U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Regional Office - Communications & Community Engagement Resource Assistant - Northwest Youth Corps

Northwest Youth Corps

United States Forest Service - Pacific Northwest Regional Office

Communications & Community Engagement Resource Assistant

1 Position - Portland, OR

Please respond by October 25, 2024

Delivering Benefits to a Multicultural Public - Resource Assistant Program

The Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS) is advertising for one Communications & Community Engagement Resource Assistant (RA). The position will be located on the Pacific Northwest Regional Office. This is an 8-month full-time work experience from approximately January-September 2025. 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 candidates providing personnel and Human Resources needs during the placement.

Duty Location:

This position will be assigned to the Regional Office of the Pacific Northwest Region, located in Portland, OR. Though some telework may be allowed, the position will require a presence in the office and in the field. Some travel may be required and is reimbursable through NYC.

The Position:

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.

Through a partnership with Northwest Youth Corps, the selected RA will support the Community Engagement Team of the Pacific Northwest Regional Office by assisting with the Regional Conservation Education and Resource Assistant Programs. Duties will include, but are not limited to, representing the agency at public events, interacting with youth and people of all ages at conservation education activities, convening meetings or trainings with RAs and mentors and serving as a peer resource and support for fellow RAs in the region.

The selected RA will also provide support to the Communications team with website management and digital content creation to include written and video stories, infographics, social media posts, and audio products, to reinforce public safety and responsible use of public lands.

This is an immersive professional internship that requires a skillful and confident applicant who can manage a busy workload and learning opportunities with the support of permanent staff. This position will perform work at the equivalent of a GS-5/7 position in the federal service.

Position Requirements:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Social Science, or Environmental Studies. However, any degree will still be considered.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens over 19 years old.
• Valid state driver's license with good driving record and ability to operate a motor vehicle by the time of employment. Government vehicles are available for work-related travel. RAs are responsible for travel to and from duty station.
• Successful completion of a background investigation.

Program Benefits:

• $19,800 living stipend, prorated monthly throughout 8-month internship
• $1,200 monthly housing allowance (total $9600)
• $2,750 reimbursable funds for work-related travel and professional development opportunities
• $50 monthly commuter allowance (if applicable) (total $400)
• 56 hours of available paid time off
• Workers' compensation, FICA/Medicare, and optional health care coverage (monthly premiums covered)
• RA will have special United States Forest Service Direct Hire Authority upon completion of a minimum of 960 hours of service, but placement is not guaranteed.

Position Responsibilities will include:

• Serve as liaison and programmatic support for RAs throughout the Region. Assist in creating a safe and inclusive community.
• Engage with the public at local events and at Conservation Education programs.
• Shoot, edit, and compile short video materials to highlight forest activities and programs.
• Work with units in the Pacific Northwest region (including the Regional Office) to gather stories and materials to help tell our stories using video, social, media, websites, and more.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Strong organizational skills. Ability to work independently and with others.
• Skill in using current desktop publishing software and equipment technology applicable to electronic and print publication procedures and word processing, including experience in Microsoft Office and Adobe.
• Ability to gather and verify facts and to develop information that is clear and meaningful to the intended audience.
• Ability to independently manage work assignments and communicate on progress and barriers.
• Ability to work successfully as part of a collaborative team.
• Familiar with website functionality and able to learn new software tools to edit websites. No coding experience required.
• Some graphic design experience in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator or an equivalent software.
• Experience with effective communication strategies via social media platforms particularly X and Facebook.

About the Pacific Northwest Region (visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6/ for more information):

The Pacific Northwest, perhaps more than any other region in the United States, is defined by its 24.7 million acres of public lands in Oregon and Washington. These lands provide the people and communities of the Pacific Northwest their livelihood, recreation, visual backdrop, and identity.

Our important work on national forest lands is framed by these key priorities:

• Reducing overly dense and unhealthy forest conditions, made worse by climate change, to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and our forests and watersheds from the growing threat of wildfires.
• Supporting the immediate needs of landscapes and communities in the wake of wildfires & other disasters.
• Providing community service to all, and supporting economic prosperity, health, and resiliency within communities we serve.

The city of Portland is in northwestern Oregon, bordering Vancouver, Washington. The population of the City of Portland exceeds 500,000, and more than 2 million people live in the Portland metro area. Additionally, there are many large suburban communities. Portland is a full-service community with various and numerous businesses, banking, restaurants, coffee shops, denominations of churches, health care and educational facilities. The downtown area is complete with an open-air plaza and offers a world-class public transportation system. Commuting is easy, whether it be by public transportation system, car or bike.

Application Instructions

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Application Deadline: October 25, 2024

Interviews: Will occur as qualified applications are received.

Type of position: Individual Placement

Service Dates: January-September 2025

Length of Term: 8 months/33 weeks

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

Please select "Region 6 Regional Office - Communications & Community Engagement Resource Assistant" when applying.

Additional Information

If you have questions about the position, please reach Northwest Youth Corps Internship Program Coordinator Matthew Schlegel at matthews@idahocc.org , 208-593-7622 or USFS point of contact Rachel LaMedica at rachel.lamedica@usda.gov.

All job offers are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check (criminal history and driving history).

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.