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Maintenance Worker (Trails)

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Summary

The mission of the Fish and Wildlife Service is to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing enjoyment of people. The National Wildlife Refuge System exists to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the U.S. for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$28.50 - $33.21 per hour

Pay is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
WG 5
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent - Career-seasonal *See Additional Information section for an explanation of Career-seasonal appointments.
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CAXB-26-13077638-DE-LL
Control number
886948600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) local hiring authority (16 USC 3198). Any U.S. Citizen who has special knowledge or expertise regarding the natural or cultural resources, by reason of having either lived or worked in or near Alaska Public Lands may apply. Your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near Alaska Public Lands. See Qualifications section for eligibility requirements.

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Duties

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This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, Alaska.

At the full performance level (WG-05) the major duties of the Maintenance Worker position include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Coordinates transporting camp and work supplies, construction materials and trail crew laborers by foot boat, truck, fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
  • Coordinates the maintenance and construction of public use trails including the trail drainage features, boardwalks and trail bridges.
  • Removes downed trees, rockslides, surface outcroppings, and debris from trails.
  • Uses hand and power tools safely and effectively in performing assigned work including chainsaws and crosscut saws.
  • Maintains hand and power tools used in performing assigned work.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Direct Deposit participation required.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
  • Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home primarily during the months of May through September. During this timeframe you may be required to travel up to two weeks per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You will be required to undergo a CNACI background investigation due to working with youth.
  • You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.
  • Eligible for conversion to competitive service after two years and upon meeting all requirements


*Additional Requirements located under Qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your trial your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/13/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Special knowledge or expertise concerning Alaska public lands natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.

-AND-

To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived and/or worked in or near Alaska public lands.

-ALSO-

The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies:

  1. Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading)
  2. Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc.
  3. Use of Measuring Instruments
  4. Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  5. Special knowledge or expertise concerning the natural or cultural resources of public lands and the management thereof.
  6. Knowledge of weather, river channels and conditions, snowmobile trail conditions, and travel routes to safely travel on or near a refuge or other public lands in a variety of conditions.
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 the required special knowledge or expertise as outlined in this announcement.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

This is an excepted service appointment, that confers competitive status after two years and upon meeting all performance and OPM qualification requirements.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as permanent appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work for approximately late February through late November, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Physical Demands: Exerts heavy physical effort frequently while performing trail construction and maintenance work, including bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and using hand and power tools.

Frequently lifts and carries objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Carries and rolls rocks and logs and uses rock bars and similar tools to move or position rocks weighing several tons.

Frequently uses hammers and other hand tools to crush, break, or shape rock and performs extensive shoveling and similar strenuous manual work.

Frequently walks long distances, up to 15 miles per day, while performing assigned trail work, including work in remote areas for extended periods.

Work Environment: Works and lives for extended periods in isolated backcountry areas in close contact with small groups of employees and
other personnel.

Performs work outdoors in remote and mountainous terrain at elevations up to 6,000 feet and under extremes of weather conditions.

Performs trail work in dusty and potentially hazardous conditions. Encounters hazards associated with moving and handling rock; working in and around rockslide areas; falling and bucking trees; and working in and around machinery.

Participates in established safety programs designed to safeguard visitors, employees, the environment, facilities, equipment, and vehicles.

Observes work and camp activities for unsafe conditions and practices affecting volunteers, Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) participants, Student Conservation Association (SCA) participants, and regular crew members, and follows established safety procedures while performing assigned work.

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.

The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.

All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents, questionnaire responses). If your application package does not clearly reflect having lived and/or worked within Alaska public lands, does not clearly reflect special knowledge of the natural and/or cultural resources of Alaska public lands, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. 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.

Veterans' preference will be based solely on the claimed preference. Your eligibility will not be changed based on the documentation provided. If you are uncertain which preference to claim, you can learn more by visiting the VetGuide.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities. Click here to learn more about the Department of the Interior and its bureaus.

The mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Click here to learn more about the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Agency contact information

Laura Lasell
Email
laura_lasell@ios.doi.gov
Address
Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
1101 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99503
US

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