A career with the Forest Service will challenge you to manage and care for more than 193 million acres of our nation’s most magnificent lands, conduct research through a network of forest and range experiment stations and the Forest Products Laboratory, and provide assistance to State and private forestry agencies. It’s an awesome responsibility – but the rewards are as limitless as the views.
You can experience the beautiful scenery of central Oregon first-hand while working in a seasonal temporary position for the Deschutes or Ochoco National Forests. Most of the positions offered are field-going, but some include office work with maps, computer data entry, or planning and supervisory functions. Work locations are predominantly on Ranger Districts, but a few are located in the Supervisor's Office (Headquarters) or at the Redmond Air Center.
In your off-hours, you may be enticed to fish one of our spectacular rivers or lakes or hike on our scenic trails. The area also hosts one of the finest examples of obsidian flow in the world and is internationally known for the largest variety of volcanic formations in the lower 48 states. Central Oregon is a great place to live and work!
Position Types
Student Employment (STEP)
To apply as a student you must meet certain criteria: be enrolled in college at least part-time, in good academic standing, with intent to return to at least part-time status fall term
Temporary Seasonal Employee (1039) We sometimes refer to these positions as 1039's which relates to how many base (non-overtime) hours that can be worked in a 6 month period. Some, but not all, of these positions are summer jobs.
Permanent Jobs
Youth Program Opportunities - From eight to ten weeks each summer high school age youth join Heart of Oregon Corps teams on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests. Coming from communities throughout central Oregon, boys and girls ages 16 to 18 maintain wilderness trails, construct boat docks and build fire trails. Students can earn up to one high school science credit in their local high school for participation in this special summer program. Please see the link below.
A career with the Forest Service will challenge you to manage and care for more than 193 million acres of our nation’s most magnificent lands, conduct research through a network of forest and range experiment stations and the Forest Products Laboratory, and provide assistance to State and private forestry agencies. It’s an awesome responsibility – but the rewards are as limitless as the views.