National Park Service
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Seasonal Laborer (Trails)
role at
National Park Service
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), February 12, 2026. Please see the "Next Steps" section for additional cut off dates.
Duties Help
Duty Locations / Parks, Seasonal timeframes & Government Housing
Sequoia National Park – CA; Season May‑Nov; Government housing may be available.
Kings Canyon National Park – CA; Season May‑Nov; Government housing may be available.
Point Reyes National Seashore – Point Reyes Station, CA; Season Apr‑Oct; Government housing may be available.
Yosemite National Park – CA; Season Apr‑Oct; Government housing may be available.
Pinnacle National Park – Paicines, CA; Season May‑Nov; Government housing is available.
Redwood National Park – Crescent City & Orick, CA; Season Mar‑Sep; Government housing may be available.
Great Basin National Park – Baker, NV; Season May‑Nov; Government housing may be available.
Crater Lake National Park – Crater Lake, OR; Season May‑Nov; Government housing is available.
Olympic National Park – Port Angeles, WA; Season Apr‑Oct; Government housing may be available.
MAJOR DUTIES
Live and work out of remote wilderness camps for up to 8 days or up to several weeks/months at a time.
Load and unload supplies and materials from trucks, trailers, dollies, and pack animals etc.
Maintain hiking trails, i.e., cutting back vegetation, cleaning drainage structures, clearing rockfall, and repairing trail and stock fences.
Perform strenuous manual labor such as digging ditches and trenches with pick and shovel where soil is hard and compact and must be graded or sloped, shoveling snow requiring significant endurance for sustained periods of time.
Mix and pour concrete, asphalt and hot/cold mix and fills and level holes in damaged roads/trails.
Construct and maintain trail structures such as retaining walls, bridges, turnpikes, retaining walls, waterbars, and swales.
Move heavily loaded wheelbarrows and hand trucks. Cut heavy trees with axe or chainsaw, stack heavy logs, lumber and sacks of cement or perform other duties.
Physical Demands The work performed requires very heavy physical effort. The incumbent routinely lifts, pushes, pulls, and carries items weighing 50 pounds, and up to 150 pounds (or more) with assistance. Grade 3 laborers exert very heavy physical effort in doing such tasks as frequently lifting and moving objects weighing over 50 pounds.
Working Conditions Almost all of the incumbent’s work will be outside in all kinds of weather conditions, and involve the possibility of bruises, muscle strains, cuts and scrapes, and other injuries. Work requires the employee to follow proper safety procedures and use standard safety equipment to avoid serious injuries. At the grade 3 level the tasks involved may result in more serious injuries than at lower grade levels. The incumbent works the majority of time outdoors in temperatures ranging from 0 °F in the winter to excess of 100 °F in the summer.
Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months—generally May to October. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information: http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm.
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.
Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee’s responsibility.
You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties.
You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards.
You may be required to work on‑call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
You may be required to travel and live in backcountry camps for up to 6 months.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old or be at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; (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 Have the ability to do the work of a Laborer (Trails) without more than normal supervision (Screen out). Work experience includes the following tasks:
Perform work tasks on a crew or work group responsible for carrying out tasks in remote areas.
Use shovels, picks, rakes and saws to perform landscape or construction type work.
Digging trenches, clearing water drainages and cutting & bucking timber.
Must have experience in backpacking and camping.
Must have ability to lift and carry objects weighing more than 50 pounds.
Ability to hike long distances at a minimum average of 3 miles per hour.
Certain locations/parks (Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite) require regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry at high elevations as described. It is a Selective Factor (Screen Out). To be considered for this position, you must provide the detailed description as required above. Be sure your resume and application reflect high elevation work if you apply to these specific locations/parks.
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.
For additional information
Sequoia National Park, CA: Antonio_Fiorino@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Kings Canyon National Park, CA: Barnaby_Fisher@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Point Reyes National Seashore, CA: Jason_Briggs@nps.gov, Facilities Manager
Yosemite National Park, CA: Jessica_Crow@nps.gov, Supervisory Facilities Operations Specialist Roads and Trails
Pinnacle National Park, CA: Gavin_Youngstrum@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Redwood National Park, CA: Brittney_McGuire@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Great Basin National Park, NV: David_Wright@nps.gov, Maintenance Supervisor
Crater Lake National Park, OR: Andrew_Hoeg@nps.gov, Trails Maintenance Supervisor
Olympic National Park, WA: Nathan_Forrest@nps.gov, Trails Program Manager
Seniority level Entry level
Employment type Temporary
Job function Other
Industries Government Administration
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Seasonal Laborer (Trails)
role at
National Park Service
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), February 12, 2026. Please see the "Next Steps" section for additional cut off dates.
