Careers and Jobs
The Payette National Forest typically fills multiple permanent/seasonal (PSE) and temporary/seasonal (TSE) positions for each field season. Most positions start in late May and last through September (with end date exceptions made for students). Job start dates will vary slightly based on the position to which you are hired.
All of these positions require physical exertion in rough terrain, except for those jobs that are intended specially to be done in an office setting. Outdoor work is performed in all weather conditions including rain, snow, and summer heat. Candidates must be 18 years of age prior to the first day of employment. If you are under 18 and a student, call the Forest office and ask about Youth Conservation Corps opportunities.
The Payette National Forest is headquartered in McCall, with District offices in Weiser, Council, New Meadows and two District Offices in McCall. Housing for some positions may be available.
Some of our firefighting positions are permanent, but seasonal (PSE - permanent/season employment status), and require previous firefighting experience. These PSE positions are hired for through the "fire hire" process. These positions are separate from our entry level temporary/seasonal (TSE - temporary/season employment status) firefighter positions and our other TSE field jobs such as in recreation or fisheries.
These PSE positions, and the "fire hire" process do not include firefighting positions that are temporary/seasonal (TSE) - someone with no previous firefighting experience will not apply to these permanent/seasonal (PSE) positions, as previous firefighter experience is required - someone that has worked a season or two, and wants to get a firefighting position that is temporary/seasonal (TSE) will not apply to these permanent/season (PSE) jobs.
The National Outreach Database is a new way to search for upcoming jobs on the Payette National Forest. We suggest you search for positions by using the city and state that you are interested in. Additional information about the Forest and the communities that are located nearby can be found on the About the Area page.
The Forest Service uses USAJobs for all of its hiring. All Forest Service vacancies are listed here and applicants can create a profile and apply for any Forest Service position nationwide.
Although the Forest Service may publish job opportunities in professional journals, or have jobs posted on organizational websites, the only way applicants can apply is through USAJobs.
Permanent Fulltime Positions
All permanent jobs are advertised through the USAJobs website. You can search the openings by agency, location, salary range, or by "series" (a system for identifying the type of work). Some positions are only open to current Federal Employees; only the jobs open to everyone will be shown in the search results.
Permanent/Seasonal Jobs - Fire Hire
This change in the hiring process is in response to a continual vacancy situation that all national forests in the Region currently face. The unique feature of this process is the ability to immediately backfill positions that have been vacated during the fire hiring process. This is not for summer temporary/seasonal positions - Learn more about Fire Hire.
As the name implies, Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management is a wide field, encompassing firefighters, fire ecologists, fuels specialists, fire managers, administrative personnel, helicopter and fixed wing pilots, aviation and ground safety professionals, radio communications and electronic technicians, dispatchers, fire prevention specialists, and communicators. Generally, the Payette National Forest workforce reaches its highest numbers during the peak fire season each summer.
Temporary/Seasonal - Non-Wildland Fire Jobs
The Payette National Forest needs a variety of skills and experience in order to fulfill its multiple-use mission. A variety of temporary positions will be offered competitively throughout the region for each field season.
Temporary/Seasonal - Wildland Fire Jobs
As the name implies, Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management is a wide field, encompassing firefighters, fire ecologists, fuels specialists, fire managers, administrative personnel, helicopter and fixed wing pilots, aviation and ground safety professionals, radio communications and electronic technicians, dispatchers, fire prevention specialists, and communicators. Generally, the Payette National Forest workforce reaches its highest numbers during the peak fire season each summer.
Programs and Partnerships
Every year, local employment opportunities are provided to youth through the Forest’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program in both Adams and Valley County. The YCC program is an eight-week course of work throughout the summer season. The Payette National Forest typically hires two YCC crews: one crew based out of Council, Idaho and the other based out of McCall, Idaho. Both YCC crews are comprised of four local high school students and a crew lead.
The YCC crews receive conservation education in natural resource-based areas including recreation, range, watershed, wildlife, fisheries, and heritage. The YCC crews provide the Forest crews with much needed assistance, as well as gaining first-hand experience in natural resources research and management.
Learn more about the YCC program here or watch this video about one of our local crews: Council YCC Video
The Council High School and Forest Service, as part of a Challenge Cost Share agreement, together formed the Council Education Resource Crew (CERC). This crew is comprised of Council High School students that work throughout the summer season with the Payette NF and lead by a local high school teacher. The crew does a variety of work in the natural resource field including trail construction and maintenance, stream bank restoration, range improvement inventory, and noxious weed eradication. The CERC crew built and operates a greenhouse to grow and then plant native shrubs on watershed restoration projects. On average, approximately 2,000 native seedlings are grown each year by the school, which then they are planted on national forest land.
Call the Council Ranger District for more information: 208-253-0100 or visit the CERC site here.
The Payette National Forest has been successful in expanding our conservation education program for youth and adults, as well as building successful partnerships to allow more opportunities for individuals to obtain jobs and internships. The Payette National Forest entered an agreement with the Northwest Youth Corps/Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC). This successful partnership provides opportunities to engage youth and young adults in natural resource management education and job possibilities. Over the course of several years, the Payette has been able to hire approximately 60 to 70 young adults that have gained valuable internship experience in a natural resource field. Learn more: Idaho Conservation Corps.
The Pathways program is the perfect career path for high school students, undergraduates, postgraduates, and recent grads into positions with the Forest Service. Find more information here on how you can earn a position caring for the land and serving people.
The Forest Service values the leadership and skills that members of the U.S. armed forces have to offer. We use a number of hiring programs to attract, transition, and support these candidates. If you are a veteran, member of the U.S. armed forces, or a military spouse, please find more information here on how you can use your skills, experience, and eligibilities to transition into a public service career with the Forest Service.
Supporting a welcoming and inclusive work environment allows us to attract, retain, and grow a workforce representative of the public. If you're a person with a disability, consider applying today. Learn more here.