Seasonal Maintenance Worker

Summary

This position is located in a unit of the National Park Service. The primary purpose of the position is to assist journey level workers in all areas of trail maintenance.

These positions may be filled for up to a six-month seasonal period, but can vary due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Anticipated Entry on Duty: April-June 2026.

For more park(s) information, please visit find a park .

Duties

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This position works under a Trails Maintenance Leader or other higher-graded employees. The incumbent primarily assists in maintenance and construction of graded and paved trails, trail drainage, trail bridges, and guard rails. Assists in the installation, repair and replacement of water diversion bars, cribbing, and retainer walls. Removes windfalls, rockslides, surface outcroppings, and debris from trails. Builds up tread surfaces in eroded areas. Installs stepping-stones or bridges at creek crossings. Safely and effectively uses hand and power tools required for the job and has the ability to maintain these tools properly. May perform work on roads, trail signs, parking lots, boundary fences, corral repair, and construction.

Physical Effort: Heavy physical exertion is frequently required in bending, lifting, and using hand and power tools in trail work. Examples of typical strenuous activity include frequently lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 100 pounds, carrying and rolling rocks and logs, moving rocks of several tons with rock bars, using hammers to crush or shape rock, and using shovels extensively; frequently walks up to 20 miles daily; and must not have potential emergency-medical problems that could complicate work in remote areas forextended periods of time.

Working Conditions: Incumbent must have the ability to live and work effectively in isolated backcountry areas in close contact with small numbers of people. Incumbent must live and work out-of-doors on projects including in mountainous terrain up to 14,000 feet in elevation in all extremes of weather. Trail work is dusty, and hazardous conditions may exist when moving rock, working in and around rockslide areas, working around explosives, falling and bucking trees, and working around machinery.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Depending on location, government housing may be available.
• Depending on location, occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home.
• You may be required to live and work out of backcountry camps.
• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• If selected for a position/location that requires search and rescue, emergency response, use of firearms, watercraft operation, or commercial driver's license, you will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In such cases, this position may also be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• If selected for a position/location required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

1. Ability to do the work of a Maintenance Worker (Trails) position without more than normal supervision. Perform the common work of a maintenance worker, examples include: performing trail construction and maintenance; basic dry stone masonry skills for projects such as water bars, rock steps, retaining walls, etc.; basic log carpentry skills to construct and repair trail bridges and foot logs, replace bridge decks, railings, stringers, and fences. This experience includes the use and operation of hand and power tools used to perform trail work such as rock bar, double jack, jackhammer, plugs and feathers, etc. I take initiative to solve problems and accomplish work assignments in a safe manner. Tasks assigned to me are inspected upon completion by my work leader or supervisor for conformance to requirements. (SCREEN OUT)
2. Technical Practices
3. Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
4. Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment
5. Knowledge of Materials

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Click here for the Federal Wage Schedule Website to calculate location specific pay.

This job opportunity announcement will be used to fill one or more additional selections at anytime without notification.

Some locations listed may not be filling positions. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified if there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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