Region 10, Tongass National Forest

OUTREACH & VACANCY NOTICE Region 10, Tongass National Forest Hoonah, Alaska

The Hoonah Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest is seeking a motivated candidate to fill a permanent GS-0462-06 Lead Forestry Technician, Handcrew position. This position is a permanent seasonal 13/13 (13 pay periods in pay status, 13 pay periods in non-pay status). The duty station is Hoonah, Alaska. Hoonah is a remote location, boat or plane is the only way to access Hoonah. Interested candidates should complete the Outreach response form at the end of this outreach notice by January 27, 2017. This vacancy may be advertised in the near future at USAJobs (www.usajobs.gov) as an individual vacancy announcement or through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Hiring Authority. Those who reply to this outreach notice will be notified of which hiring authority will be used to hire this position, whether Merit through USAJobs or through the ANILCA hiring authority.

MAJOR DUTIES Serves as a lead wildland firefighter on a 3-person handcrew. During initial attack fire suppression activities, locates fireline, directs and participates in fireline construction, backfiring and burnout operations. Constructs handline in various vegetative types uses a variety of specialized tools, equipment and techniques to actively suppress fires. May be required to be a fully qualified chainsaw operator, fire arms certification and boat operator. Most fires in Alaska are in remote areas that require plane or boat transportation.

Additional Duties: Perform project work such as road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, miscellaneous equipment, facilities maintenance and assist other functions on the district.

Qualification requirements Work Capacity Test (WCT) – This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Taking and passing the WCT at the arduous level is a condition of employment.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotapes, etc) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9401 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Must possess a valid state driver’s license.

Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible

Firefighter Retirement Coverage: This is a primary/rigorous firefighter position under the provisions of the 5 USC 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS).

Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and prior completion of Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290). ICT5 is also highly recommended for this position.

This is a rifle bearing position. Applicants must submit to and pass a pre-employment drug screen and background investigation prior to employment.

ABOUT THE AREA

The Community of Hoonah Hoonah is only accessible by boat or plane. It is located about 40 air miles west of Juneau and 80 air miles north of Sitka. The small municipal airport and Alaska Marine Highway System ferry provide regularly scheduled transportation service to Juneau and other nearby communities; the trip to Juneau is about 20 minutes by air and 3½ hours by ferry, weather dependent.

The population is approximately 850 people; easily doubling and sometimes tripling during summer months, when several cruise ships bring tourists to town. The city provides all municipal services including police, fire/EMS, utilities, road maintenance, harbor facilities, a park, and a youth center. The public school includes grades K–12. OkayA Physician’s Assistant and health aides provide local healthcare; the nearest hospitals are located in Juneau and Sitka. Retail stores include a grocery/ hardware store, a convenience store, a thrift store, and a marine/outdoor supply store. There are two restaurants, a deli, a coffee house, two pubs, a lodge, and several churches. Other services include limited tire/auto repair, taxi service, and several ATMs; however, there are no banks.

Hoonah is known for cool summers, mild winters and moderate to heavy year-round precipitation. Average summer temperatures range from 40 F to the mid 60’s F and from 20 F to 40 F in the winter. The average annual precipitation is 63 inches. The average annual snow fall is 87 inches. Hoonah has up to 19 hours of daylight during the summer months and as few as 6 hours during the winter. Hoonah is in the Alaska Time Zone which is one hour earlier than Pacific Time and four hours earlier than Eastern Time.

Government Housing is available.

For more information about Hoonah please visit: TNF Public Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/ TNF Internal Website: http://fsweb.stikine.r10.fs.fed.us/ Alaska Marine Highway Website: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

To file a complaint of discrimination write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9401 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Outreach Response, Lead Forestry Technician, Handcrew, GS-0462-6, Hoonah, Alaska

If you are interested in this position, please send this outreach response to [email protected] by January 31, 2017. Please attach your most recent Master Record if you have one. If you have any questions please contact Timothy Spencer, Fire Module Leader 907-945-1206 [email protected] or Una Pesata, Forest Assistant Fire Management Officer 907-789-6210.

MERIT PROMOTION OUTREACH RESPONSE Name: Email Address: Mailing Address: Phone: Current Agency or Forest: Current Job Title, Series and Grade: Current IQCS Qualifications:

Briefly describe your qualifications/interest in this position:

If you are not a status (career or career conditional) permanent employee, please check the following special authorities that you are eligible for:

Reinstatement Eligible ____  Person with Disability____  Veterans Readjustment____  Disabled Veteran w/30% Compensable Disability____  Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998____  Former Peace Corps Volunteer____  Student Career Experience Program____ The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotapes, etc) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9401 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer.  Other______

To file a complaint of discrimination write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9401 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer.