Careers and Jobs
We offer a variety of employment opportunities (both paid and unpaid) ranging from student programs to volunteer programs, and full time employment for men and women with skills in several hundred areas.
For almost a century, since 1905, USDA Forest Service employees have been on the front line of conservation, intelligent resource utilization, and wildland management. Today, there is more excitement, greater challenge, and more career variety than ever before available to people who join the Nation's premier forest management agency. Managing 51 thousand square miles of the most magnificent lands in our nation is a great responsibility. Managing it in ways that are most effective for the land, water, air, wildlife, and people of America is our mission.
We are a nationwide organization of more than 30,000 people engaged in hundreds of specific occupations, including Foresters, Biologists, Engineers, Teachers, Firefighters, Accountants, Computer Specialists, Law Enforcement, Public Affairs Specialists, Recreation Specialists, Geographic Information Specialists, and more. Most Forest Service employees focus on managing and improving our Nation's forests and grasslands. Some employees focus on Forest and Range research, others focus on human resource development in Job Corps Centers, and others focus on state and private forestry coordination. This may sound simple, but it's not. It takes men and women in several hundred disciplines working in coordinated teamwork nationwide.
- Video: We are the Forest Service (6:56)
Applying for Forest Service Jobs
1: Forest Service Outreach Notices
All Forest Service vacancy announcements are posted in the Outreach database before they are available in USAJOBS. You can search here for temporary and permanent employment opportunities. You can download the job descriptions, contact the listed supervisor to indicate an interest in the job or ask questions.
- OUTREACH: Current and Upcoming Forest Service Job Opportunities (To narrow to this forest: Organization = 05 Pacific Southwest Region, Forest = 03 Eldorado National Forest / OK / Perform Search button). To receive information about upcoming hiring events and webinars, please sign up for the Job Seeker Email Database.
- REGION 5 FIRE HIRE: Fire specific employment opportunities and information.
2: Eldorado Specific Job Announcements
Looking for a job this summer? Do you enjoy being outdoors or working with people? The Eldorado National Forest hires temporary employees each season.
Forest Temporary Recruitment Website: www.eldoradonfjobs.com. Website contains positions descriptions and flyers for summer employment.
- NON-FIRE Temporary Jobs: Visit the “Forest Seasonal Jobs” page for general descriptions. Non-fire jobs are in Timber, Recreation, Wilderness, Wildlife, Fisheries, Archaeology, Visitor Services, etc. The anticipated employment start date for these positions is late April or early May. Length of employment will vary by position and government provided housing or barracks space may be available in some locations.
- FIRE Temporary Jobs: Visit the “Fire Jobs” page for position descriptions. Openings are typically available at the GS-3, GS-4 and GS-5 levels. These temporary positions have a maximum six (6) month work schedule. The anticipated start date for these positions is mid-May, but could be sooner. We recommend that you apply to any job shown below for which you qualify.
3. Other Employment Programs
- Generation Green: The Generation Green is a conservation education program on the Eldorado National Forest. This program includes summer employment and year-round involvement with the students in their high school clubs. During the summer, this program connects local high school students with the forest through meaningful employment.
- Pathways Program: The Internship Program would replace the existing Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP).
- California Regional Occupational Program (ROP): The mission is to promote and support ROCPs in providing exemplary career education, career development, and workforce preparation that contribute to student academic and career success and to the economic development of California. Be sure to check with you local county school board for information specific to your area.
- The National Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program: An accredited, educational program designed to enhance and develop future Fire and Aviation Managers. This program operates under an agreement with the Department of Labor, USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service and is hosted by the Pacific Southwest Region.
How and Where to Apply
USAJobs (https://www.usajobs.gov/)
IMPORTANT!! RESUMES MUST BE TWO PAGES OR LESS OR THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE REJECTED IN USAJOBS.
All vacancies are posted on USAJobs. Please note that applications are only accepted through USAjobs.
- Application Tips and Webinars (link)
- OPM 2-page Resume Guidance (link)
- Hiring Events (link)
Helpful Information
- You can track the status of your applications in USAJOBS. The status of all applications will be displayed under the “Application Status” tab in your USAJOBS profile page.
