FORESTRY ASSISTANT - The County of Los Angeles : Job Details

FORESTRY ASSISTANT

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FORESTRY ASSISTANT

Salary

$81,081.84 - $121,788.00 Annually

Location

Los Angeles County, CA

Job Type

Full time

Job Number

30328J

Department

FIRE

Opening Date

01/26/2024

Closing Date

Continuous

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position/Program Information

FILING DATES:

Applications will be accepted starting Monday, January 29, 2024, 8:00a.m., PT - This exam will remain open until the needs of the Department are met and is subject to close without prior notice.

EXAM NUMBER:

30328J

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME OF FILING

WITHHOLD:

No withhold will be accepted for this examination.

OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE:

Out-of-Class experience will not be accepted for this examination.

DEFINITION:

Performs nursery or field reforestation work and supervises juvenile and adult work crews in forestry projects.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:

Positions allocable to this class typically report to a Deputy Forester and are responsible for performing forestry duties at a County reforestation nursery or are assigned to one of the major forestry programs such as: Vegetation Management, Conservation Education, Fuel Modification, Brush Clearance, Fire Plan,Environmental Review, Pesticide Coordination, Soil Stabilization or Landscape Design. Incumbents must apply supervisory skills and knowledge of forestry and natural resources management principles to plan and coordinate field projects, forest tree nursery operations, or specialized tasks in support of vegetation management, fuel modification, brush clearance, environmental impact reports, and the County's Oak Tree Ordinance. Incumbents supervise and participate in the work of unskilled crews performing forestry related duties.

Essential Job Functions

+ Oversees and conducts field work (e.g. Inspections, manual labor, landscaping) by directing field crews (Forestry Technicians, volunteers, and vendors), engaging in manual seed collecting, field reforestation (i.e. removing invasive plant species and planting native species), native plant propagation in nurseries, determining the type, number and placement of trees to be planted, managing tree nurseries, by using a chainsaw to thin forest, and applying herbicides, insecticides, and other chemicals for weed abatement, and by operating Class B commercial vehicles and towing chippers/trailers in order to complete forestry related projects.

+ Conducts enforcement inspections under the supervision of Deputy Foresters by inspecting properties (e.g. brush clearance inspections, oak tree ordinance inspections), by communicating compliance findingswith property owners, in order to monitor compliance of laws and regulations.

+ Serves as departmental representative at community events (e.g. county fairs, job fairs, school presentations) by coordinating, scheduling, and giving presentations or informal talks regarding forestry activities; conducting field demonstrations in order to educate the public.

+ Prepares forestry projects , by evaluating physical conditions (e.g. environmentally sensitive areas, defensible space requirements), conducting site preparation, and selecting appropriate plant species for planting and removal, in order to protect life, property, and the environment.

+ Evaluates regulatory compliance by reviewing and analyzing inspection information in accordance with state and county codes and ordinance, and coordinates corrective measures in order to protect life, property, and the environment.

+ Develops Geographic Information Systems maps by collecting fire perimeter data, by hiking uneven terrain and collecting forest management data in order to utilize silvicultural techniques to accurately assess forest health.

+ Staffs the 24 hour facility at Henninger Flats visitor center/museum by giving guided field tours, by participating in education and conservation programs, by patrolling campgrounds, rendering emergency medical services to the general public, and by covering night shifts in the absence of lower-level staff in order to provide a safe venue for outdoor recreational activities.

+ Responds to 24 hour emergency incident needs by performing support roles in logistics (e.g. supply unit, ground support unit, facilities unit and resource unit) in order to support the needs of the incident.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from an accredited college* with specialization in forestry or a related field**.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.

A valid California Class B Commercial Driver License with water tank, air brake and passenger endorsements is required within one year from the date of appointment and prior to completion of probationary period.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies, which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also Acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

**Related field such as: Urban Forestry, Forestry Recreation, Recreation Administration, Landscape Architecture, Wildfire, Wildfire Management, Natural Resources Management, Botany, Environmental Sciences (Ecology), Agriculture, Horticulture, and Arboriculture. All related fields may be reviewed for content and curriculum emphasis.

