White River National Forest
OUTREACH NOTICE
Recreation Special Uses Permit Specialist(GS-101/401-7)
Aspen-Sopris Ranger District
The White River National Forest will be filling aRecreation Special Uses Permit Specialist position(GS-101/401-7)on the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District. This positionis a permanent,full-timepositionwith a duty station in Carbondale, CO. This outreach is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of this unique opportunity, and to help the District determine interest in this position. Government housing may or may not be available.
MAJOR DUTIES
This position will support the administration of a wide range of commercial uses on National Forest System lands authorized by recreation special use permits, specifciallyinvolving the administration of outfitter and guides, recreation residences, recreation events, commercial filming and photography, and other recreation special use authorizations. The position will be working in multiple databases, including the Special Uses Data System (SUDS), to track and monitor special use permits. Multi-tasking and time management are essential skills for this position. Operation inspections will require many different forms of transportation: off-highway vehicles, horseback, snowmobile, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, climbing, backcountry skiing, etc. The candidate must have excellent customer service skills as this position plays a key role in maintaining relationsihps with long-standing permittees, as well as building relationships with new permitees. The selected individual will be responsible for supporting the District Recreation Special Uses Program Administrator with permit administration. The position also supports the District’s overall recreation program by providing information about recreational opportunities to visitors.
ADDITIONAL DESIRED QUALITIES
This is a challenging position with manysocial and natural resource considerations. The incumbent must be an exceptional listener and communicator. To succeed in this job, you must be a self-starter and have a demonstrated track record of working in a fast-pacedenvironment. You must be willing to take on challenges, work effectively as a member of a team, and provide innovative solutions to complex problems. This position demands a creative, focused, hardworking individual.
ABOUT THE WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
The White River National Forest is one of the crown jewels of the National Forest System with 2.3 million acres in central Colorado. The Supervisor's Office is located in Glenwood Springs with District offices in Meeker, Rifle, Carbondale, Aspen, Eagle, Minturn, and Silverthorne. Currently, the White River employs approximately 150 permanent employees and 150 temporary employees. With 11 ski resorts, the White River is the premier place for winter recreation and hosts more than 12 million visitors each year. The forest has a full complement of resource challenges and opportunities including recreation, wilderness, oil and gas development, grazing, forest and watershed health, and fuels and fire mitigation.
Our Vision: We are a 21st century organization, leading the nation in innovative landscape conservation, connecting citizens to the land through world-class recreation, restoring and enhancing resilient ecosystems, and contributing to sustainable economies. We share our story and take care of each other as we continue our legacy of meeting incredible challenges with passion, creativity, and collaboration.
For more information, visit
ASPEN AND SOPRIS RANGER DISTRICT INFORMATION
The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District is located in western Colorado in the Roaring Fork Valley(south of Glenwood Springs). The valley is an internationally-renowned winter and summer destination with high recreation visitor numbers. Almost half of the District is wilderness, comprised of all or part of five wilderness areas: Holy Cross, Maroon Bells-Snowmass, Collegiate, Hunter-Fryingpan, and Raggeds. Elevations range from 6,000 feet above sea level to six peaks with elevations of more than 14,000 feet. Predominant vegetation ranges from sagebrush and pinion-juniper in the lower elevations to lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, aspen, and alpine tundra toward higher elevations.
The District covers approximately 760,000 acres within the counties of Pitkin, Garfield, Eagle, and Gunnison. District programs focus on summer and winter recreation, the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, mountain sports administration, wilderness management, landscape restoration, grazing, oil and gas development, and a multitude of recreation special uses. There are two ranger station locations: Aspen and Carbondale. Approximately 20 permanent employees are shared between the two offices with the majority of the positions located in Carbondale.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Aspen and Carbondale are both full-service communities. Aspen has a population of approximately 6,000 and is located in the higher elevations of the Roaring Fork Valley. Neighboring communities include: Snowmass Village (1,700 people, 9 miles down valley of Aspen), Basalt (2,200, 18 miles), El Jebel (1,000, 20 miles), Carbondale (4,000, 30 miles), and Glenwood Springs (7,500, 40 miles). Real Estate in the Roaring Fork Valley is very expensive as is the cost of living. The average real estate transaction in the Aspen-Snowmass Village area exceeds $2 million. A portion of the District’s staff commutes 30 minutes to more than one hour each way to work. Efficient mass transit is available. Average home prices are: Aspen ($2 million+); Basalt ($800,000+); Carbondale ($500,000+); and Glenwood Springs ($400,000+). Rent for small apartments range monthly from $2,000 in Aspen to $1,000 in Glenwood Springs; home rentals range from $3,500+ per month in Aspen to an average of $1,500+ in Glenwood Springs. The quality of life in the Roaring Fork Valley is excellent with enormous opportunity to enjoy the natural and cultural environment. For more information about the area, check out: and
HOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST
If you are interested in this position, please fill-out the attached form and submit it no later than January 1, 2016to Allison Anderson, Aspen-Sopris Recreation Special Uses Permit Administrator, at . For additional information, contact Allison Anderson by email or by phone at (970) 404-3173.
Outreach Response Form –Recreation Special Uses Permit Specialist
Carbondale, Colorado, White River National Forest
USDA Forest Service, R2-Rocky Mountain Region
Please respond by January 1, 2016:
Allison Anderson at , 970-404-3173
Name: ______
Email Address: ______
Work Phone Number: ______MobilePhone Number: ______
Employer: FS Unit ______Other ______
Location: ______
Tour: Permanent _____ Temporary _____ Student/Intern _____ Contractor _____ Other _____
Current Position Title:
Series/grade (if a federal employee):
For which job series and grade would you like to apply?
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If not a current permanent employee, are you eligible to be hired under any of the following special authorities?
_____ Schedule A (Person with Disabilities)
_____ Veterans Readjustment
_____ Veterans w/30% Compensable Disability
_____ Veterans Employment Opportunities Act Of 1998
_____ Former Peace Corps Volunteer
_____ Pathways Program (Students and Recent Graduates)
_____ Other ______