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Tree Woker

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Pacific West Region (Interior Regions 8,9,10 and 12) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April through June but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2025.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/16/2024 to 12/30/2024
Salary
$23.15 to - $27.01 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 7
Locations
Kings Canyon National Park, CA
2 vacancies
Sequoia National Park, CA
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - Not to Exceed 1039 Hours
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules - Full or Part time depending on duty location.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
PW-1548-SR-25-12619789-DE
Control number
821812700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary between park sites depending on funding, weather conditions and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding.

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Duties

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The Duty Locations are:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

  • Use chainsaws to fell trees of moderate difficulty and complexity with accuracy in developed and non-developed areas.
  • Recognizes tree species, defects, wood characteristics and environmental hazards that may alter desired felling results.
  • Works in potentially hazardous conditions while being exposed to inclement weather, steep terrain, and associated risks related to forest and timber industries.
  • Provides for public safety, protects property and surrounding environment to minimize impact. Installs and utilizes rigging equipment such as ropes/cables, nylon slings, pulleys, friction devices and attachment hardware to hold, lower or maneuver tree sections when working in limited spaces above or adjacent to buildings or other valued property.
  • May be assigned to assist in prescribed and suppression fire activities.
  • Drives medium duty trucks (up to 14,000 pounds) while towing equipment on narrow, winding, steep roads in all weather conditions.
  • Operates aerial lift trucks, brush chippers, stump grinders, portable winches, portable blowers, etc.
Physical Demands: Incumbent must be in excellent physical condition. Must be able to operate all the different types and sizes of power chainsaws used when felling trees. Chain saws can weigh from 20 pounds up to 55 pounds. When loading trucks by hand on work site cleanup, incumbent lifts, pulls and carries limbs, small logs or firewood from 10 to 60 pounds. May be required to carry heavy loads over long distances to accomplish work assignments.

Working Conditions: Will work in all types of weather conditions to accomplish assigned tasks. Outside temperatures vary from 100 degrees (plus) in the summer, to rain, snow and wind with the temperatures below freezing in the winter. Works in a variety of vegetation types and elevations, from forest at the 1,900-foot elevation up to and above 9,000 feet elevation. Works in steep mountainous terrain where footing is often compromised due to ice, snow, loose rocks and soil or combination of all factors. Works with and operates equipment that produce fumes, vibrations, dust and noise requiring head, hand, ear and eye protection. May walk long distances carrying heavy loads and may live in spike camps under primitive conditions to accomplish work projects. May be required to work during adverse conditions and during emergency situations such as strong winds, rockslides, snow and rainstorms, floods and wildfires.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or
  • (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

  1. Have the ability to do the work of Tree Faller without more than normal supervision. (SCREEN OUT)
  2. This includes work such as: Operate different types and sizes of chainsaws in felling trees.
  3. Fell trees of various sizes in non-developed areas.
  4. Determine the appropriate method/process to fell trees, taking into consideration tree species, defects, wood characteristics and environmental hazards that may alter desired felling results.
  5. Determine and apply the appropriate specialized tools to fell trees in desired direction.
  6. Use ropes and cables to perform tree rigging and removal. Operate skid steer loaders, brush chippers, stump grinder and portable winches.
  7. Able to drive vehicles up to 26,000 pounds in all types of weather conditions. Able to tow trailers, requiring maneuvering and backing in areas of limited space. Perform pre-trip inspections of vehicles and equipment prior to use.
If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

CTAP/ICTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

For more information about these positions, please contact:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Joseph Sandstrom, joseph_sandstrom@nps.gov
Government Housing MAY be available.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected the display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Special Conditions--Air Quality: Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months - generally May to October. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information: http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instruments

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