[SOS-PCA] Job Opportunity: Forestry Technician, Mississippi

Fri Jun 11 15:08:05 CDT 2021

OUTREACH NOTICE
NATIONAL FORESTS IN MISSISSIPPI
De Soto Ranger District
Wiggins, Mississippi

“Caring for the land and serving the people”

Title, GS-Series-Grade:

Forestry Technician, GS-0462-6/7/8
District/Unit:
De Soto Ranger District, NFs in Mississippi
Duty Station:
Brooklyn, Mississippi
Tour:
Permanent Seasonal Employee 18/8
Date of Notice:
June 9, 2021

The National Forests in Mississippi will soon be filling a Permanent Seasonal Employee 18/8, GS-0462-6/7/8 Forestry Technician position for the De Soto Ranger District, in Brooklyn, Mississippi.  The position will be in pay status for 18 pay periods, and off for 8 pay periods. This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of this upcoming opportunity.

The vacancy announcement for the Permanent Seasonal Employee position will be posted on the U.S. Government's official website for employment opportunities, www.usajobs.opm.gov<http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/>.

To learn more about the National Forests in Mississippi, please check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-maCQBYnJg<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7-maCQBYnJg&data=04%7C01%7C%7C24fafb9da00d40b461ed08d92047b86b%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637576314670792564%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=l8HLZXaw3QZ4iKtYNs8A1d34XHSIyfaf0YoTiFFG8r4%3D&reserved=0>.

OUTREACH RESPONSE
Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, should contact the point of contact listed below:
Name of Point of Contact:
Walt Thompson, Orchard Manager
Phone Number:
(601) 862-3705
E-mail address:
Walter.thompson at usda.gov<mailto:Walter.thompson at usda.gov>
Mailing address:
368 Ashe Nursery Rd. Brooklyn, MS 39425

POSITION INFORMATION:
Introduction:

This position is located at the Ashe Seed Extractory with primary responsibility for development, planning, and application of tree improvement methods and practices for national support for a range of reforestation and restoration activities.  This is a career ladder position designed to prepare the incumbent to fully perform the duties at the full performance level.

Major Duties GS 8:

Prepares annual financial and work plans for the Tree Improvement Area based upon the approved Forest Tree Improvement Plan. Coordinates changes to the budget and program of work. Reviews accomplishments for the Tree Improvement Area and compiles necessary reports.

Responsible for the ongoing management/operation of the Tree Improvement Area. This includes responsibility for writing proposed plans for chemical use to ensure such use is consistent with management objectives and environmental management objectives.

Develops fertilization and irrigation regimes to meet project objectives; irrigates and fertilizes consistent with the developed plans. Monitors for insect, animal, and disease damage, determines treatment options in consultation with Regional experts, and carries out treatments necessary to protect the project; this may include spraying chemicals, baiting, trapping and the use of granular pesticides.

Collects foliar and soil samples, submits them for laboratory analysis, and interprets the results to balance fertilization needs. Coordinates collection of scion and rooted cuttings, grafting, planting of early selection trials, and the planting of seed orchard material.

Responsible for maintaining the cover crop which involves the coordination of seeding, fertilizing, irrigating and mowing. Supervises measurement of all seed orchard material at required intervals to insure the best test data available.

Manages various tree species at different ages, all of which have different biological characteristics and requirements. Selects best locations, determines test layout to give consistent tree growth data across the test. Oversees conversion of seed orchards based on Regional Direction.

Collects, maintains, and manages data gathered on test trees, orchard trees, and cone crops. Administers or supervises the tree improvement area and facility development contracts. Reviews, recommends, and initiates development activities at the tree improvement sites.

Plans and performs general property management support services, such as maintenance and disposal of equipment.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Major Duties GS 7:

Responsible for the ongoing management/operation of the Tree Improvement Area. This includes responsibility for writing proposed plans for chemical use to ensure such use is consistent with management objectives and environmental management objectives.

Develops fertilization and irrigation regimes to meet project objectives; irrigates and fertilizes consistent with the developed plans. Monitors for insect, animal and disease damage, determines treatment options in consultation with Regional experts, and carries out treatments necessary to protect the project; this may include spraying chemicals, baiting, trapping and the use of granular pesticides.

Collects foliar and soil samples, submits for laboratory analysis and interprets the results to balance fertilization needs. Coordinates collection of scion and rooted cuttings, grafting, planting of early selection trials, and the planting of seed orchard material.

Responsible for maintaining the cover crop which involves the coordination of seeding, fertilizing, irrigating and mowing. Supervises measurement of all seed orchard material at required intervals to insure the best test data available.

Manages various tree species at different ages, all of which have different biological characteristics and requirements. Selects best locations, determines test layout to give consistent tree growth data across the test. Oversees conversion of seed orchards based on Regional Direction.

