Visitor Services Information Assistant

About the role

This position is located within a National Forest.The primary purpose of the position is the dissemination of information and interpretative assistance to the public through various means.

What you will do

• Assists in developing specific objectives for interpretive programs and displays, providing input to the annual plan of work.
• Inventories and prepares reports on the annual volumes of use, trends in public information needs, and public response to existing information output.
• Makes regular visits to the various public schools and social groups.
• Makes presentations on subjects such as fire safety, environmental awareness, recreation activities, and litter prevention.
• Maintains inventory of existing publications for public use.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of informational exhibits which include photos, maps, etc. Maintains the Forest video, film, and slide library and audio-visual equipment.
• Ensures that the information desk at a reception area or visitor center is covered at all times and answers the phone and radio.
• Greets visitors and responds to a variety of inquiries regarding Forest Service activities, programs, exhibits, facilities, policies, and functions.
• Provides guidance to the public on rules and regulations regarding on-unit activities and attempts to gain public cooperation in protecting resources from damage and pollution.
• Assists visitors and callers with informational searches, and with use of the reference library.
• Monitors and reports statistics such as visitor numbers and activities, for project planning.
• Keeps abreast of unit issues and acts as lead to other information desk co-workers as needed.
• Serves as Collection Officer to sell forest timber permits and other items, such as maps and passes, in accordance with manual and handbook requirements.
• Is held responsible for submitting and accounting for collected monies using approved computer programs and records.
• Performs regular daily activities for the reception area or visitor center, including but not limited to, daily opening and closing of the facility, raising and lowering the flag, and maintaining the front desk.
• Provides visitors with effective instructions on security and safety procedures and informs the supervisor of visitor needs.
• Maintains a lost and found for visitors and staff.
• Coordinates Interpretive Association book sales, including ordering, stocking, sales, quarterly inventory and reporting.
• Coordinates with staff specialists and public affairs office to provide the latest, most accurate and appropriate information to the public.
• Researches and maintains an inventory of timely publications, brochures, posters, and informational handouts for the public.
• Creates and posts informational handouts and flyers concerning safety, events and other items of importance.
• Works with the public affairs unit to ensure that current and accurate information is available on the external Forest Service website.
• Updates information such as road and recreation closures.
• Responds to and directs web and email inquiries to the appropriate personnel.
• Acts as liaison to other information centers such as other Forest Service offices or the local Chamber of Commerce.
• Arranges informational interpretive displays in the reception area or visitor center.
• Varies or changes the displays to coincide with seasonal changes and unit program emphases.
• Handles clerical duties, such as mail and package delivery, personnel updates to phone lists and sign-out board.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category.

This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the selecting official.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete.
• Encrypted documents will not be accepted.
• Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
• Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications.
• Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
• If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts.
• An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty.
• Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university.
• If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards.
• There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service.
• For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website.
• All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

What to expect next

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.

You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status).

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer.

An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance.

To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to ***, subject line: Fair Chance Act.

Additional information

PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2027 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between November 15, 2026 to December 27, 2026.

By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this National announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location.

The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates. If you are selected, you must respond to the requested documentation outlined in your tentative section notice within 72 hours.

Failure to respond within 72 hours will result in the cancellation of your selection.

This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement.

Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS).

Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates. The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project.

Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay. This position is not eligible for telework.

Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location. Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.