Seasonal Maintenance Worker (Trails)
National Park Service
Summary NOTE: OPM has identified this position as eligible for an exception to the typical 1039-hour season. This exception allows up to 1560 hours which may extend the season(s) reflected in this announcement. See the Additional Information section for details. The typical season for this position is April - September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is April 2026. Responsibilities As a Maintenance Worker (Trails), you will perform maintenance, repair, and construction of backcountry and front country trails. Duties include but are not limited to: Perform masonry work, primarily dry stone, in the construction, stabilization, and maintenance to historic and non-historic trail structures including: Maintain, repair, and construct walls (both single-and multi-tier), bridge abutments, causeways, riprap trail tread, and other similar structures. Quarry, cut, shape, and finish stone for use in walls, walkways, bridges, and walls. Determine appropriate mix and apply mortar in proper proportions. Use a variety of tools including single and double jacks, rock bars, line levels, sting lines, tape measures, air-driven or Pionjar rock drills, chisels, cement mixers, trowels, etc. Perform carpentry work, primarily using heavy log and rough-sawn lumber, on trail structures, such as log checks, footbridges, multi-use bridges, corrals, hitch rails, and boardwalks including: Use chainsaw to fell, buck, notch and/or shape both native and pressure treated logs in the maintenance and construction of multi-use and footbridges, water bars, retainer steps, crib walls, and steps. Use chainsaws to clear trails of downed trees and brush. Build accessible trails to meet ADA guidance. Maintain and repair chain saws, gas-powered rills, timber tongs, and other tools associated with log work. Measure, cut, and install dimensional lumber using on-site measurements, verbal/written directions, and blueprints. Operate pick-up trucks, vans, or off-road vehicles, on a variety of road surfaces to transport, load, unload, and distribute equipment and supplies to job sites and trailheads. Please visit find a park for additional park information. Requirements 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. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 20 nights per month. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 02/23/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's 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 or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraphs. Areas considered "near" Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve are Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy Lake, Kenny Lake, Long Lake, Lower & Upper Tonsina, McCarthy, Mendeltna, Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Nelchina, Northway/Northway Village, Northway Junction, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, Tonsina and Yakutat. -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: Ability to do the work of a Maintenance Worker, WG-4749-07 without more than normal supervision. Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, repair, etc. Knowledge of Technical Practices. Knowledge of the use of Measuring Instruments. Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, including blueprints, etc. Ability to Safely Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment. Knowledge of Materials. Education There is no substitution of education for the required special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof as outlined in this announcement. Additional Information NOTE: In support of Executive Order (EO) 14189 "Celebrating America's 250th Birthday" and EO 14314 "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks," the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved an exception to the 1039-hour time limitation for this position. This approval extends the time limitation to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment. 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. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status. Government housing is not available. All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee. Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. Selectee may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries. Physical Demands: Heavy physical effort is required in bending, lifting, and using hand and power tools in trail work. Examples of typical strenuous activity include: Frequently lifts and carries objects weighing over 100 pounds, 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 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 various terrain up to 13,000 feet elevation 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 stock, working around explosives, falling and bucking trees, and working around machinery.
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