Forest Technician Iii (2) Positions

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Announcement #

2023-437

Issue Date:

11-29-23

Closing Date:

12-12-23

Forest Technician III (2) Two Positions

Branch of Forestry

Department of Natural Resources

Hourly Wage: $18.23/Regular/Full-Time

Location: Toppenish

The incumbent will be assigned to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Yakama Agency Branch of Forestry. The Branch of Forestry is responsible for the management of over 600,000 acres of forests and woodlands located along the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in southcentral Washington. The primary responsibility of this position is to conduct fieldwork related to the preparation and implementation of forest projects. Fieldwork involves laying out unit boundaries and recording them using a GPS apparatus, marking timber, inspecting contract work, gathering information on forest responses to project activities, collecting timber data, and helping labor crews on occasion. Scaling duties are performed at remote locations requiring a great degree of climbing over logs, bending and working at a steady speed for 8-12 hours at a time.

Examples of Work Performed:

Works in rough, steep forest terrain during various types of weather.

Field conditions vary from hot and dusty in the summer, below-zero temperatures and deep snow in the winter.

Driving on narrow, steep, hazardous roads will be required.

Risks for bodily injury are above average, exercising safety precaution and staying alert especially during periods of snow, rain, wildfire or dust.

Works with District Officer or Timber Sale Officer on timber sale administration including sale layout, timber marking, and contract administration.

Collects field data for inventory, presales, and/or silviculture.

Performs waste scaling activities in the field.

Participate in fire suppression, pre-suppression and fire-based site preparation activities, and may serve in an overhead position on large fires both at the Agency and off Reservation.

Must be physically and mentally capable and willing to endure extended periods of work under a wide variety of environmental conditions and be in good physical condition, be able to ascend and descend steep topography through rough forest terrain.

Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of forest tree species, plant species and cover types found on the Yakama Reservation.

Knowledge of local selective timber harvest marking rules and guidelines for silvicultural prescriptions by stand conditions, species compositions and environmental, ecological and aesthetic considerations to select timber for harvest during the timber sale cruise, in accordance with sustained yield principles and management objectives.

Knowledge of forest resource survey sampling and inventory techniques and procedures. Including variable plot cruising theory and techniques, statistical methods applicable to forest sampling techniques and forest mensuration.

Knowledge of individual timber contracts BIA guides and precedents for timber sale administration, cruising and stumpage appraisal guide

Knowledge of merchantability of timber resources.

Skills in general computer software such as spreadsheets, Microsoft Word, e-mail, and internet.

Ability to read maps, aerial photos, and retrace general land office survey lines/relocate original bearing trees and corner monuments to establish sale boundary, ownership lines or property.

Ability to complete forest inventories, timber cruise, land use plans, presale layout, road layout, and logging systems.

Ability to operate field equipment for navigation such as Trimble, Garmin GPS, and compass as well as utilize GIS technology, including both hardware and software use (Avenza, Collector, etc.).

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum of three years progressive experience in forestry or natural resources involving technical work in forest practices and procedures.

Must be able to pass the National Wildfire Coordinating Group national standard fitness test for arduous work level.

Required to pass pre-employment drug test.

Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving permit.

Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Requirements:

Must be in pursuit of scaling and cruising certification.