Forest Service Outreach Student Trainee (Range Management) Pathways Program (Intern) GS-0499-3/4/5

Sponsoring Forest Service Unit: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Pintler Ranger District Wise River Ranger District

*Only one position will be filled.* This position may be filled at the Society of Range Management meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma February 2012

Duty Station Location: Philipsburg or Wise River, Salary: $11.95 - $15.00/hour (dependent on level of education and experience)

For information on the pathways program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, please visit http://www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs/jobs students.shtml and https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads

{Use USFS Outreach Response Form: Return to [email protected] by Dec. 28, 2012} Official USFS Vacancy Announcement to be advertised via USA Jobs website… Anticipated selection: March 2013 Anticipated starting date: June 2013 HOW TO APPLY:

If you are interested in this position and want to be informed of the Job Opportunity Announcement when it becomes available on USAJOBS, please respond to this outreach notice by using the attached form.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application (see "Required Documents" section below). The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) by the closing date of the Pathways Intern announcement, once it is posted.

To begin the process, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/studentsandgrads Familiarize yourself with this website. It is highly recommended to watch the video tutorial on how to search for internships. Next, find the job announcement for this outreach by clicking Search Jobs. Then click the Apply Online button to the right of the announcement to create a USAJOBS account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Be sure to upload the required documents before you submit your application. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. Mailed/emailed applications will not be accepted.

Note: To change or update your application, simply reapply through USAJOBS before the closing date of this announcement. To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and click on the More Information link under the application status for this position.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The following documents are required:

 Completed Occupational Questionnaire. This can be completed online. Make sure that you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the questionnaire. If you wish to complete the questionnaire via paper, please print the form and the 1203FX form to document your responses.  Résumé  College Transcripts to support education requirements. Copies or unofficial transcript are acceptable for proof of education. If selected for a position you will be required to provide official transcripts.  Veterans: If you have prior military service, please include copies of all your DD-214s or proof of service. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or a mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must also complete and submit a SF-15 along with supporting documentation.

If you have submitted all documents listed above, you have completed the application process. If you want to save an incomplete Occupational Questionnaire and return later, select the Save button at the top or bottom of each of the application pages and click the Logout button.

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once the online occupational questionnaire is received you will receive an automated acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After review of ALL applications are made, you will be notified of your qualification status and referral or non-referral to the hiring official for further consideration. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.

Program Purpose

The Pathways Program (Intern) is a planned and progressive, career-related student employment program. The purpose of the program is to provide students with the opportunity to gain appropriate experience commensurate to their academic curriculum and career goals. The Pathways Program is designed to provide a source of well-trained employees for career entry into the Forest Service workforce. This position will provide a student with the opportunity to gain appropriate experience as well as provide the Forest Service a source of well-trained employees for career entry. The selectee will be exposed to all duties of a Rangeland Management Specialist (RMS), first focusing on developing a working knowledge of the field tasks required to be a successful RMS. The selectee will perform technical work in support of range management including monitoring, inspections, tests, and/or sampling. The selectee will be responsible for preparing reports, diagrams, graphs, etc., and will assist in planning and carrying out rangeland management support work such as field studies and inspections in support of management, protection, conservation, and development of range resources. Successful completion of the program can result in an offer of permanent position as a U.S. Forest Service Rangeland Management Specialist in the Northern Region. The location of the position upon conversion may not be the same as the location during the internship.

Pathways Program Eligibility Requirements • Must be at least 16 years old. • Must be enrolled in or accepted to (with the intent to attend) an accredited college or university, graduate or professional school; and carry at a minimum, a half-time course load as defined by the institution. Must be in a degree-seeking academic program. • Enrolled in an academic major that is related to the occupation you wish to be considered for. • Must be able to complete required occupation-related work experience (640 hours) prior to or concurrently with the completion of course requirements for the degree. • Must be a citizen or national (resident of American Samoa or Swains Island). If you are not a citizen, you may participate if you are legally admitted to the United States as a permanent resident, and are able to meet citizenship requirements prior to completion of your degree. • Must be in good academic standing. Cannot be on academic probation. • If selected, students must sign the Participation Agreement; furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; provide verification of academic status at the end of each academic term (grade report or transcript); must meet academic standards as set forth by the school they are attending; maintain satisfactory progress in completing academic requirements; and demonstrate satisfactory performance and conduct. Students will be required to complete all academic requirements for the target position as stipulated by the Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards. ABOUT THE BEAVERHEAD-DEERLODGE NATIONAL FOREST The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest at 3.3 million acres is the largest forest in Region 1. Located in Southwest Montana and straddling the Continental Divide, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge contains a variety of habitats, ranging from timbered mountains and jagged granite peaks, to open, rolling sagebrush expanses. There are seven Ranger Districts with a diverse and challenging work program that focuses primarily on range management, recreation opportunities, timber harvest and mineral extraction. Southwest Montana and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge are known for their outstanding elk hunting and Blue Ribbon trout streams. Check the Forest web site at: http://fs.usda.gov/bdnf ABOUT THE PHILIPSBURG COMMUNITY The community of Philipsburg is located in Granite County, on Montana Highway No. 1. The population of Philipsburg is 990 and the population of Granite County is 2,700. This remote town lies in the beautiful Flint Creek Valley of Southwestern Montana at 5,280 feet (one mile high). Summer temperatures rarely exceed 90 degrees while winter lows can drop to –30 degrees on occasion. Average precipitation per year is 14.6 inches. Winters can last from late October until mid-May, with rain and snow showers in April, May and June. Warmer temperatures usually start in late June and can continue into October. The Flint Creek Range, Anaconda-Pintler Range, Sapphire Range and the John Long Mountains surround Philipsburg. These mountain areas provide numerous summer and winter sport activities. For more information about Philipsburg you can visit their website at (http://philipsburgmt.com).  FULL SERVICE COMMUNITIES: Butte is 65 miles to the southeast and Missoula is 80 miles to the northwest. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive to either town. Both towns have a full range of medical services and hospitals, college or universities, cultural events, and shopping opportunities. ABOUT THE WISE RIVER COMMUNITY The community of Wise River is located in Beaverhead County, on Montana Highway No. 43. The population of Wise River is 306 people. This remote town lies at the confluence of the Wise River and and is approximately 5,653 feet in elevation. Temperatures are very similar to Philipsburg but annual average precipitation is only 11.1 inches per year. The community of Wise River is surrounded by the Pioneer Mountains and the Anaconda Range and is a popular tourist area in summer with fly fishing and camping being the most popular activities. In winter, snowmobiling and skiing are popular activities in the area.  FULL SERVICE COMMUNITIES: Butte is the nearest full-service community and is about 40 miles northeast of Wise River. Dillon is about 50 miles southeast and is the location of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest supervisor’s office. Anaconda is about 30 miles northwest of Wise River.

GOVERNMENT HOUSING: Government housing in the bunkhouse at either district may be available.

For questions pertaining to eligibility, application process, and program requirements contact: Harvey Hergett Regional Trainee Program Manager Northern Regional Office, Missoula, MT ([email protected]) (406) 329-3172

For questions pertaining to position duties contact: Charlene F. Bucha Gentry Cameron Rasor Pintler District Ranger Rangeland Management Specialist ([email protected]) ([email protected]) (406) 859-3211 (406) 859-3211

Russ Riebe Wisdom/Wise River District Ranger ([email protected]) (406) 689-3243