Landscape Architect/Sustainable Recreation Planner Resource Assistant
Job Announcement
United States Forest Service – Pacific Northwest Region 6
Pacific Northwest Regional Office, Portland, OR
Landscape Architect/Sustainable Recreation Planner Resource
Assistant
Please Respond By: April 22nd, 2022
Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS) welcomes applications for two Landscape Architect/Sustainable Recreation Planner Resource Assistant position . This is a 26-week full-time work experience from approximately June 1, 2022 to December
1, 2022. Created in 1984 and modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, NYC is a non-profit job training and experiential education program for youth and young adults to learn and work in the field of natural resource management. NYC will recruit and hire the selected RA candidate providing personnel and Human Resources needs during the placement. The daily activities of the RA will be primarily under the direction of Forest Service staff.
Position: Landscape Architect/Sustainable Recreation Planner Resource Assistant
Target start date: June 1, 2022 (specific date to be determined by the RA and supervisor, may be up to two weeks earlier or later depending on the RA’s availability)
Duration: 26 weeks (Six Months) Depending on the availability of funding, this position may be extended for up to an additional six months (26 weeks), if mutually agreeable to the Forest Service and the RA. An ability to commit to a 12-month tenure is preferred to provide the optimal experience for the candidate
Status: Full time (40 hours/week).
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Duty Location: Desired location: Portland, OR metro area and/or other host units to be determined
It is anticipated that more than one to two positions may be filled and that duty stations will be located at the regional office and/or other host units within the Pacific Northwest Region. There may be opportunities and/or requirements for remote telework and virtual team meetings. https://www.linktobeestablished/
Overview
The Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region manages 24.75 million acres across 17 National
Forests, 59 District Offices, two National Scenic Areas, a National Grassland, and two National
Volcanic Monuments, all within the states of Oregon and Washington. Within the region, there are more than 2,400 developed recreation sites, over 24,000 miles of trails, 51 Wild and Scenic Rivers, two national monuments, one national historic trail, and two national scenic trails. Through culturally relevant partnerships, engagement, and communication, the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region builds connections with rural and urban communities to help sustain the health, diversity and productivity of these lands to meet the needs of present and future generations. These national forests provide forest products for communities, forage for cattle and wildlife, habitat for fish, plants, and animals, and some of the finest recreation opportunities in the country. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6
The Resource Assistant Program is a rigorous and immersive paid internship for individuals interested in Forest Service careers. Resource Assistants (RAs) work with Forest Service staff to complete mission-critical work that demonstrates leadership, critical thinking, and strategic communication.
Through direct training, experience, and exposure, RAs gain the tools to launch their natural and cultural resource careers. To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.fs.fed.us/working-with-us/volunteers/resource-assistants-program
About the Program and Staff Area:
The year 2019 marked the centennial of the first landscape architect and recreation professional hired to work for the US Forest Service, Arthur Carhart. In celebration of that milestone and to prepare for the next 100 years, a national effort was launched to utilize the Resource Assistants Program to create a cadre of landscape architecture-sustainable recreation resource assistants (RA) known as the Carhart
Centennial Corps.
Several landscape architect resource assistants were brought on during that year to assist forest units across the Pacific Northwest Region in providing site planning and design, sustainable recreation, and scenery management services. In continued partnership with the US Forest Service, Northwest Youth
Corps (NYC) is outreaching for additional resource assistants in 2022.
Duties and Areas of Responsibility
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Traditional landscape architecture roles, such as development of site analysis, conceptual plans, design narratives and construction drawings for a variety of outdoor recreation settings (trails, trailheads, overlooks, signage, boat launches, campgrounds).
- Recreation planning functions involving scenic byways/bikeways/trails and related corridor planning, as well as community and partner level strategic planning efforts.
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- Scenery management and related visual assessment work to support forest restoration and vegetation management.
- Inventory and other data collection related to recreation facilities condition, opportunities, and accessibility.
- Collaboration with other landscape architects, recreation staff, and other interdisciplinary staff areas.
Requirements
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with strong organizational skills
- Ability to work independently and with others
- Ability to work effectively with professionals in a variety of disciplines in a collaborative and cooperative manner and handle multiple tasks/projects at a given time.
- Skills in problem solving, analysis, evaluation, and resolution. Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to meet objectives as part of the performance of position duties.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, and maintain a positive attitude.
- Work environment conditions range from working inside an office setting to working in the field. Physical activity and exposure to weather elements on occasion. It involves walking over varied or sometimes rough terrain
- Successful completion of a background check.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents over 19 years old.
- Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle
- Government vehicles are available for work-related travel
- Resource Assistants are responsible for travel to and from duty station
- * Undergraduate or advanced degree in landscape architecture or related field *
Desired Skills
- Experience coordinating and/or managing projects in a timely manner.
- Ability to solve complex problems through creative and innovative approaches.
- Ability to adapt to change (such as changes to project scope, tasks, and timelines) and to persist through challenges to achieve goals and outcomes.
- Demonstrate professionalism that fosters an environment where colleagues and stakeholders feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring new ideas and issues forward.
- Previous experience working as landscape architect or providing similar services, including experience with data collection, managing projects, and original technical design
Program Benefits:
- NYC will provide RA a total stipend of $16,900 divided across a 26-week term along with health care coverage, workers compensation, and FICA/Medicare.
- The RA will receive $2,750 in funding to reimburse relocation costs, program travel, and applicable trainings.
- The RA will receive a total monthly commuter fund of $300, and a total housing stipend of
$6,000 prorated monthly.
- The RA will have a minimum of 40 hours of flexible paid leave in addition to federally recognized holidays.
- The RA will qualify for a U.S. Forest Service Direct Hiring Authority and Noncompetitive
Hiring Eligibility upon completion of 960 hours of service. The hiring authority is valid for 2 years, once issued.Page 3 of 5
- Professional development, mentorship, trainings, and networking opportunities.
Regional Office in Portland, Oregon -- Portland, Oregon, and surrounding communities are routinely ranked among the top 50 places to live and work in the United States. Portland is at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in northwest Oregon. Portland is Oregon’s biggest city with
600,000 residents. There are 1.95 million people in the greater metropolitan area, with many large suburban communities including adjacent Vancouver, Washington.
The Regional Office is in the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in downtown Portland. It is easily accessible by bicycle and public transportation, including light rail and buses. Bicycle parking is provided in the building. Car parking is usually available at city-owned or private lots at a daily cost of around $18. The area is characterized by federal and city government buildings, high-rise apartment and office complexes, hotels, shops, restaurants, and parks. The nearby South Park Blocks are lined with museums, theaters, and historic buildings, and host a popular farmers market. The Regional
Office is two blocks from the Willamette River waterfront and Waterfront Park, which features broad lawns for picnics and concerts; paths for walking, running, and bicycling; river access for paddleboarding and boating; and bridges that connect the east and west sides of the city. The
Hawthorne Bridge (the nearest bridge to the Regional Office) averages an impressive 99,000+ bicycle trips a month.
This "City of Roses" is vibrant and energetic while at the same time laid back and easy-going. Portland has character epitomized in its unique and varied neighborhoods. Many residents are active in
Portland’s dynamic civic and cultural life, including community gatherings, music, and art. There are about a dozen colleges and universities in Portland, including the large downtown campus of Portland
State University near the Regional Office. Portland is the hub for hospitals and healthcare in Oregon.
In spring 2021, the average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Portland was $1,153, and the average home purchase price was $542,000.
Portland is known for rain, though it gets only five inches more (43” annually) than the national average (38”). Portland has a Mediterranean climate with sunny, dry summers. Winters are mild with little snow, though nearby Mt. Hood offers quality skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. The natural beauty of the Cascade mountains provides the backdrop for the city. Within a short drive from Portland are farms and orchards, rivers, parks and wildlife preserves, and forested trails. The breathtaking
Oregon coast, the scenic Columbia River Gorge, and the vast high desert of eastern Oregon are less than two hours away. Portland is connected to other West Coast big cities by Amtrak and the Interstate
5 freeway, and Interstate 84 comes into the city from the east. PDX airport serves domestic and international destinations.
Application Instructions Below
Application Deadline: April 22nd, 2022
Interviews: Will occur as qualified applications are received
Type of position: Individual Placement
Service Dates: June 2022 to December 2022
Length of Term: 26 Weeks (1040 Hours)
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How to Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at https://nwyouthcorps.workbrightats.com/jobsearch/?job_board_classification=Internships
Additional Information
If you have questions about the Resource Assistant Internship, please reach NYC Internship Program
Officer Liv Kelley at livk@nwyouthcorps.org or Regional Landscape Architect, Brad Cownover at earl.cownover@usda.gov
NYC COVID-19 Protocols: We have developed and facilitated industry leading COVID management
protocols that are in place to keep our members and staff healthy, and have maintained an excellent
safety record. Read our COVID protocols by visiting www.nwyouthcorps.org/m/covid19.
All job offers are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check as well as record of full COVID 19 vaccination OR an NYC approved medical/religious exemption.
Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) and The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination on all
its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room
326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202)
720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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