Collects, maintains and manages data gathered on test trees, orchard trees, and cone crops. Administers or supervises the tree improvement area and facility development contracts. Reviews, recommends, and initiates development activities at the tree improvement sites.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Major Duties GS 6:

Responsible for the ongoing management/operation of the Genetic Resource Management Areas (e.g., seed orchards). This includes managing a variety of tree species, e.g. hardwoods and conifers, of different ages, all of which have different biological characteristics and requirements.

Collects foliar and soil samples. Under the direction of the Seed Orchard Manager and Regional Geneticist, collects cones, plants new seed orchard material.

In coordination with the Seed Orchard Manager, administers the genetic resource management areas and facility contracts.

Monitors for insect, animal, and disease damage, and implements treatment options under the direction of the Seed Orchard Manager and Regional experts.

Performs other duties as assigned.

The incumbent may serve on several teams that work to advance goals across the National Forests in Mississippi and Region 8; therefore, work will include working across program areas and district boundaries, working in all resource areas, and some weekend work.

This position will report to and be supervised by the Seed Orchard Manager.

DISTRICT INFORMATION

The De Soto National Forest is the largest National Forest within the National Forests in Mississippi with over 500,000 acres (the De Soto Ranger District has approximately 382,000 acres and the Chickasawhay Ranger District has approximately 150,000 acres).  The De Soto Ranger District is located in eight southern Mississippi counties and extends from just south of Hattiesburg, MS to within 5 miles of Gulfport, MS.

The De Soto Ranger District lies within the lower coastal plain region.  It is primarily a longleaf pine ecosystem with some slash pine, loblolly pine, bottomland hardwoods, and a few upland hardwoods.  Fuels are composed of waxy-leaf brush species and a wide array of grasses, deciduous species and bog areas.  This is the most active fire region in the state.  The district averages 75 wildfires per year and prescribe burns an average of 65,000 acres per year.

The District has over 200 special uses, the largest being a 117,000 acre special use with the Mississippi Military Department, known as Camp Shelby, MS.  Camp Shelby is the largest National Guard Training installation in the United States.

The De Soto Ranger District plans to sell around 20-25 million board feet of timber annually.  Recreational use of the district is high by local residents, Louisiana residents, and visitors from other states and abroad; with 10 developed recreation areas, 175 miles of hiking, mountain bike, ATV and horse trails.  The district also features the only two wilderness areas, the only National Wild and Scenic River, and the only handicapped accessible lake in the state.

With the rapidly growing population on the Gulf Coast, the district is experiencing a tremendous wildland/urban interface situation.  The District is considered an urban forest because of its proximity to New Orleans, Gulfport/Biloxi, and Mobile.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

The District office is located in Wiggins, MS, approximately halfway between Hattiesburg and Gulfport.  Most of the District’s 41 employees live in the Wiggin’s area, Hattiesburg, or Gulfport.

Hattiesburg lies 35 miles to the north with Gulfport/Biloxi 35 miles to the South of the district. All of these communities offer various cultural events, health care facilities and schools.  See below for more information on these communities

WIGGINS
http://www.cityofwiggins.com/
http://stonecounty.com/

GULFPORT/BILOXI
http://www.gulfcoast.org/
http://www.gulfport-ms.gov/
http://gulfportareachamberofcommerce.org/
http://biloxi.org/
http://www.biloxi.ms.us/visitor-info/

HATTIESBURG
http://www.hattiesburg.org/
http://www.theadp.com/greater-hattiesburg/overview-of-greater-hattiesburg

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION regarding the position contact:
Walt Thompson, Orchard Manager
601-584-8488 ext. 101 or by email: walter.thompson at usda.gov<mailto:walter.thompson at usda.gov>

Anne Casey, District Ranger, De Soto Ranger District
601-528-6160 or by email: acasey at fs.fed.us<mailto:acasey at fs.fed.us>

If you are interested in applying for this position, please complete and return the attached Outreach Reply form by: July 9th, 2021.

OUTREACH NOTICE RESPONSE FORM
De Soto National Forest
Please Respond by: July 9th.
This is a Permanent Full-time Position

Position Title/Series/Grade:
Seed Orchard Forestry Tech, PSE 18/8 GS-0462-6/7/8

Location:
De Soto Ranger District, Brooklyn, MS

Personal Information

Name:

Date:

Address:

E-Mail Address:

___________________________________________________

Phone:
Office

Cell:

Current Title/Series/Grade:

Highest Position Held:

Title/Series/Grade:

Location:

Are you currently a Federal Employee?
Yes:

No:

IF YES:
Type of Appoint you are currently under:

                                                                     (e.g., Career, Career-Conditional, Excepted)
Current Agency and location:

IF NO:
Are you currently a temporary employee?
Yes:

No:

Briefly describe why you will be a quality candidate for this position:

Please return this form to Walt Thompson at walter.thompson at usda.gov<mailto:walter.thompson at usda.gov> or fax (601) 545-2019.  Reply may also be mailed to USDA Forest Service, Attn: Orchard Manager, Walt Thompson 368 Ashe Nursery Road  Brooklyn, MS 39425

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