The USDA Forest Service, Southern Region, will soon advertise a GS-12/13 Rural Forestry Program Manager position located in the Cooperative Forestry Unit, State & Private Forestry, the Regional Office, Region 8, Atlanta, GA. The Forester serves as Rural Forest Program Manager for the Rural Forestry Assistance Program, providing leadership, guidance, assistance, and administrative/technical direction throughout the thirteen-state Forest Service , Region 8 area.

Major Duties

The incumbent manages the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP), the Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP); and coordinates Forest Service initiatives concerning forest resources/ecosystem management projects on private lands in the 13 state area of the southern region. The Rural Forestry Assistance Program Manager represents the Southern Region and coordinates, collaborates, and negotiate the administrative and technical aspects of the Rural Forestry programs, activities, and p rojects with the Washington Office and other Forest Service regional offices; other USDA Agencies, such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), state forestry agencies, state and federal Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and other public and private conservation organizations. The Program Manager prepares annual work and budget plan for assigned area of responsibility and cooperates with the Unit Director concerning the same as it applies to the Unit; recommends the allocation of available funds, based on prioritization of conservation needs, participant interest, and delivery capabilities, to state forestry and other public/private cooperators to facilitate program, activity, and project implementation. The incumbent further applies, establishes, and implements procedures for administering grants.

Atlanta Attractions

Lifestyle

HOT-LANTA does not get that nickname from the weather. It is home to a world of arts, culture , and history, not to mention renowned restaurants, shops, and malls.

The Georgia Dome is home to the Atlanta Falcons professional football team and many other sports and entertainment venues. The Atlanta Hawks professional basketball team and the Atlanta Thrashers professional hockey team can be seen in Philips Arena, which also hosts numerous concerts throughout the year. Turner Field is the dominion of the Atlanta Braves, the team with the most consecutive division titles in professional baseball history.

The Atlanta Ballet performs at the Civic Center, adjacent to SciTrek, where more than 100 hands-on exhibits illustrate basic principles of science and their application in everyday life. Atlanta is becoming a southern version of off-broadway. Anchored by the Woodruff Arts Center, which includes the Atlanta Symphony, the Alliance and Studio Theatres, and the High Museum of Art, Mid-town is the address of at least ten other live performance theatres.

The Georgia Aquarium, located in downtown Atlanta across from Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia World Congress Center, opened on November 23, 2006 as the World’s largest aquarium. With 8 million gallons of fresh/marine water and more than 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe, it is both and educational and well as an entertaining experience.

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is the largest museum in the Southeast, one of the largest planetariums in the nation, and hosts an IMAX Theatre. The world’s largest mass of exposed granite, Stone Mountain, also displays the world’s largest bas-relief sculpture. The 200-acre Stone Mountain Park is a wonderland of outdoor recreation and family fun. Top attractions include 36 holes of championship golf, a spectacular summer laser light show, and the Road to Tara Museum.

Atlantic Station, which is located in the heart of downtown, is Atlanta’s antidote to urban sprawl and long commutes. Billed as a live-work-play community, this development represents a visionary approach to urban planning in the 21st century. The 138-acre Atlantic Station in Atlanta, GA places residences, office towers, and retail establishments within walking distances of each other in an environmentally friendly setting.

Other attractions include the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, Zoo Atlanta, the World of Coca-Cola, Underground, the African American Panoramic Experience (APEX), the Professional Golf Association’s Bell South Classic, the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, Six Flags over Georgia, the Peachtree Road Race, Lake Lanier (an hour to the north) and Callaway Gardens (an hour to the southwest). The mountains of North Georgia and the beaches along Georgia’s Atlantic Coast are also only a short distance away.

Educational Institutions

Numerous colleges and universities are located within the metropolitan area including Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Emory University, Atlanta Technical Institute, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morris Brown College, Oglethorpe University and Spellman College.

Local Schools offer either public or private educational opportunities for K-12. The metro area secondary school system represents some of the best schools in the State. Hope grants, supported by the Georgia Lottery can help pay college tuition provided resident students maintain a "B" average.

Transportation

Hartsfield/Jackson International Airport is one of the largest air transportation centers in the world. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is a nationally acclaimed public transportation system with 46 miles of track and 1,541 miles of feeder bus routes. This is a commute option with potential for reimbursement.

Many regional employees have organized carpools as well. Commutes vary in time depending on your residence and distance to the regional office. Average commute is thirty minutes to an hour to cover a 26 mile distance.

Housing

Atlanta has it all. Prices range from modest to millions. Rental apartments are plentiful in the city and surrounding metropolitan area with prices depending on location. Atlanta’s cost of living is lower than many other cities of comparative size. Median home prices start at about $160,000.

Medical

An excellent selection of health care is available, including doctors, dentists, and specialists. A wide variety of home care, adult and children day care, nursing homes and mental health facilities can be found throughout the metropolitan area. Piedmont Hospital and a number of medical offices are located within walking distance of the regional office.

Churches

Atlanta churches reflect the rich diversity of faith of its people. The Atlanta religious community exudes charm, with friendly faces and spirit of community. The abundance of faiths and places of worship in the metropolitan area makes it easy to find a place to meet your spiritual needs.

For more information about Atlanta, check the website,

www.accessatlanta.com.