- Additionally, you may choose to receive email notifications via USAJOBS by clicking on “Notification Settings” in the “Application Status” tab and selecting the notification alerts you wish to receive regarding your application.
- You can set up saved job searches, which will automatically search for jobs based on your search criteria and email you notifications about other job opportunities. Additional information on "How to Save a Search" is available on USAJobs.
- Ensure you provide all required documents identified in the vacancy announcement.
- Resume Tips:
- Tailor your resume to each job announcement
- Spell out acronyms
- Be honest
- Write clear and concise statements
- Use active verbs
- Proofread your resume
Available Resources
Below are a few resources to help with applying for positions through USAJOBS:
- USAJOBS Help Center – contains tutorials and information about creating saved searches, creating a resume, and much more.
- Forest Service Video – How to apply for Temporary Jobs in the Forest Service
- Helpful video from a FS employee - How to apply for a Forest Service Job and navigating USAJOBS. Jan 26, 2021,
- Forest Service Video - Tips for Applying for Jobs with the US Forest Service
Employee Benefits
Information for Veterans, Students, Persons with Disabilities, and Returned Peace Corps
Overview: The Eldorado National Forest is recognized as a desirable place to work. Elevations range from 2000 ft. in the foothills to more than 10,000 along the Sierra Crest. A Mediterranean climate extends over most of the Forest, with warm, dry summers, and cold, wet winters. Average precipitation ranges from 40 to 70 inches, occurring primarily from October to April. There is significant snowfall above 3000 feet elevation.
Eldorado National Forest headquarters are located in Placerville, California. There are Ranger District offices in Camino, Georgetown, Pioneer, and Pollock Pines. Most of the forest (72.8%) lies in El Dorado County. In descending order of land area the others counties are: Amador, Alpine, and Placer counties in California; and Douglas County in Nevada with 78 acres. The forest is bordered on the north by the Tahoe National Forest, on the east by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, on the southeast by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and to the south by the Stanislaus National Forest. The Desolation Wilderness is located within the forest's boundaries, as is most of the Mokelumne Wilderness (which extends into neighboring Stanislaus National Forest and Toiyabe National Forest).
Recreational Activities: The Forest and surrounding communities offer a wide variety of recreational activities. There are lakes, reservoirs, several cross-country and downhill ski areas, two unique wilderness areas (Desolation and Mokelumne), over 40 developed campgrounds, several resort areas, golf courses, and outstanding local wineries and fruit orchards. Opportunities abound for water skiing, white water sports (Class II to Class V), mountain biking, OHV travel, rock climbing, fishing, hunting and hiking. Local community theatres offer stage plays and a variety of musical entertainment. Although El Dorado County makes up the largest segment of the Forest, portions of Alpine, Amador and Placer counties lie within the Forest Boundary. In close proximity to the forest are the communities of Jackson, South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento, which offer additional recreational and cultural activities including professional and semi-professional sports.
Housing: Rental houses and apartments generally range from $850-$1400 per month, $300-$800 per month for room rentals. Government barracks are available at most stations. Purchase prices for 2-3 bedroom homes range from $120,000 to $450,000+. Land and/or lots are available as well.
Schools: There are several elementary and high schools within El Dorado and Amador County. Community colleges in the area include Folsom Lake College (El Dorado Center in Placerville), Sierra College In Rocklin, American River College and Sacramento City College in Sacramento and Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe. Four-year colleges and universities include California State University-Sacramento and University of California at Davis.
Medical: Marshall Hospital, located in Placerville and Sutter Amador in Jackson are the closest well-equipped medical center. There are many local doctor and dentist offices in Placerville. There are several major hospitals in the Sacramento area including Kaiser Hospitals in Sacramento and Roseville.
For more community information check the following websites:
- El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce: www.eldoradocounty.org
- Amador County Chamber of Commerce: www.amadorcountychamber.com
- City of Placerville: www.cityofplacerville.org