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Seasonal Maintenance Worker Leader (Trails)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
PWR Seasonal Recruitment Interior Regions 8,9,10,12 - Multiple Parks

Summary

The typical season 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.

Positions will be filled at the following locations:

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Haleakala National Park (Kula HI)

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/16/2025 to 12/30/2025
Salary
$26.03 to - $39.93 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WL 7
Locations
Kings Canyon National Park, CA
4 vacancies
Sequoia National Park, CA
4 vacancies
Kula, HI
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Overnight travel and camping in the backcountry may be required depending on location.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - Not to exceed 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
PW-1548-SR-26-12840202-DE
Control number
852227500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Under this announcement we are accepting applications from 1. All United States citizens 2. CTAP/ICTAP Eligibles.

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Duties

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You will serve as Trail Crew Leader under the direction of the Trails Supervisor working on park-wide trail construction and maintenance projects.

  • Day-to-day leadership of up to fifteen employee trail crew, volunteers, and youth conservation crews in trail construction and maintenance projects in the front country and back country settings, masonry, rigging, and motor vehicle trail maintenance related operations.
  • Hike up to 20 miles, able to lift/carry heavy loads.
  • Projects include repairing dry-laid rock retaining walls, tread replacement and grading of ADA trails, bridge construction and cleaning and/or replacing water bars. Other projects include rehabilitation of fire damaged trails.
  • Responsible for the quality, quantity and safety of work performed under his/her leadership and for communicating progress reports on all assigned projects to the Trails Supervisor.
  • Assist in development of Job Hazard Analysis documents and training, as well as holding regular Tailgate Safety meetings and ensuring that all employees on crews work safely.
  • Must possess a broad knowledge of the specialized tools, skills and techniques associated with new trail construction and maintenance.
  • Extensive knowledge in crosscut saw operations, maintenance, and sharpening is preferred.
  • Up to ten percent of the position is administrative in nature and requires using a computer and various software programs (MS Word, Excel, web-based databases, etc.); performing basic math for project estimating and budgeting, keeping detailed records, maintaining accurate paper and electronic files for safety documentation; purchasing, time keeping and other matters.
Physical Effort: Heavy physical effort is required in bending, lifting, and using hand and power tools in trail work. As examples of typical strenuous activity, incumbent: Frequently lifts and carries objects weighing over 100 lbs., 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 and other hand tools extensively; Frequently hikes up to 20 miles daily, and must be able to do so while carrying a backpack, power and/or hand tools.

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 mountainous terrain at elevations between 2,000 to 10,000 ft 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 livestock or explosives, falling and bucking trees, and working around rigging equipment and machinery.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. (Some of these positions will be working with youth under the age of 18 and a specialized background may be required).
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You may be required to operate a motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation. Lastly, you may be required to 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 discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Overnight backcountry travel (up to 75% or greater) may be required depending on location.
  • You will 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 shift work.
  • Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.
  • 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

Ability to lead (Screen out): Federal Wage Leaders must have the ability to lead three or more other workers to accomplish work, including as a paramount requirement, sufficient skill in and knowledge of the type of work performed by the group led to effectively carry out the duties. Working leaders also perform regular nonsupervisory (i.e., non-leader) work that is usually of the same kind and level as that done by the group led. Typical duties of a working leader are:

  • passing on to other workers the instructions received from supervisors and getting work started, e.g., by assigning the immediate tasks to be performed by individual members of the group.
  • working along with other workers and setting the pace; demonstrating proper work methods.
  • seeing to it that needed plans, blueprints, materials, and tools are available, and that needed stock is obtained from supply locations
  • obtaining needed information or decisions from supervisors on problems that come up during the work
  • maintaining a current knowledge, and answering questions of other workers on procedures, policies, written instructions, and other directives (for example, technical orders)
  • seeing to it that there is enough work to keep everyone in the work crew busy; checking work while in progress and when finished to see whether the supervisor's instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines have been met; urging or advising other workers to follow instructions received from supervisors, and to meet deadlines
  • assuring that safety and housekeeping rules are followed (for example, assuring that limits of safe machine operation are not exceeded and that all tools are used properly)
  • reporting to supervisors on status and progress of work, and causes of work delays; and answering questions of supervisors on overall work operations and problems (for example, concerning, additional on-the-job training requirements for individual employees).
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: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118C/index.htm

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

For questions about these positions please contact:

Kings Canyon NP: Barnaby Fisher
Email: barnaby_fisher@nps.gov
phone: 559-565-4364

Sequoia NP: Tony Fiorino
Email: antonio_c_fiorino@nps.gov
phone: 559-565-3745

Haleakala NP: Aaron Jernigan
Email: aaron_jernigan@nps.gov
phone: 808-264-7419

Government housing MAY be available for all positions.

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 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.

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.

While the position doesn't require NPS Blasters/Blasters-in-Training certification, incumbents who possess such certification and will be performing those duties must maintain an NPS Blasters/Blaster-in-Training certification and must also maintain a Hazmat endorsement on at least a Class C Commercial Driver's license. You will be subject to drug testing prior to performing those safety-sensitive duties.

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.

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.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

  • 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 Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
  • Ability To Lead Or Supervise
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc.
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instruments

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