In order to received credit for any college course work, or any type of college degree, such as Associate's or higher, or for completion of a certificate program, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization; or official certificates with your application. Applicants must either upload required documents as attachments, e-mail documents as attachments to [email protected] or fax the documents to (323) ###-#### at the time of filing or within fifteen (15) calendar days of submitting online application. A printout of the transcript from the school's website IsNOT considered official andwill notbe accepted which may result in your application being rejected. An evaluation report of a transcript is defined as a report issued by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by the NACES or the AICE of the United States. A transcript submitted that is expressed in a language other than English will NOT be accepted and may result in your application being rejected.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Persons appointed to this class shall obtain Emergency Medical Technician-1 (EMT-1) certification through successful completion of the departmentally provided EMT-1 training program, or from a school, or an EMT program accredited by the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency, and successfully pass the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) basic exam within one year from time of appointment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

VISION:

(1) Acuity - At least 20/70 in each eye without correction, correctable to 20/30 in each eye. (2) Color Perception - Anything other than minor hue impairment is disqualifying.

HEARING:

Applicants cannot be medically qualified if the hearing in either ear shows greater than a 40 dB loss as averaged in the four test frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 Hz; nor may there be greater than a 45 dB peak loss at any one of the test frequencies. Applicants whose test results fall between the acceptable and unacceptable ranges will be individually evaluate.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

4 - Arduous. Involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working on irregular surfaces; and occasionally requires extraordinary physical activity.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT

PART I : A multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted at50%,assessing:

+ Deductive Reasoning

+ Deciding and Initiating Action

+ Working with People

+ Persuading and Influencing

+ Planning and Organizing

+ Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations.

MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENT(S) ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

PART II: An Evaluation of Training and Experience (T&E), weighted at50%, assessing:

+ Professional/Technical Knowledge of:

+ Laws and Regulations, Professional Standards, Policies, and Procedures

+ Forestry Management and Fire Science

+ Emergency Operations

+ Safety and Emergency Equipment Use

+ Hand Tools and Power Equipment Use

Applicants must meet the Minimum Requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the combined scores for Part I and II in order to be placed on the eligible register.

Many important notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please [email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected] the domains fire.lacounty.gov and hr.lacounty.gov to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

It is also important that you provide a valid email address. DO NOT select off under Email Preferences within your profile or click unsubscribe on our notices if you would like the County of Los Angeles to notify you regarding your application status, test schedules, and other important information pertaining to your candidacy for this position.

It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or re-scheduling of a test component.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account onwww.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty,you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Notice of Non-acceptance and Final Result letters will be sent via email. Test scores cannot be given over the phone.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:

Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination.

This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred.

TEST PREPARATION:

Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.

An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at Please click on Find a Job and then Job Search Toolkit. Test preparation information is located under the Employment Test Assistance section.

Additional practice tests are available at .

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the register list in order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation. No person may compete in this exam more than once in a 12-month period.

Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the register of eligible candidates accordingly.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction historyunless you receive a contingent offer of employment.The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s).If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSTION (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

Candidates who are extended a conditional offer of employment will be required to complete a background check, including a review of any criminal convictions, which requires a finger print scan. A candidate with a conviction history which has a direct and adverse relationship with the duties of the Forestry Assistant, Fire position may undergo the process for their conditional offer of employment to be rescinded. If rescinded, a candidate's name will be removed from the certification list pursuant to Civil Service Rule 6.04.

