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Animal Packer

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NPS Regions 6, 7 & 8
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions may be filled for a six month seasonal period, but can be vary due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: March-July 2023.

For more park(s) information, select "Learn more about this agency" below.

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

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/15/2023 to 12/22/2023
This job will close when we have received 150 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$24.48 to - $29.76 per hour

Actual Wage Varies by location. For specific wage information, reference the Federal Wages Schedules Website link in Additional Information.

Pay scale & grade
WG 8
Locations
12 vacancies in the following locations:
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, CO
Rocky Mountain National Park
Grand Lake, CO
Yellowstone National Park
Park County, MT
Glacier National Park
Saint Mary, MT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - not to exceed 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IM-1538-IMRO-24-12194489-DE
Control number
760842200

Videos

Duties

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  • Assembles and packages all types of cargo in neat, correct and compact arrangements and manties in a tight package that can be handled, carefully balanced, and packed aboard horses and mules. Packs a wide variety of cargo such as tandem packing lumber (up to 16' lengths), doors, bridge decking, culverts, cook stoves, refrigerators, furniture, boat motors, wheel barrows, bed springs and frames, electronic equipment, prefabricated pit toilets, roofing, explosives, hay and any other type of supplies and materials.
  • Loads and hitches packed supplies and equipment onto pack animals, balances and adjusts side packs and insures that pack saddles and varied or modified packs are not rubbing or otherwise in a position to cause injury to the pack stock or the cargo.
  • Provides professional grade care and handling of stock which includes grooming, shoeing, feeding, watering and caring for the medical needs such as administering shots and medication.
  • Maintains and repairs packing equipment such as ropes, halters, pack and riding saddles, cargo boxes, mantas, harnesses, leads, pigtails, slings and cargo ropes. Splices and weaves new rope accessories, sews various leather materials, etc., needed in packing assignments.
  • Leads strings of 6 to 9 pack animals, plus a lead horse, over the best self-chosen routes in rugged mountainous terrain, over rain or snow melt, swollen creeks and rivers, across snow pack areas up and down series of switchbacks, etc., to reach destinations without injury to self, pack stock or cargo.
  • Drives, loads and unloads stock trucks rated over 26,000 lb. GVW with 6 speed transmissions and 2-speed axles. Hauls personnel, animals, equipment and materials to and from trail heads.
  • When not actively engaged in packing operations, may be assigned as a working member of a trail crew performing various trail maintenance functions including but not limited to: sawing out downed trees, miscellaneous shoveling, trail grubbing, pasture fencing, and hiking.

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, occupancy of government quarters may be required.
  • Depending on location, government housing may be available.
  • 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 occasionally.
  • 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 a 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 addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • You must possess and maintain a current Class A Commercial Driver's License or be able obtain one within 30 days of entrance on duty for positions in Estes Park, Colorado; Grand Lake, Colorado.
  • You must possess and maintain a current Class B Commercial Driver's License or be able to obtain one within 30 days of entrance on duty for positions in West Glacier, Montana and St. Mary, Montana; Grand Teton, WY. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, does NOT REQUIRE a CDL for their operations.
  • 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 an Animal Packer, WG-5001-08 without more than normal supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  2. Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  3. Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  4. Knowledge of Materials
  5. Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  6. Dexterity and Safety
  7. Use of Measuring Instruments
If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. To be found minimally qualified, your resume must show that you have performed the following duties under normal supervision: Planned, organized, and safely performed the daily work of an animal packer to pack trail tools, and transport supplies and equipment to backcountry sites. I have performed trail work, drain clearing, removing downed trees, miscellaneous shoveling, trail grubbing, pasture fencing, and hiking. I have handled and cared for mules or horses in the backcountry while maintaining a leave no trace campsite. I have prepared, loaded, and packed cargo on heavily trafficked backcountry trails to include trails over steep terrain, short switch backs, and rocky uneven tread for long trips. I have loaded and unloaded stock from trailers and driven truck and trailer combos to transport stock and equipment.

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.Not all locations listed will 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.

Physical Effort: Requires good physical stamina and strength in arms, back, and legs to perform required tasks safely and efficiently. Involves walking, bending, riding horseback for long hours. Requires lifting, carrying and securing awkward loads onto the sides of animals at or above chest height and the use of arms to hold pack in position while hitching ropes. Must be able to adjust these loads along the trail in steep, rocky, or other poor footing situations. Incumbent is also required to bend, squat, twist, lift, and load while preparing loads, lifting loads onto truck for transport, daily feeding, trimming, shoeing and dental operations. Spending long hours siting in the saddle and driving heavy truck for long distances at odd hours.
Working Conditions: Works at high altitudes in all extremes of weather, from wind, rain, snow and extreme cold, to hot, dry and dusty. On a daily basis, navigates trails that gain as much as 4500 feet of elevation an descend 4500 feet in a single day. At times, is required to live in primitive backcountry locations for up to ten days. Supplies own food and provides for personal needs. Also works in barn and shop environments. There is danger of cuts, burns and hypothermia; danger of strained or wrenched muscles due to the movement of animals while hitching or loading, shoeing, etc.; danger from animals crushing, striking, or biting. Certain tasks require the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, chainsaw chaps, safety boots, and vests, hearing and eye protection, and hard hats.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of the following categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instruments

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