Vacancy announcement

GEORGE WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS

Merit Promotion, Job Announcement Number 14-0808-2572G-JM:

Demo, Job Announcement Number 14-0808-2572DP-JM:

Thursday, December 19, 2013 to Thursday, January 09, 2014

Location: George Washington-Jefferson National Forests

Duty Station: Harrisonburg, VA

Title: Engineering Operations Technician (Civil Engineering Tech)

Grade: GS-0802 – 07/08/09

*Applicants should be sure to include their most recent non-award SF-50 (for any federal service, whether permanent or temporary).

This Position Supports the District Rangers and road programs on the Lee, North River, Warm Springs and James River Ranger Districts of the George Washington-Jefferson National Forests and is supervised by the Forest Engineer. This is a new position and an exciting time to be part of an organization emphasizing its commitment to improving its infrastructure.

This position prioritizes and completes road maintenance on all supported Districts, identifies work to be completed by force account resources or contract depending upon capacity and / or funding available, and assists the Forest Engineer and District Rangers in completing and approving an annual road maintenance plan that identifies work and assigns personnel and equipment resources.

This position also coordinates personnel and equipment resources to accomplish priority projects and works closely with, mentors or supports each District Road Tech(s) or other technicians on the Districts performing road maintenance.

This position will act as a Contracting Officers Representative or Project Inspector on maintenance and construction projects and will prepare task orders, field surveys, initial layouts and designs.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a Commercial Driver’s License and equipment operator certifications to move engineer equipment between Districts and operate equipment as needed to compliment District operators and accomplish priority work.

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and the 8 Ranger Districts on the Forests, contain nearly 1.8 million acres of public land, representing one of the largest blocks of public land in the eastern United States.

Recreation is diverse with pleasure driving, hiking, bicycling and scenic viewing. Interstates 81, 77 and 64, along with U.S., and State highways cross or adjoin the National Forests. In addition, three National Forest Scenic Byways traverse 90 miles of the Forests affording vehicular access to areas of scenic beauty. The National Forests are traversed by the Blue Ridge Parkway and a portion of the Forests adjoin the Shenandoah National Park. Over 300 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail are located on the Forests, the longest section in National Forest management.

George Washington Jefferson NF

The official duty station is the North River District office located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, just outside the community of Bridgewater. Harrisonburg, a full service community with a population of approximately 41,000, is situated in the middle of the beautiful and historic Shenandoah Valley. Richmond, Roanoke, and Washington D.C. can all be reached within a two-hour drive. The Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are both within a 30-minute drive.

Interstate 81 passes through Harrisonburg and within two miles of the District office. Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport is within 15 miles of the office and provides daily flights via United Airlines. Larger airports in Washington, Roanoke, Richmond, and Charlottesville can be reached in two hours or less. Harrisonburg has taxi service, city bus service, and a Greyhound bus terminal.

The area has a four-season climate with warm, humid summers and relatively mild winters. Average high temperatures in July are in the mid to upper 80’s and the average January high is about 40 degrees. Average annual precipitation is 34 inches with several snowfalls during the winter. The snowfalls tend to be a few inches at a time and generally melt within a few days in the lower elevations.

The area has a solid and diversified economy. The current unemployment rate is low. Agriculture, light manufacturing, health services, educational facilities, retailing, and service industries provide many opportunities for employment. Harrisonburg has become a regional shopping center with a large mall, two Wal-Mart’s, Super K-Mart, Lowe’s Superstore (hardware and building supplies), and a Home Depot. Two Farmer’s Markets and numerous craft and antique shops provide a diversity of shopping opportunities. The hospitality industry features dozens of restaurants, numerous hotels, motels, and resorts. The median home price in Harrisonburg is $175,000. House and apartment rentals are available starting around $800 per month. For more information contact the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce at

The independent school systems of Rockingham County and Harrisonburg provide a total of five high schools, six middle schools, and 15 elementary schools. Several Christian schools and numerous pre-school and day care facilities are located in the area. James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College, Blue Ridge Community College, Massanutten Vocational Technical Center, and Dayton Learning Center (adult education) are all within a 15-minute drive of Bridgewater. Mary Baldwin College is located in Staunton, approximately a 30 minute drive. The University of Virginia in Charlottesville is about one hour away.