on steep mountainous roads in muddy, icy, or snow conditions. Physical Demands: Incumbent must be in good physical condition to lift and operate the different types and sizes of power chainsaws with weights from 20 pounds. Up to 55 pounds (plus) while falling trees from the ground, while topping trees with the use of climbing equipment or from serial platform trucks. Employee is required to climb trees, often up to heights in excess of 150 feel. When climbing trees, incumbent uses various tree climbing gear and methods to ascend the tree. This type of climbing requires a high degree of physical and mental effort and muscular tension to maintain balance and position to properly cut tree limbs and tree tops without severing the safety ropes (lifeline). The tree climber often works in trees from 4 to 6 hours while secured in the tree with safety ropes, climbing belts and saddles. Working in the tree also requires the climber to pull moderate heavy loads such as cables, metal snatch blocks, bull ropes, etc., up to tree top heights. When loading trucks by hand on worksite cleanup, incumbent lifts, pulls and carries, limbs, small logs or wood chunks from 10 pounds to 60 pounds (plus). Working Conditions: The Forestry Worker will work in all types of weather conditions to accomplish assigned tasks. Outside temperatures vary from over 100 degrees F, to fog, rain, snow, wind, and temperatures below freezing. Works in a variety of vegetation types and elevations from woodlands at 1900 feet through middle elevation forests to near tree line at elevations above 9,000 feet. Footing is often slippery at work sites due to ice, snow, mud, loose rocks, or combinations of factors. Operates and works near equipment that produces exhaust, vibrations, dust, and noise requiring head, hand, ear, and eye protection. May walk long distances over Uneven ground carrying heavy loads and may temporarily reside in spike camps under primitive conditions to accomplish work assignments. May be required to work during adverse conditions and during emergency situations such as strong winds, rockslides, snow and rainstorms, floods and wildfires. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Must possess and maintain a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License with air brake endorsement (must have within 6 months of entrance on duty date). You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Occupancy of government quarters is required. If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 1-2 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. Government Charge Card: You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or(c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. Qualifications Ability to do the work of Forestry Worker without more than normal supervision.(Screen out). Work history demonstrates journeyman level experience performing most Forestry Worker duties with normal supervision, subject to regular inspection. This experience includes: performing tree hazard identification, tree climbing, tree pruning, tree hazard reduction or tree removal. Install rigging systems while tree climbing; and falling a variety of trees to predetermined direction. Applicants must meet qualifications standards as specified by Office of Personnel Management's Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, for more info go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/index.asp If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors. 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. Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional Information This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. For additional information about this position, please contact: [email protected] (209) 347-7323 A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001). The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.