Orchard Technician Members - Capitol Reef National Park

EPIC • Torrey, UT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Capitol Reef National Park, is recruiting two members to support the Resource Management & Science division’s Orchard Program. Members will assist with planting and maintaining newly established landscape trees throughout the Fruita Rural Historic District and managing the park’s historic orchards. The placement is based at Capitol Reef National Park in Torrey, Utah, and requires a minimum 52-week commitment. The start date is January 4, 2027, pending funding approval; the estimated end date is January 1, 2028.

The member will work in the field and office alongside National Park Service employees, receiving daily oversight and guidance from the horticulturist and other staff. Work will include preparing for and caring for more than 100 landscape trees being replanted in the district, as well as seasonal orchard and vegetation management. Activities include planting, irrigation, pruning, monitoring, pest management, and other tree-care work. Members will gain hands-on experience with horticultural and botanical practices in a historic preservation setting, including soil and cover-crop management, grafting, and tree stabilization. The year-long placement provides exposure to the full growing and dormant seasons, land management work, and opportunities to learn from and shadow other work groups.

The usual schedule is four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with a 30-minute lunch. Depending on program needs and seasonal changes, the schedule may shift to a 5/4/9 or 5/8 schedule, or include weekend days. These alternatives and weekend coverage are typically used during the shortest winter days or for specific project and field needs.

Members are expected to contribute approximately 40 hours per week and receive a living allowance of $800 per week, paid biweekly, to offset food and incidental expenses. A $200-per-week housing assistance benefit is also provided. The National Park Service provides a private, single-occupant room in a shared dorm-style house with up to five other seasonal employees for the duration of the placement. Shared amenities include bathroom, laundry, kitchen, Wi-Fi, and living spaces; the housing is approximately a five-minute walk from park headquarters. Members may use up to $300 for eligible gear purchases, subject to ACE approval. Position-specific training and orientation are provided, with possible training in historic pruning, pest and tree identification, soil fertilization testing and calculations, and hand-line, drip, and historic flood-furrow irrigation.

This placement is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Members must meet PLC eligibility requirements to be considered. Eligible members may qualify for a federal hiring authority after completing their service and 640 service hours. PLC eligibility includes age and citizenship requirements; ACE advises contacting staff or reviewing its eligibility information for details.

Requirements

• Be authorized to work in the United States; ACE does not provide employment visa sponsorship.
• Represent ACE and its partner organization professionally, positively, and enthusiastically.
• Be able to work independently and contribute positively as a member of a group.
• Have a valid driver's license and an insurable driving record; provide documentation upon request.
• Be at least 21 years old to drive under ACE insurance and liability requirements.
• Undergo and pass required criminal history checks.
• Be able to perform the essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Be willing to complete required timesheets and term feedback and evaluation forms, and comply with the Member Service Agreement.
• Be physically capable of consistently performing outdoor physical work, including pruning, digging, dragging branches, and cutting limbs.
• Be able to perform physical labor for extended periods, work in varying weather and terrain, and maintain good physical condition.
• Frequently move up to 50 pounds and be able to move up to 100 pounds.
• Be able to work around ladders up to 12 feet tall and heavy or small-engine machinery, following applicable safety protocols.

Nice To Haves

• Hold or be pursuing a degree in natural resources, or have relevant experience in horticulture, arborism, or cultural landscape preservation.
• Knowledge of perennial establishment or maintenance, integrated pest management, orchard or landscape tree work, or nursery management.
• Ability and willingness to learn historic pruning styles, including working long days in cold and snowy weather.
• Interest in horticulture or living landscape management.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to learn field skills from other orchard team members, even without extensive prior experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparing for, planting, maintaining, irrigating, training, monitoring, and caring for newly planted landscape trees in the Fruita Rural Historic District.
• Support management of Capitol Reef National Park’s historic orchards and vegetation.
• Perform seasonal tree care, including winter, spring, and summer pruning.
• Monitor insects and pests and help implement integrated pest management strategies.
• Learn and apply horticultural practices including watering, soil and cover-crop management, grafting, and tree stabilization.
• Work with the park horticulturist and other staff, and participate in field and office work, training, and opportunities to shadow other work groups.
• Complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning-of-term feedback forms, end-of-term evaluations, and, for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Follow ACE and NPS safety, equipment, training, certification, and prohibited-activity requirements.

Benefits

• Living allowance of $800 per week, paid biweekly, to offset food and incidental expenses.
• Housing assistance of $200 per week.
• Private single-occupant room in shared NPS-provided housing for the duration of the position, with shared bathroom, laundry, kitchen, Wi-Fi, and living spaces.
• Up to $300 for eligible gear purchases, subject to ACE staff approval.
• Position-specific training and orientation.
• Potential eligibility for a federal hiring authority after completion of the term and 640 hours of service, subject to Public Land Corps eligibility requirements.

What This Job Offers

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