Maintenance Worker (Trails) (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Crescent City, CA

2d

About The Position

This is a seasonal Maintenance Worker position performing trail maintenance, construction, and repair at either the WG-5 or WG-7 level. The anticipated entry-on-duty period is April through May, though timing may vary with weather, project needs, and funding. The appointment is temporary and seasonal, generally not to exceed 1,039 hours, though it may be extended to 1,560 hours depending on the park and program. Employment is expected to end when the season’s work is complete and may end sooner due to funding, project needs, performance, or other considerations.

At the WG-5 level, work includes clearing trails of windfalls, limbs, rocks, landslides, and other debris; cleaning culverts and ditches; clearing brush; and performing tread work on native soil, gravel, and asphalt trails. The worker may assist with or lead trail projects, construct or repair trail structures and facilities, perform masonry work, paint or stain structures, help maintain historic structures, and assist with preparing and transporting pack stock. The role also involves servicing and repairing equipment, maintaining hand tools and camp equipment, updating equipment inventories, and issuing equipment, parts, and materials.

At the WG-7 level, the worker provides daily guidance and direction to field crews. Duties include repairing trail tread and drainage structures; constructing rock walls, turnpiking, cribbing, footbridges, water bars, retaining walls, and other trail structures; removing windfalls and felling trees; and using block, tackle, and winches to move heavy objects. The worker may lay out and construct new trails in rocky, mountainous terrain and restore landscapes on abandoned trails.

The work involves strenuous physical activity, including frequent lifting and carrying of heavy objects, moving rocks and logs, extensive shovel use, and hiking up to 20 miles per day, sometimes while carrying a backpack and tools. Work is outdoors in isolated backcountry areas and may involve extended periods in close contact with small groups. Projects may be in mountainous terrain up to 14,000 feet and in extreme weather. Conditions can be dusty and hazardous, including work around rockslides, explosives, falling or bucking trees, stock, and machinery.

The position requires U.S. citizenship or national status, a valid driver’s license maintained throughout employment, and successful completion of applicable background and employment-verification processes. Employees must participate in direct deposit, wear the required uniform, and may be required to travel in backcountry areas, complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card, and work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, or shifts. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must pass a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit.
• Must be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 and meet one of the stated education, vocational training, school-authority, or student-work conditions.
• Must meet the job-related qualification factors, including ability to perform the work without more than normal supervision, equipment assembly and repair knowledge, technical practices, use of measuring instruments, ability to interpret instructions and specifications, ability to use and maintain tools and equipment, and knowledge of materials.
• WG-5 applicants must demonstrate relevant trail-crew maintenance experience, such as constructing rock walls, water bars, and retainer bars; using chainsaws to cut wood or limb trees; and using a jackhammer.
• WG-7 applicants must demonstrate experience repairing trail tread and drainage structures; constructing rock walls, turnpiking, cribbing, footbridges, water bars, retaining walls, and other trail structures; removing windfalls; felling trees; using block, tackle, and winches; constructing trails in rocky mountainous terrain; and restoring abandoned trails.
• Must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and average at least 2 points on all job elements to be considered qualified.
• Must be able to perform strenuous physical work, including frequent lifting and carrying of heavy objects, moving rocks and logs, extensive shovel use, and hiking up to 20 miles daily; WG-7 work may involve hiking with a backpack and tools.
• Must be able to live and work effectively outdoors in isolated backcountry areas, in close contact with small groups, and in varied terrain and extreme weather.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• May be required to complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
• Education cannot substitute for experience for Federal Wage System positions.

Responsibilities

• Perform trail maintenance, construction, and repair, including clearing debris, cleaning culverts and ditches, clearing brush, and repairing trail tread.
• Assist with or lead trail crews on trail clearing, brushing, drainage, tread, and bridge projects; at WG-7, provide daily guidance and direction to field crews.
• Construct and repair trail structures and facilities, including bridges, rock walls, water bars, retaining walls, cribbing, ramps, corrals, outbuildings, and pit toilets.
• Perform or assist with masonry work and paint or stain boxes, corrals, pit toilets, bridges, and other structures.
• Assist with maintenance of historic structures and restoration of landscapes on abandoned trails.
• Assist a packer with preparing loads, saddling stock, and transporting stock.
• Service and repair chainsaws, brushing saws, gas rock drills, breakers, and generators.
• Repair tents, hand tools, lanterns, and stoves; sharpen axes, pulaskis, shovels, and clippers.
• Maintain equipment inventories and issue trail equipment, parts, and materials.
• At WG-7, remove windfalls, fell trees, and use block, tackle, and winches to move and place heavy objects.
• At WG-7, lay out and construct new trails in rocky, mountainous terrain.
• Work outdoors in remote backcountry locations and perform strenuous hiking, lifting, carrying, and trail work.

Benefits

• Uniform allowance
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed
• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on position type and other factors

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed