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Maintenance Worker (Trails)

National Park Service
2 days ago
Full-time
On-site
Crescent City, California, United States
$27.94 - $27.94 USD hourly

Duties

This is a Career-Seasonal position and subject to release and recall procedures. A permanent career-seasonal position includes all the benefits of permanent employment but does not provide employment on a full year-round basis. As such, the selectee will be in a non-pay/non-duty status from Mid-December during their first service year in this position.

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

Performs carpentry work, primarily using heavy log and rough-sawn lumber, on trail structures such as log checks, foot-bridges, multi-use bridges, corrals, hitch rails, and boardwalks. Log work tasks involve the use of a chain saw to fell, buck, notch, and/or shape both native and pressure treated logs in the maintenance and construction of multi-use and foot bridges, water bars and retainer steps, crib walls and steps. Incumbent also extensively uses chain saws in clearing trails of down trees and brush.

Masonry tasks include the maintenance, repair, and construction of walls (both single- and multi-tier), bridge abutments, causeways, riprap trail tread and other similar structures, using primarily dry stone techniques.

Transports tools, materials, employees, livestock, vehicles and equipment up to 26,000 GVW to job sites and trailheads. Picks up supplies, loads, secures, and transports as required. Distributes and offloads supplies and equipment at job and storage sites. May operate power wheelbarrows, Bobcat and larger loaders, forklifts, stake-side trucks, single and tandem axle dump trucks, rollers, and tow material. Must possess and maintain a valid Class C Driver's License prior to EOD (note: not a CDL requirement).

When working with volunteer groups (Youth Corps, Student Conservation Association (SCA), AmeriCorps, Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) or in the absence of a leader or supervisor, incumbent is responsible in leading diverse volunteers in assigned trail maintenance and construction projects. The incumbent has a complete knowledge of trail maintenance techniques and must be able to recognize future and existing maintenance problems. Incumbent is knowledgeable in trail erosion control and analysis of drainage patterns as they relate to trail use and erosion. Trail work requires ingenuity and careful judgment.

Applies safe work practices to all jobs or projects assigned. Is aware of and practices all safe operating procedures common to the craft. Active participant in safety training, meeting, and behavior-based safety program. Reports all accidents immediately to the supervisor or work leader.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Direct Deposit participation required.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
  • You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You could be required to work on-call, overtime work.
  • You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
  • You 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.
  • You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/16/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
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) WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION (SCREEN OUT)
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. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. 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. You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position.

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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

EXPLORE Act Veteran Hiring Pilot Program
The Department of the Interior has created a two-year Veteran Hiring Pilot as established by the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act that aims to expand employment opportunities for Veterans (and eligible transitioning Service Members). This position has been identified as EXPLORE Act Veteran Hiring Pilot eligible. The pilot supports DOI's conservation and resource management mission by connecting qualified Veterans with career opportunities across the Department. To learn more, visit https://www.doi.gov/veterans/explore-act.

All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.

Physical Demands: Heavy physical effort is required in bending, lifting, and using hand and power tools in trail work. Examples of typical strenuous activity includes: Frequently lifts and carries objects weighing over 100 pounds, must carry and roll rocks and logs, move rocks of several tons with rock bars, use hammers to crush or shape rock, and use shovel extensively. Frequently hikes up to 20 miles daily and must be able to do so while carrying a backpack, power and/or hand tools. Must possess and maintain a valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) prior to EOD.

Working Conditions: Incumbent must have the ability to live and work effectively in backcountry areas in close contact with small numbers of people for extended periods of time. Incumbent must live and work out-of-doors on projects in various terrain up to 13,000 feet elevation in all extremes of adverse weather conditions. Trail work is dusty, and hazardous conditions may exist when moving rocks and logs, working in and around rockslide areas, working around stock, working around explosives, falling and bucking trees, and working around machinery.

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.