Seasonal Laborer (Trails-Motor Vehicle Operator)

Summary This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants will be referred throughout the announcement period. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement. The last cut-off date is 11:59 pm (EST), January 30, 2026. Please see the "NEXT STEPS" section for additional cut off dates. Duties The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY Summer seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of Summer employment will vary depending on funding, weather conditions, projects and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding. The typical season can be variable due to weather conditions, project needs, visitors or funding. See below for specific 2026 summer season timeframes. Duty Locations/Parks, Seasonal timeframes & Government Housing: The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April through October but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April 2026 The duty stations for the parks are: North Cascades National Park: Stehekin WA & Marblemount, WA, Olympic National Park: Port Angeles, WA Mount Rainier National Park: Carbonado, Enumclaw, Longmire, and Packwood, WA DUTIES: These positions support trail maintenance and rehabilitation projects throughout the back country and front country trails in the park. The work consists of trail brushing; removal debris and wind fall from the trail corridor, as well as construction and repair of trail bridges. Reconditioning trail drainage systems and culvert replacement is completed to keep sustainable tread life. Front country trail work involves culvert replacement, trail grading and asphalt preparatory tasks. Back country toilet facilities are maintained and cleaned. Physical Effort: Considerable physical effort is usually part of the job, such as when operating chainsaws, rock drills, moving rocks and logs from the trail. Much walking, bending and heavy lifting is required. This job requires excellent physical and mental stamina. Will lift loads of 100 lbs. and will carry loads up to 50 lbs. for several miles. May hike 18 miles of mountain trails in a day. Working Conditions: Incumbent will be working outdoors and at times in extreme weather conditions. Employee is required to work in cold, rainy, dirty, dusty, hot conditions. There may be occasions that the incumbent will work in heavy rain, falling snow or even blizzard conditions. Employee will be working in rough, steep, mountainous terrain and around hazardous conditions, subject to falls, sprains, cuts, sunburn, biting and stinging insects. Incumbent may be subject to exposure to poisonous plants. Occasionally will work around helicopters, hooking, loading and unloading nets, subject to rotor air blast. Will camp out in backcountry areas often for at least 7 nights. Exposure to excessive noise, vibration, noxious gases from equipment such as chainsaws, rock drills, etc. Requirements Conditions of employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Some positions will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided if required. You will be required to travel overnight away from home. This position requires regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry at high elevations for extended periods of time. Selectee(s) must be able to hike by foot in the backcountry at high altitude for extended periods of time while carrying backpacks, tools and supplies of at least 50 lbs, and be able to camp for several days at a time. You will be 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. Travel, transportation and relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. 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 Your resume must show that you have the following: Ability to do the work of a Laborer (Trails-MVO) WG-3502-4 without more than normal supervision. (Screen out). Your work history within your resume must demonstrate experience doing the following: Trail crew work in remote areas; use shovels, picks, rakes and saws to perform landscaping or construction type work. Digging trenches, clearing water drainages and cutting and bucking timber. Ability to hike on foot for several miles at a time with a backpack weighing at least 50 pounds, perform work at high elevation and camp in the backcountry for extended periods of time. Additional information on the specific qualification requirements for this position are found in the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations. It is available for review on OPM's web site at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/#url=WG-3500 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. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001). Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional information For questions about this position please contact: Olympic NP: Kelly Sutton Email: [email protected]: 360-565-3179 North Cascades NP: Scott Swenson Email: [email protected]: 360-854-7280 Mount Rainier NP: James Montgomery Email: [email protected]: 360-569-6636 This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. 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. A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. 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. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. 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. Benefits 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. Review our benefits 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.