Careers and Jobs
Since 1905, US Forest Service employees have been operating under the philosophy initiated by the first Chief of the Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, who believed in "the greatest good for the greatest number in the long run." Forest Service careers provide exciting and challenging opportunities to be involved in the management and protection of our nation's 51,000 square miles of National Forest System Lands.
This page offers information on how to seek and apply for jobs on the Rio Grande National Forest. We use a combination of information sources from our local offices to our Rocky Mountain Regional Office to our National office in Washington D.C. There is much information here and we recommend you carefully review the information to ensure you are fully prepared to apply for jobs in what can be a long and tedious process. It is well worth it!
Agency-wide Hiring
Visit the Forest Service's national "Careers" page
Visit USAJobs regularly for current agency-wide job listings.
Job Opportunities - Rio Grande National Forest
PERMANENT POSITIONS
Non-Fire Positions
Rio Grande National Forest is currently hiring for the Saguache District Ranger. Apply at usajobs.gov.
Applications Open 08/27/2026 – 09/02/2026
Applications for this position will be accepted only from current permanent Forest Service (FS) employees with competitive status; Land Management eligible candidates whose last appointment was with the FS; and CTAP/RPL eligible candidates.
|
Fire Positions
US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, R-2
PHASE 1: Permanent Firehire Positions
Applications Open 08/24/2026 – 09/22/2026
The Rio Grande National Forest (RGF) is excited to announce several upcoming job opportunities across the forest.
These positions offer a chance to work in one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in Colorado while contributing to the important mission of caring for the land and serving people.
| Current Vacancies Position | Series/Grade | Vacancy Announcement | Duty Location | Point of Contact |
Fuels Management Assistant Fire Management Officer (Fuels) | GW-0456-08/09 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389-DFLS-89DH | Del Norte, CO | Jon McDuffey |
Fuels Management Fuels Technician (Fuels) | GW-0456-08 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389-FFUELS-8DH | Del Norte, CO | Jon McDuffey |
| Supervisory Wildland Firefighter – Engine Module Leader, Type 6 Engine Captain | GW-0456-07/08 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389-SFEO-78DH | Saguache, CO Monte Vista, CO Del Norte, CO | Josh Jordan |
| Fire Engine Operator-Assistant Captain/Fire Engine Operator (FEO) | GW-0456-06/07 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389JC-FEOH-67DH | Saguache, CO Monte Vista, CO Del Norte, CO | Josh Jordan |
Fuels Management Fuels Technician (Fuels) | GW-0456-06/07 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389-DFUEL-67DH | Del Norte, CO | Jon McDuffey |
Assistant Fire Engine Operator- Assistant Fire Engine Operator (AFEO) | GW-0456-05/06 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389JC-AFEO-56DH | Saguache, CO Monte Vista, CO Del Norte, CO | Josh Jordan |
Senior FF/Engine SMOD/WFM SRFF | GW-0456-04/05 | 27-FIRE-P12389JC-SRFF-45DH | Monte Vista, CO Del Norte, CO | Dominic Ali |
| Wildland Firefighter – Fire Suppression | GW-0456-03/04 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389JC-FFTR-34DH | Monte Vista, CO Del Norte, CO | Dominic Ali |
| Wildland Firefighter Apprentice | GW-0456-04/05/06 | 27-FIRE-P1R2389-WFAP-345DH | Monte Vista, CO Del Norte, CO | Dominic Ali |
| All potential backfill listings are in Full Outreach Notice document only. Application deadline for these backfill positions is the same as all vacant primary positions on the list above. | ||||
SEASONAL / TEMPORARY HIRING
Temporary positions with the USDA Forest Service are a great way to gain valuable experience, work outdoors, and get exposure to different careers. Positions are typically in administration, archeology, fire, fisheries, recreation, trails and timber. The Rio Grande National Forest may be hiring a few positions for next summer.
OUTREACH
An outreach is the process by which our hiring managers attempt to determine the method that will be used to fill a particular vacancy and notify potential applicants of an upcoming job announcement. Often, these are NOT the actual advertisements for the position being filled. We encourage all interested parties to respond to the outreach to help us determine interest. The RGNF is currently outreaching the following positions (most recent on top):
There are currently no RGNF outreaches listed.
Follow this link to the Forest Service Outreach Database.
When they become actual vacancy announcements, access them on the USAJobs website on the date the job opens. Typically, vacancies will open in USAJobs at 12:00am and close at 11:59:59pm Eastern time on the dates listed.
How to Prepare and Apply?
- Create an account on USAJobs and set up your profile.
- Build or upload your resume. Please note federal resumes are generally more extensive than private sector resumes; learn more.
- Upload important documents. These may include current transcripts, a list of references, letters of recommendation, veterans preference documentation, and certifications.
- Search for open positions by location (eg. Del Norte, La Jara, Saguache).
- Submit an application package for each position you are interested in. This may include a questionnaire about skills related to the job.
- Sign-up for e-mail notifications about future job postings using the “save search” function in your USAJobs profile.
Helpful links
- How to write a federal resume and apply
- How to apply for federal jobs YouTube video
- Video on resume writing for USAJobs
Career Options
The Forest Service has a wide breadth of career fields, appealing to both outdoor and indoor enthusiasts alike. Many short-term seasonal opportunities are also available. Below are examples of the many career areas available with the Forest Service. Learn more about careers at the Forest Service National Career Page.
| Recreation | Wildlife Biology | Fire Management |
| Heritage Resources | Engineering | Range Management |
| Information Technology | Hydrology | Timber Management |
| Administrative | GIS | Human Resources |
| Law Enforcement | Contracting | Visitor Information |
| Land Surveying | Budgeting | Public Affairs |