Duties Help
Duty Locations / Parks, Seasonal timeframes & Government Housing
Sequoia National Park – CA; Season May‑Nov; Government housing may be available.
Kings Canyon National Park – CA; Season May‑Nov; Government housing may be available.
Point Reyes National Seashore – Point Reyes Station, CA; Season Apr‑Oct; Government housing may be available.
Yosemite National Park – CA; Season Apr‑Oct; Government housing may be available.
Pinnacle National Park – Paicines, CA; Season May‑Nov; Government housing is available.
Redwood National Park – Crescent City & Orick, CA; Season Mar‑Sep; Government housing may be available.
Great Basin National Park – Baker, NV; Season May‑Nov; Government housing may be available.
Crater Lake National Park – Crater Lake, OR; Season May‑Nov; Government housing is available.
Olympic National Park – Port Angeles, WA; Season Apr‑Oct; Government housing may be available.
MAJOR DUTIES
Live and work out of remote wilderness camps for up to 8 days or up to several weeks/months at a time.
Load and unload supplies and materials from trucks, trailers, dollies, and pack animals etc.
Maintain hiking trails, i.e., cutting back vegetation, cleaning drainage structures, clearing rockfall, and repairing trail and stock fences.
Perform strenuous manual labor such as digging ditches and trenches with pick and shovel where soil is hard and compact and must be graded or sloped, shoveling snow requiring significant endurance for sustained periods of time.
Mix and pour concrete, asphalt and hot/cold mix and fills and level holes in damaged roads/trails.
Construct and maintain trail structures such as retaining walls, bridges, turnpikes, retaining walls, waterbars, and swales.
Move heavily loaded wheelbarrows and hand trucks. Cut heavy trees with axe or chainsaw, stack heavy logs, lumber and sacks of cement or perform other duties.
Physical Demands The work performed requires very heavy physical effort. The incumbent routinely lifts, pushes, pulls, and carries items weighing 50 pounds, and up to 150 pounds (or more) with assistance. Grade 3 laborers exert very heavy physical effort in doing such tasks as frequently lifting and moving objects weighing over 50 pounds.
Working Conditions Almost all of the incumbent’s work will be outside in all kinds of weather conditions, and involve the possibility of bruises, muscle strains, cuts and scrapes, and other injuries. Work requires the employee to follow proper safety procedures and use standard safety equipment to avoid serious injuries. At the grade 3 level the tasks involved may result in more serious injuries than at lower grade levels. The incumbent works the majority of time outdoors in temperatures ranging from 0 °F in the winter to excess of 100 °F in the summer.
Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months—generally May to October. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information: http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm.
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.
Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee’s responsibility.
You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties.
You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards.
You may be required to work on‑call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
You may be required to travel and live in backcountry camps for up to 6 months.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old or be at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; (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 Have the ability to do the work of a Laborer (Trails) without more than normal supervision (Screen out). Work experience includes the following tasks:
Perform work tasks on a crew or work group responsible for carrying out tasks in remote areas.
Use shovels, picks, rakes and saws to perform landscape or construction type work.
Digging trenches, clearing water drainages and cutting & bucking timber.
Must have experience in backpacking and camping.
Must have ability to lift and carry objects weighing more than 50 pounds.
Ability to hike long distances at a minimum average of 3 miles per hour.
Certain locations/parks (Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite) require regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry at high elevations as described. It is a Selective Factor (Screen Out). To be considered for this position, you must provide the detailed description as required above. Be sure your resume and application reflect high elevation work if you apply to these specific locations/parks.
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.
For additional information
Sequoia National Park, CA: Antonio_Fiorino@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Kings Canyon National Park, CA: Barnaby_Fisher@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Point Reyes National Seashore, CA: Jason_Briggs@nps.gov, Facilities Manager
Yosemite National Park, CA: Jessica_Crow@nps.gov, Supervisory Facilities Operations Specialist Roads and Trails
Pinnacle National Park, CA: Gavin_Youngstrum@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Redwood National Park, CA: Brittney_McGuire@nps.gov, Trails Supervisor
Great Basin National Park, NV: David_Wright@nps.gov, Maintenance Supervisor
Crater Lake National Park, OR: Andrew_Hoeg@nps.gov, Trails Maintenance Supervisor
Olympic National Park, WA: Nathan_Forrest@nps.gov, Trails Program Manager
Seniority level Entry level
Employment type Temporary
Job function Other
Industries Government Administration
#J-18808-Ljbffr