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Laborer (Motor Vehicle Operating) (Seasonal)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Rock Creek Park

Summary

The primary purpose of the position is to perform laboring duties that require significant manual skill, prior work experience or training, and very heavy
physical effort.

Open to the first 50 applicants or until 12/31/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

There is no public transportation to this park.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/17/2025 to 12/31/2025
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$24.25 to - $28.29 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
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
Yes
Announcement number
NC-1616-ROCR-26-12844810-DE
Control number
852562600

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Duties

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The major duties of the WG-3502-05, Laborer (Motor Vehicle Operating) position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Operates large, complex riding lawn mowers that have multiple or independently controlled cutting decks, and/or specially designed mowers that operate on slopes; lawn and garden tractors with various specialty attachments; some snow removal for end of winter duties. Lawn and garden tractors will be used heavily during this seasonal load as duties will primarily fall into Spring and beginning summer when grass cutting must be done multiple times per week, and vegetation is more abundant and must be trimmed more frequently.
  • Operates other types of equipment (e.g., lawn edging equipment, trimmers, brush cutters, brush chippers, etc.) and hand tools (e.g., shovels, picks, pulaskis, digging bars, rakes, etc.), to maintain buildings, grounds, roads, and trails for Spring growth and upkeep of grounds.
  • Carries out special laboring assignment(s) which require knowledge of several steps, phases, or detailed procedures and a practical knowledge of project requirements and objectives, primarily Spring vegetation and grounds preparation and upkeep into summer, foliage removal as Summer approaches.
  • Loads and unloads supplies and materials from trucks, trailers, dollies, etc. Moves furniture, removes and sets signs, paints picnic tables and signs, rakes and waters lawns, trims trees and shrubbery, picks up litter, and cleans and repairs fire pits.
  • Cuts trees and heavy vegetation with axes, chainsaws, or powered brush cutters; stacks heavy logs, lumber, and sacks of cement, etc., or performs other duties requiring similar judgment and comparable heavy physical effort.

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.
  • You will 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.
  • 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.
  • Must be able to work outside in all weather conditions.
  • Driver's license (MVO) -requires a driver's license at the time of appointment, must be able to maintain.
  • Must have the ability to lift 50 or more pounds.
  • Must have and be able to maintain a valid state or District of Columbia Driver's License.

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 The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision. (SCREEN OUT)
  2. Work Practices (includes keeping things neat, clean and in order)
  3. Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  4. Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  5. Dexterity and Safety
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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies". Experience listed as full-time will be credited at 40 hours per week.

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 Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

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 The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is January - July 2026 but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: No Later Than May 2026.

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 Demands: The work performed requires the exertion of very heavy physical effort in operating large, riding mowers. The work involves lifting and moving objects over 50 pounds, and in some cases, carrying 80 to 100 pounds.

Working Conditions: Works both inside and outside and is frequently exposed to weather and temperature extremes, drafts, noise, dust, and dirt and the possibility of bruises, muscle strains, cuts and scrapes. The work performed requires the employee to frequently use safety gloves, ear plugs, safety glasses, or respirators to avoid severe injuries.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are NOT suitable for telework.

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 three 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
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order)

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