Natural Resources Job Board

The U.S.D.A. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station and the Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests have been monitoring avian and mammalian wildlife in these forests to quantify wildlife responses to forest management actions to ultimately inform management decision making. The primary focus of the work is deploying passive monitoring devices, including audio recording units and game cameras. However, the work will also include more traditional wildlife fieldwork like conducting nest searches and nest checks for white-headed woodpecker and tracking white-headed woodpecker using VHF transmitters. Start date is flexible, this position will initially be focused on office duties, training, and data validation before the field season begins in late March.

·         Forestry Technician (Recreation, Timber, Range), GS-5: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/886147500 

·         Forestry Technician (Recreation, Timber, Range), GS-6: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/886148000 

·         Forestry Technician (Recreation, Timber, Range), GS-7: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/886148100 

·         Please note: the positions are titled Forestry Technician (Recreation, Timber, Range), please use application materials to reflect requirements in the 
USAJobs posting.

·         Validate acoustic avian detections

·         Deploy/retrieve audio recording units and game cameras 

·         Conduct white-headed woodpecker nest searches and nest checks

·         Track white-headed woodpeckers using VHF transmitters

·         Collect, record, and verify data

·         GS-7 position will serve as an assistant crew leader and assist with training field crew

·         U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

·         Valid state driver’s license

·         Must be 18 years of age

·         Must be able to work independently and in groups

·         Must have good observational and communication skills

·         Comfortable working in remote locations in steep forested terrain, often in inclement weather, including snow, rain and heat

·         Previous field experience and experience navigating remote landscapes using a map and GPS is desirable

·         Good to excellent hearing and familiarity with vocalizations of PNW wildlife species and/or experience with radio telemetry in the field is a definite plus, but not a requirement

·         Background check will be required

·         One year of specialized experience relating to wildlife or natural resources management programs or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor’s degree with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses directly related to the position such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable). 

·         A combination of experience and education to meet the total experience required. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

·         Four years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor’s degree with major study in wildlife or other related fields, that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses directly related to the position such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable).

·         One year of specialized experience relating to wildlife or natural resources management programs equivalent to the GS-5 level.

·         One year of specialized experience relating to wildlife or natural resources management programs equivalent to the GS-6 level.

·         One full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire).

·         Combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

·         Up to $34,799 per year (GS-5 level)

·         Up to $38,791 per year (GS-6 level)

·         Up to $43,106 per year (GS-7 level)

·         Work vehicle and field equipment provided (not including personal transportation needs)

These positions will be open for applications on USA Jobs on September 25th, 2026. Positions will be advertised as Forestry Technician (Recreation, Timber, Range). Be sure to select La Grande, OR as a duty station.

Please note, there is a two-page resume page limit for applications.

Savannah Finch

savannah.finch@usda.gov