Duties
Performs and leads others in routine and complex trail maintenance, rehabilitation and construction of graded foot and horse trails. Performs masonry work, primarily dry stone, in the construction, stabilization, and maintenance to historic and non-historic structures, mostly on the Park trail system. Performs carpentry work, primarily using heavy log and rough-sawn lumber, on trail structures such as log checks, foot-bridges, multi-use bridges, hitch rails, and boardwalks.Work includes building, repairing, and maintaining erosion control structures, retaining walls, and tread surface and reblazing of trails; park boundary line maintenance, removal of vegetation growth and fallen rock and tree obstructions from trails. The work occurs in high visitor use areas, foot and horse use trails in remote backcountry areas and trails in designated Wilderness areas. Trail work is performed with a variety of hand tools including shovels, picks, fire rakes, swing blades (grass whip), McLeods, pulaskis, rock bars, cross-cut saws, wheelbarrows, grip hoist, etc. and small power equipment such as chainsaws, weed trimmers, rock drills and jack hammers.
Operates vehicles in the performance of assigned duties for transportation of self and other employees to and from worksites. Typical vehicles include pickup trucks (including 4WD operation), utility body trucks, crew cab pickup/utility trucks, automobiles, panel vans, light mower and utility tractors, all-terrain vehicles, and small towed equipment or trailers.
Heavy physical effort is required in bending, lifting, and using hand and power tools in trail work.
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 12 miles daily, and must be able to do so while carrying a backpack, power and/or hand tools.
Cut-off Dates: This is an open continuous announcement, in which applications are collected over several months, and have multiple cut-off dates. Applications will be considered throughout the open period of the announcement.
**INITIAL CUT OFF IS Friday, 15 December 2023** Referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled.
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Point of contact: John Storke, 804-239-4187, john_storke@nps.gov
Shenandoah National Park Point of contact: William Jenkins, 540-999-3500 x3141, dave_jenkins@nps.gov
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
Drug Testing: 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.
Vehicle Operation: You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Uniform: You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
- Government Housing: Housing is NOT available.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:
- Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
- Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
- 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
- Vehicle Operation
SCREEN OUT: Have the ability to perform the most difficult and complex maintenance worker (trails) duties. This includes construction of multi-use bridges, staircases, multi-tier retaining walls, water bars, and causeway without assistance. Utilized advanced rigging techniques using block, tackle and winch systems. Used chainsaws to fall hazard trees, remove root balls, and clear fallen trees from trails. Led others to complete trail project tasks. Considered an expert and work with a high degree of independence. Can lift and carry objects weighing more than 50 pounds.
Commercial Driver's License: You must possess and maintain a current Class B(or higher) Commercial Driver's License with no air brake restriction.
Commercial Driver's License is not required at Shenandoah National Park.
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.
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 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.
A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.
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: 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.
