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State of Oregon seeks Recreation Specialists

Natural Resource Specialist 1

(Recreation Specialist)

$2,530 - $3,672 Monthly

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are multiple permanent positions with the Oregon Department of Forestry in various locations that periodically become vacant.

Currently, there are permanent full-time positions located in Tillamook and Forest Grove. To be considered for these vacancies, your application must be received by August 21, 2007.

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates for the vacancies as they occur. Indicate in the Geographic Availability section of the PD100 application any and all geographic areas where you are willing to consider working.

Lists may be pulled for vacancies at any geographic location at any time without notice. Apply now if you are interested.

Specific questions regarding these positions should be referred to the district offices. Visit www.odf.state.or.us for contact information.

TO QUALIFY

Your PD100 application form will be reviewed to verify that you meet the qualifications stated in this section. To receive credit, your application must clearly show that you have:

A Bachelor's degree in Recreation and Park Management or related natural resource field such as Forestry, Forest Engineering, Wildlife Management, Biology, Botany and Plant Pathology. If you are within 3 months of graduation, you will be considered to have met the minimum qualifications; OR

Three years of experience developing or maintaining recreation facilities, developing and implementing recreation management plans, or coordinating public use and outreach programs.

NOTE: If you were an Oregon Department of Forestry Intern within the last five years, enter the skill code OFI (Oregon Forestry Intern) in the Skill Code Section of the PD100. Also be sure to include this experience in the Work History Section of the PD100.

Open: July 11, 2007 Announcement Number: LEFR7040

Close: October 31, 2007 Classification Number: C8501

Internet: D715 Revised: 7/30/07 (General Information)

Exam: FR459

ODF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO A DIVERSE WORK FORCE.

H.I.R.E.: H.I.R.E. system participants are encouraged to apply. You must follow the instructions in the HOW TO APPLY section of this announcement.

IF YOU QUALIFY, SEE TEST section of this announcement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Recreation Specialists work on state forest lands for the benefit of the public. This includes planning and developing trails; maintaining and operating campground, trailhead and trail facilities; providing basic forest education to recreational users; coordinating volunteers for forest improvement projects; and carrying out a range of general recreation management activities.

Recreation Facility Maintenance and Operations

Monitor and evaluate forest campgrounds, staging areas, trailheads and dispersed camping areas for maintenance.

Schedule, coordinate and direct the work of inmate crews, interns, youth corps crews and volunteers to perform facility maintenance, repairs and improvements.

Coordinate heavy equipment use for maintenance and improvement to forest facilities.

Recruit volunteer camp hosts for forest campgrounds and make recommendations for selection. Provide direction, support and basic forest education to camp hosts and monitor their performance as specified in the Volunteer Program Manual.

Coordinate garbage service, septic pumping and welding services at existing facilities. Monitor performance and verify accuracy of invoices.

Implement procedures and guidelines for the collection, recording and processing of campground fees and campground use data.

Assist with public use data gathering such as traffic counters and campground use.

Operate department vehicles including cars, trucks, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.

Assist in the development and administration of personal services contracts to perform recreation projects.

Trail Maintenance and Development

Monitor and evaluate forest trail conditions for maintenance.

Coordinate and direct the work of inmate crews, interns, youth corps crews and volunteers to perform trail maintenance, repair and improvement.

Implement project plans for the construction, improvement and maintenance of forest trails. Perform reconnaissance and layout to identify preliminary forest trail locations. Implement department design standards for forest trail grade and width. Assess potential impacts of the trail to natural resources such as water quality, slope stability and wildlife.

Prepare trail and facility development grant applications for approval and submittal.

Volunteer Coordination

Coordinate volunteers by reviewing forest site improvement project proposals, scheduling dates, determining contacts and providing on-the-ground direction.

Administer and facilitate the recruitment, training, recognition, record keeping and meetings for volunteer programs such as trail patrol, camp host, trail adoption and other projects.

Public Contact and Education

Provide basic forest education to the public about forest and campground rules and regulations to prevent undesirable activity, damage to facilities and damage to natural resources. Contact law enforcement as needed.

Enforce Chapter 477 fire laws by issuing warnings or citations for compliance.

Provide visitor assistance in crisis situations by contacting law enforcement or Emergency Medical Services.

Miscellaneous

Assist with the staging and monitoring of forest recreational events.

Plan, coordinate and implement forest clean-up projects.

Train seasonal employees.

The Department's highest priority work is responding to forest fire emergencies. Therefore, these positions may be utilized during those emergencies to provide assistance in a variety of ways. This assistance may be in direct support of the emergency effort in the field, providing back-up support for another position that is being used in direct aid to the emergency, or performing any other essential function in any area within the agency.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position involves a significant amount of public contact, primarily in the field, often alone, occasionally in steep or difficult terrain and in all types of weather conditions. Requires driving on narrow steep forest roads and occasionally operating motorcycles or quad off-highway vehicles on trails. Involves regular or seasonal evening work and regular work assignments on weekends. May involve long shifts on special project assignments.

THIS IS THE TESTYOU MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

Use separate sheets of paper. Write down any work experience (paid or unpaid) and training that you have that is related to each question. Limit your answer to each question to no more than two (2) pages. Be sure that the jobs where you gained the experience you describe in your answers are listed in the Work History section of your application form. Your grade will be based upon your answers.

If there are several parts to a question, answer each part separately. Number your answers to agree with the question. Attach the answer sheet to your application. Your application will not be accepted if it is incomplete.

1. Describe your experience conducting and coordinating the operation, maintenance and improvement of existing recreation facilities such as campgrounds, trailheads, and staging areas. Include any experience developing implementation plans for new facilities.

2. Describe your experience conducting and coordinating the operation of a non-motorized and/or a motorized trail program, including the maintenance and improvement of existing trails. Also include experience implementing plans for new trails.

3. Describe your experience developing and maintaining a volunteer program, including the development of working relationships and projects with recreation users.

If only a small number of applications are received, the test may not be graded and every applicant that meets the minimum qualifications will receive a Qualified (QLF) score.

HOW TO APPLY

COMPLETE a State of Oregon Employment application (form PD100), the Geographic Location Supplement and any other documents requested in the announcement. Copies of applications, supplements and job announcements can be obtained from:

1. the State of Oregon Job Page at: www.oregonjobs.org

2. local Oregon Employment Department field offices, or

3. most state agency human resource offices, including the Department of Forestry, Human Resource Office, Building C, 2600 State St., Salem OR 97310.

If you have a disability and need an alternative format in order to complete the employment process, you may call (503) 945-7290 or TTY (503) 945-7213 or (800) 437-4490 for the hearing impaired. Please be prepared to leave a message describing the alternate format needed.

SEND completed application materials to Department of Forestry, Human Resource Office, Building C, 2600 State Street, Salem, OR 97310. You may FAX, if necessary, to (503) 945-7404. They must be received by midnight of the close date and must be complete and legible.

You may E-MAIL your application materials to us at odfjobs@odf.state.or.us. By electronically submitting your application, you agree to the conditions stated in the certification and signature section of the application, which is enforceable as if you had signed. You will receive automated confirmation of receipt only if you submit via e-mail.

CURRENT JOB OPENINGS are available online at www.odf.state.or.us or www.oregonjobs.org.

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