VACANCY INFORMATION:

The resulting register list for this examination will be used to fillForestry Assistant, vacancies within the Los Angeles County Fire Department as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:

Any Shift-Appointees must be willing to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

PASSING THIS EXAMINATION AND BEING PLACED ON THE REGISTER LIST DOES NOT GUARANTEE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

Applications must be filed online only. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the green Apply button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using the website

Applicants must submit all applicable documents (diplomas, official transcripts, certificates, etc.) during application submission. All documents must be clear and legible. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of completing the online application.

Documents not submitted with the application may be emailed to

[email protected] or fax to(323) ###-#### withinfifteen (15) calendar days of filing. All emails must clearly identify the applicant's name and the subject line must include the exam nameForestry Assistantand exam number30328J.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:

Acceptance of your application depends on whether you clearly show that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Fill out the online application completely and correctly in order to receive full credit for any related education, training, and job experience. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, and description of work performed. All information supplied is subject to verification. APPLICATIONS MAY BE REJECTED AT ANY STAGE OF THE SELECTION PROCESS.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Please note that information included in the application materials is subject toVERIFICATIONat any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.FALSIFICATIONof any information may result inDISQUALIFICATION. UtilizingVERBIAGEfrom the Class Specification and/or Minimum Requirements serving as your description of dutiesWILL NOTbe sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in anINCOMPLETE APPLICATIONand you may beDISQUALIFIED.

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY PRIOR TO CLICKING THE SUBMIT BUTTON

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Refer to their website for updated information at .

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:

All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record and is subject to disqualification from this examination.

Questions regarding this posting may be emailed, with the exam name Forestry Assistant and exam number 30328J in the subject line, [email protected].

Testing Accommodations Information and Coordinator Contact Information:

If you need an accommodation to take an assessment, let us know by contacting the ADA/Testing Coordinator [email protected] or(213) ###-####. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond to your request and keep you moving through the process.

California Relay Services Phone: (800) ###-####

Teletype Phone: (800) ###-####

Department Contact Name: Fire Examination Section

Department Contact Phone: (213) ###-####

Department Contact Email:[email protected]

Department Fax: (323) ###-####

For more information on Employment Information, click on the link below:

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

Your Responsibilities:

1.Completing Your Application:

a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.

c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.

2.Requirements on Job Posting:

a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.

b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual age 40 or older.

c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.

3.Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.

4.Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile onwww.governmentjobs.comand make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.

5.Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:

a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation(s) may be subject to verification, consistent with state and federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.

Disclaimer: The County of Los Angeles is not responsible or in any way liable for any computer hardware or software malfunction that may affect the employment application or the application selection process.

You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of this system and the Internet generally. This system and the information provided on it are provided on an as is and as available basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. No advice or information given by the County of Los Angeles or its respective employees shall modify the foregoing or create any warranty.

The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.

The County of Los Angeles shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this system or with the delay or inability to use it (or any linked sites), or for any information obtained through this system, or otherwise arising out of the use of this system, the Internet generally or on any other basis.

NOTE: Your application is submitted using Secure Encryption to ensure the privacy of all information you transmit over the Internet.

By accepting the Use Disclaimer set forth herein, you agree to all of the above terms and further agree to use this Online Job Employment Application System only for the submission of bona fide employment applications to the County of Los Angeles. Any other use of this Online Job Employment Application System, including without limitation any copying, downloading, translating, decompiling, or reverse engineering of the system, data, or related software, shall be a violation of the Use Disclaimer.

Test Preparation: Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at Additional resources may be listed on the job posting.

Veteran's Credit: In all open competitive examinations, a veteran's credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.

A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.

This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran's credit. More information available at:

Accreditation Information: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at: E_Resource_Guide.pdf (

Background Check: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Career Planning: Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at

Benefit Information: Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a new member of the County's defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) - unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.

Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.

Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program: In an effort to improve compliance with court ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.

Social Security Act of 2004: Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the websitewww.socialsecurity.gov, or call toll free 1-800-### ####. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-###-#### or contact a local Social Security office.

Employment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act(Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) and other applicable laws prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant's protected characte