Tree Falling Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is located in Yosemite National Park, in the Facilities Management Division.
Anticipated Entry on Duty: November 2026
Open to the first 30 applicants or until 08/24/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
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Duties
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• Preserving natural and cultural resources by mitigating tree hazards, managing historic orchards, and assessing forest health.
• Represent and communicate concerns and guidelines for hazard tree management to contractors and partners.
• Identifying environmental hazards that may alter desired felling results
• Diagnosing tree hazards to determine corrective actions.
• Prunes trees and shrubs in accordance with industry standards to achieve desired objectives (e.g. reduce risk of failure, improve fruit & flower production, etc.) using handsaws, pole saw, and chainsaws.
• Ascends/descends trees using a variety of climbing methods to perform arboricultural operations aloft.
• Performs risk (hazard) assessment of trees to determine the presence of tree defects that have the potential to fail, resulting in personal injury and/or property damage.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
• GS-9 must have the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

1. Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision (SCREEN OUT)
2. Technical Practices
3. Use of Measuring Instruments
4. Ability to Interpret Instructions, specifications (other than blueprints)
5. Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
6. Dexterity and Safety

Perform the most difficult and complex Arborist duties including: performing tree hazard identification, tree climbing, tree pruning, tree hazard reduction or tree removal; installing rigging systems while tree climbing, working from aerial lift trucks or at ground level; and falling trees of all species, sizes and complexity to predetermined direction without more than normal supervision.
If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.
Additional information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
Click here for the Federal Wage Schedule Website to calculate location specific pay.
Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.
The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.
Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.
Physical Demands:Ability to work at heights up to 100 feet. Ability to lift weights up to 75 pounds. Long periods of physical exertion. Prolonged exposure to repetitive motion. When motor vehicle or tractor operator duties are performed, moderate effort is exerted to manipulate equipment controls.
Working Conditions: This type of work is inherently dangerous and may result in serious injury from slips, trips, or falls and could, in the unlikely event; result in death when performed incorrectly. This work is performed outside and is subject to weather conditions ranging from high heat and humidity to sub-zero temperatures. The incumbent may be exposed to a variety of site hazards including extreme environmental conditions; poisonous plants, insects, and/or reptiles; electrical conductors; uneven terrain; pedestrian/vehicular traffic, etc. The incumbent may be exposed to prolonged exposure to noise in excess of 85 decibels (db) when working with or in close proximity to chainsaws, wood chippers, etc. Will be required to wear protective clothing during pesticide/herbicide application; as well as, normal safety items such as boots, glasses, etc. When vehicles are operated there is additional exposure to risk due to traffic accidents, overturning or boom accidents aloft.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.