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Cook (Seasonal)

National Park Service

Job Location:

Three Rivers, MI - USA

Hourly Salary: USD 25 - 25

Posted: 20 October 2026 (4 days ago)

Application Deadline: 18 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

The typical season is April to November but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions project needs or funding.

Anticipated Entry on Duty: April 2027.

Duties

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for Temporary seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary between sites depending on funding weather conditions and visitation. Within regulatory limitations the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending upon work availability and funding.

Duty Locations are:
Yosemite National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

The duties for this position:
The trail cook is responsible for all phases of the operation of a backcountry-type kitchen and food service for the daily meals of up to 25 trail crew.

Plan meals and requisition necessary foodstuffs and supplies on a weekly or semi-weekly basis with a minimum of waste.
Plan prepare and serve family-style a variety of nutritionally well-balanced menus including specialty diet items such as vegetarian dishes. Preserves stores and utilizes foodstuffs fully without modern refrigeration (i.e. ice chests).
Assures that equipment dishes and utensils and food storage areas are kept orderly and sanitary while displaying good personal hygiene and supervises the hygiene of the kitchen area and helpers.
Performs other camp duties as necessary such as splitting wood fueling fires to heat water treating water monitoring camp sanitation as a whole including camp layout camp commissary facilities backcountry latrine facilities backcountry bathing facilities dish washing facilities.
Can deal effectively and safely with wildlife in camp including black bears ravens raccoons mountain lions etc.

Physical Demands: Work is performed in work areas that require incumbent to stand stoop bend and work in tiring uncomfortable positions. He/she frequently lifts and carries supplies materials and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds. May occasionally handle items with assistance that weigh over 50 pounds. Typical strenuous activity includes frequently lifts and carries objects up to 50 pounds cutting and stockpiling of wood for camp and kitchen fires frequently walking several miles a day in the course of daily chores or in going to work at the project site. May be required to work long hours and hike or ride horses long distances in rough terrain. May be required to assist animal packers in the un/loading of camp supplies carried by mules and horses.

Working Conditions: Work split shift hours in order to prepare and serve morning and evening meals. Must have ability to live and work effectively in isolated back country areas in close contact with small numbers of people for extended periods of time up to 6 months of the year. Must live and work outdoors in mountainous terrain to 13000 feet in elevation in all extremes of weather. Hazardous conditions may exist in working around stock falling and bucking trees for firewood working around heat working around gas stoves and other gas equipment and working with sharp knives. May perform duties in areas where wildlife is present and be required to store and protect food stores from wildlife (i.e.-bears deer rodents small mammals). May perform duties where poisonous reptiles plants and insects are known to be present.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship required.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
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 drivers license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operators License and Driving Record. You must also submit and at your own expense all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid drivers licenses whether current or past possessed by you.
You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
You may be required to work on-call evenings weekends holidays overtime and shift work.
Travel transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employees responsibility.
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

Applicants must be physically fit and as required in the Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Handbook X-118C must possess the knowledge skills and abilities of the job elements listed below to perform the duties of the position at the level for which they are applying. A specific length of time and experience is not required. Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience not necessarily the length of time. You must meet the 2-point level on the screen out factor/element and an average of level 2 on all factors/elements listed.

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 Specifications etc. (other than blueprints)
Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
Dexterity and Safety
Knowledge of materials
Technical Practices (theoretical precise artistic)
Work Practices (including keeping things neat clean and in order)

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 Statement: 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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

Housing MAY be available at Yosemite.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Click here for the Federal Wage Schedule Website to calculate location specific pay.

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.

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 316.402b7) 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.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

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.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required Experience:

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