Santa Fe National Forest, R3 Supervisor’s Office - Santa Fe, NM Public Affairs Specialist, Recent Graduate GS-1035-7 Job Announcement 17-NCH-FS2553-09-RGA Closes Friday, Nov. 4, 2016

ABOUT THE POSITION:

This position is open to Recent Graduates from qualifying institutions who have completed an academic program within the preceding two years. Preference-eligible veterans who were precluded by their military service obligation from meeting this requirement will have up to six years to apply. The duty station is in Santa Fe and may require some overnight travel.

The Public Affairs Specialist assists the Public Affairs Officer with internal and external contacts. This position communicates with employees, the general public, media representatives, elected officials, agency counterparts, and a variety of partner organizations. This position creates, modifies, and disseminates information on a variety of issues, participates in conservation education and community relations programs, and may serve as agency spokesperson. This position serves as webmaster for the forest and coordinates Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on behalf of the forest.

Skills needed:  Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written  Ability to interact professionally with internal and external audiences  Writing and editing skills  Willingness to learn Public Information Officer skills in fire management  Web management expertise

Outreach Response: Interested applicants should complete the attached Outreach Form and return it to Julie Anne Overton, Acting Public Affairs Officer, at [email protected] by November 15. We expect to fill this position shortly thereafter. For additional information, please contact Julie Anne at 505-438-5320.

The Forest: (1.6 million acres) is in the Southwestern Region (R3). It is comprised of mountains, valleys, and mesas ranging from 5,000 to 13,000’ in elevation. District offices are located in Cuba, , Jemez Springs, Pecos, Las Vegas, and Española. The Supervisor's office is in Santa Fe. is rich with cultural history and recreational opportunities. One does not have to travel far to find ruins or petroglyphs from ancient civilizations, colorful volcanic formations, deep river gorges, or forests. The Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains, located east of the Rio Grande, are crowned by the . Nearby are the Santa Fe Ski Basin, Glorieta Pass, and the old . The , located west of the Rio Grande, rise to nearly 12,000’ at the summit of Chicoma Peak. Los Alamos National Laboratories, Bandelier National Monument, and the Valles Caldera are all nearby. Residents from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and local communities enjoy a vast selection of activities that include skiing and snowboarding, river rafting and boating, hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, , cattle ranching, firewood cutting, and piñon nut and wild herb gathering. Tourism, farming, and ranching are the mainstays of the north central New Mexico economy. More information can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/. Santa Fe: Santa Fe, the state capital, is located in the Rio Grande valley between the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains; the population is about 60,000. Albuquerque, approximately 60 miles to the southwest, is a metropolitan area with a population of 600,000. Santa Fe averages 300 days of sunshine each year with mild summer days and cool nights. Winters are relatively short, with snow accumulations primarily in the surrounding mountains. The average annual rainfall is 14 inches, and the average annual snowfall is 34 inches. The cultural influence, art, and architecture from the Native American pueblos and Spanish American villages of northern New Mexico are unique to this part of the nation. Santa Fe is a rich art community with over 150 galleries, music, dance, and theater venues. Health care is available from a variety of doctors, specialists, and alternative health care practitioners. The city has more than 200 restaurants, 70 churches, 45 parks, 27 tennis courts, 16 movie theaters, 10 health clubs, 8 museums, 5 libraries, 4 swimming pools, 2 golf courses, a racetrack, and the Santa Fe Opera, Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra. The public school system includes one community college, three high schools, three junior high schools, and eighteen elementary schools. Private schools include four colleges, four junior/senior high schools, nine elementary schools, and 25 child care centers. The cost of living in Santa Fe is about 18% higher than the national average. The average home price is $350,000 and the average 2-bedroom apartment rental is $800 per month. More affordable housing is located in the outlying areas of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, where the average home price is $234,000. Commuters may qualify for a transit subsidy through the Public Transportation Benefit Program if an approved form of mass transit is used. Vanpools and the NM Rail Runner Express Train provide service from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.

2 Santa Fe community information can be accessed at http://www.santafenm.gov/, http://www.santafechamber.com/, and http://www.sfps.k12.nm.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

3 OUTREACH NOTICE FORM Santa Fe National Forest, R3 Supervisor’s Office - Santa Fe, NM Public Affairs Specialist, Recent Graduate GS-1035-7

NAME: ______

E-MAIL ADDRESS: ______

MAILING ADDRESS: ______

______

TELEPHONE NUMBER: ______

CURRENT REGION/FOREST/DISTRICT: ______CURRENT SERIES AND GRADE: ______CURRENT POSITION TITLE: ______

Please describe your work experience and tell us why you would be a good candidate for this position: ______

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity! Please return this form to Julie Anne Overton at [email protected]

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