Summary These temporary positions are located in Shenandoah National Park, Trails and Backcountry Facilities Branch to maintain, repair, and construct Park trails. This announcement has an early cut-off date (see Duties section for more information). Responsibilities Initial Cut-off Date: 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. ** The first cut-off date for early referral is Thursday, January 23, 2025.** Referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled. These positions perform routine and complex trail maintenance, rehabilitation and construction of graded foot, mountain bike, and horse trails. Work includes: Building, repairing, and maintaining erosion control structures, retaining walls, tread surfaces, and re-blazing of trails. Park boundary line maintenance. Removal of vegetation growth and fallen rock and tree obstructions from trails. Maintain ADA accessible trails with special surfaces, trails 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. The position requires frequent strenuous activity. Selectees are required to hike up to 10 miles over steep, rough and uneven mountainous terrain into backcountry worksites while carrying work tools. At least ninety percent of work is performed in an outdoor setting. These positions will be duty stationed at either Park Headquarters Maintenance Area near Luray, VA or Big Meadows Maintenance Area near mile-marker 51 on Skyline Drive. 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. POSITION LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park preserves and protects more than 300 square miles of nationally significant natural and cultural resources, scenic beauty, and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginia's northern Blue Ridge Mountains; and provides a broad range of opportunities for public enjoyment, recreation, inspiration, and stewardship. Within just 90 miles of Washington D.C. the Park provides visitors the ability to explore mountain peaks, hidden hollows, cascading streams, accessible wilderness, and stunning natural beauty. Approximately 40% of the Park is designated wilderness with over 500 miles of hiking trails and the iconic Skyline Drive, SHEN was established as an eastern Park that provided a "western Park experience". Due to the Park's easy accessibility to D.C and other highly populated areas along the east coast, visitation exceeds 1.4 million visitors annually which results in significant resource protection and visitor management issues and incidents. 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. You may 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 may also 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 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. Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You occasionally may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Government housing may be available. Government Charge Card: 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 (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 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) Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, repair, etc. Technical practices Use of measuring instruments Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment Knowledge of materials SCREEN OUT: Skilled in trail construction and rehabilitation work including repair of trail tread and drainage structures; constructing walls, turn piking, cribbing, and foot bridges; removing windfalls, felling trees, and utilizing block, tackle, and winches for moving and placing heavy objects; installed water bars, rock and wood, turn piking, and repair trail tread through leveling with fill; operating motorized utility terrain vehicles (UTV), 4x4, and utility vehicles. Experience includes the use and maintenance of proper tools to complete the task. Able to perform the strenuous work required by this position such as carrying heavy objects weighing up to 100 pounds and hiking mountainous terrain up to 12 miles per day. Considered an expert and work with a high degree of independence. 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. 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. 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 while carrying a backpack, power and/or hand tools. Working Conditions: Must have the ability to work in backcountry areas in close contact with small numbers of people for extended periods of time. Must work out-of-doors on projects in various terrain and 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, falling and bucking trees, and working around machinery.