Timber Harvest and Forest Engineering Position

This is a unique partnership involving the U.S Forest Service Pacific Northwest & California Regions, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Oregon State University College of Forestry/Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) Extension Program. The position carries a 25% Training & Education component that will be delivered as part of the OSU FNR Extension Program and our Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management. The position is now available for viewing and application at http://www.avuecentral.com. The application dates are from October 13, 2010 until November 9, 2010. The vacancy announcement number is 11-06570054-2531G-FOR.

USFS and OSU

Deadline: 2010/11/09 17:00:00 US/Eastern

Forester, GS-0460-13
 
Civil Engineer, GS-0810-13

This position is the GS 13 Regional Logging Engineer position. The person in the job will be the program manager or co-manager for several programs. The programs include Sale Area Layout and Harvesting Institute (SALHI), Small Business Administration (SBA), harvesting extension responsibilities at Oregon State University, and logging system and danger tree technical expert for Regions 6, 5, and BLM. Service to the field units is the highest priority for this position. The person in the position is expected to become a national leader in the program areas.  The Regional Logging Engineer reports to the Assistant Natural Resources director in Region 6.
 
Oregon State University (OSU) has a forestry extension organization.  The position will involve functioning as an Extension Specialist for OSU.  The extension specialist duties are dependent on their level of financial support.
 
Being able to teach adults and organize national training is crucial. The position is responsible along with other Regional Logging Engineers for organizing and teaching the national SALHI training.
 
Support is provided to National Forests and BLM Resource Areas in need of professional and technical expertise related to logging systems; ground-based and, most critical, cable-based or helicopter systems. This expertise includes all facets from NEPA planning and input to on-the-ground layout to follow-up during logging. Coordination and assistance to road engineering personnel, wildlife, fisheries, hydrologists, and soil scientists as well as industry representatives, is an important and major component of the job. Good communications at all levels internally and externally is a key factor to success.

Forest Resource Technical Analysis 25%
Studies and synthesizes current research studies and reports related to forestry resource functions and correlates the results with related resource activities. Plans, coordinates, reviews and evaluates a broad scope of complex problems, programs, or functions that may occur at a number of locations within a broad geographic location. Analyzes deviations and unusual local situations and initiates corrective action. Provides technical support in the areas of logging,  forest resource analysis and development of approaches for land use involving multiple resources. The OSU extension part of the position requires the application of the same topics to non-federal land owners.

Civil Engineering Project Planning Duties 10%
Plans specific objectives, milestones, and phases for complex projects, and makes needed innovations and modifications. The important task is for the position to be able to do the initial road locations and stream crossings.

Responsible for teaching how to do initial road and crossing  location of roads and stream crossings that will serve logging needs in the near and long term, Must work with interdisciplinary teams to finalize initial locations.
Work complexities require not only adaptation or modification of precedents but also a versatile and innovative approach to solve problems where serious conflicts exist between project planning requirements and engineering principles. Writes special project plans and specifications where standard specifications are not adequate.

Timber Sales Preparation 20%
Devises and adapts standards for sale preparation work, reviews sale packages for compliance with Forest, Regional, and National standards, and inspects selected sale areas prior to advertisement to ensure that multiple-use and Forest Plan objectives are met on-the-ground. Inspects critical sale layout projects for compliance with land management practices, and for economies in sale preparation work. Plans, coordinates, and conducts training on all phases of sale preparation work.

Advisory Services for Land Resource Management Programs 20%
Participates and represents the agency on large inter-agency projects, meetings, and activities and in the public arena. Plans and arranges meetings and participates in negotiations. Maintains contact and cooperates with state, federal and local agencies, tribal governments and industry representatives to partner and coordinate cooperative natural resources management projects. Ensures adequate technical guidance is provided on natural resources projects and in the development of programs, plans and projects to ensure that such activities are consistent and compatible with agency direction and other agency missions.  Maintains OSHA, and the logging associations contacts and involvement.  Serves as a member of the Oregon OSHA advisory committee.
Training and Education (25%)
 
Assesses training needs of professional forestry operations, logging, and the forest contracting workforce, and develops and delivers educational programs to meet those needs. Work in partnership with Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service and others, such as the Associated Oregon Loggers and Washington Contract Loggers Association.  Serves as an Adjunct Professor in OSU's Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management.  Serves as a member of the Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Program.  Works closely with forest engineering professors to identify forest engineering research needs. Works with other Extension Specialists and Extension Agents to deliver training and education programs related to timber harvesting and forest engineering.
 
The GS 12 position will mostly teach at the SALHI training.  The GS 13 will plan, direct, and teach the SALHI program material, and other training.
The Regional Logging Engineer is a leader in the danger tree program along with the Regional Pathologist. This involves being a leader in the training and certification of employees who are responsible for their part of the danger tree program.

For more information, visit: http://http://www.avuecentral.com