Seasonal Laborer (Trails)

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in this announcement. The first cut-off date for early referral is January 11 2026.

Duties:

• Building repairing and maintaining erosion control structures retaining walls and tread surface and re-blazing of trails.
• Park boundary line maintenance removal of vegetation growth fallen rock and tree obstructions from trails.
• Trails may include 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 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.
• Requires frequent strenuous activity. Selectees are required to hike up to 10 miles per day 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.

POSITION LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park (SNP) preserves and protects more than 300 square miles of nationally significant natural and cultural resources scenic beauty and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginias 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 SNP is designated wilderness with over 500 miles of hiking trails and the iconic Skyline Drive SNP was established as an eastern Park that provided a western Park experience. Due to the Parks easy accessibility to D.C and other highly populated areas along the east coast visitation exceeds 2 million visitors annually which results in significant resource protection and visitor management issues and incidents.

Positions are assigned to the Backcountry Wilderness and Trails Branch in the Division of Facilities Management at Shenandoah National Park and work assignments will be throughout the park and will be determined by work projects and agency needs. Park Headquarters complex is located approximately 4 miles from Luray Virginia; a small rural community located in the Shenandoah Valley with a population of about 4800 with all usual facilities and services. Nearby local towns include Harrisonburg 33 miles; Winchester 44 miles; and Charlottesville 66 miles. Temperatures range from zero to mid-nineties average maximum is 83 degrees with high humidity and average minimum is 26 degrees with snow and ice.

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.
• Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Government housing may be available.
• 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.
• Requires lifting/carrying 50 pounds.

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
3. Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment
4. Ability to interpret instructions specifications etc.
5. Dexterity and safety

SCREEN OUT: Performs trails laborer tasks. This includes the use operation and maintenance of hand tools and powered equipment such as chainsaws brush cutters cross-cut saws shovels and rakes to maintain trails and roads; loading/moving heavy materials using hand trucks or wheelbarrows. Perform the strenuous work required by this position such as carrying heavy objects up to 50 pounds and hiking mountainous terrain several miles per day. Executes these duties with a high degree of independence and expertise. Work assignments are communicated orally through work orders or with written specifications and the work is checked to ensure compliance with work and safety standards and policies

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient you will receive no further 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.

CTAP/ICTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position grade level and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment OF-306 prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work. Also you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code Title 18 section 1001).