Restoration Worker (Seasonal)

U.S. Department of the Interior; Yosemite Lodge (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Uniform allowance

Possible government housing

Job summary

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, is recruiting for temporary seasonal positions in Yosemite National Park. The work involves ecological restoration, vegetation management, and the use of a variety of tools and equipment in rugged mountainous terrain.

Positions may run May to November with funding and weather considerations. Incumbents may lead volunteer groups and work outdoors at elevations up to 13,000 feet, including backcountry and front-country duties.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Ability to perform heavy physical exertion in rugged terrain.
• Ability to work outdoors at elevations 2,000–13,000 feet in all weather.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• Willingness to travel overnight up to 3 nights per month.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a crew on ecological restoration and vegetation management projects.
• Prepare sites by de-compacting soils and re-contouring disturbed areas.
• Install erosion control measures and transplant native plants.
• Use power and hand tools and small-scale heavy equipment.
• Maintain records and prepare weekly reports; use GPS and databases.

Skills

Power tools

Hand tools

Heavy equipment operation

Tools

Bobcat

Job description

Summary

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is May to November but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2027.

Major 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 on work availability and funding. The incumbent will work as part of a crew on ecological restoration and vegetation management projects under the direction of a Work Leader. Project locations occur park-wide and can include wilderness areas. Duties include: Site preparation involving de-compacting soils, re-contouring disturbed sites back to original topography Installing standard erosion control measures, collecting and applying native litter and duff, building various types of enclosure fencing Salvaging, transplanting and planting native plants utilizing standard horticultural techniques Using and maintaining a wide variety of power and hand tools required for job, safely and effectively Using and maintaining small-scale heavy equipment such as bobcat. Assisting with implementation of a non-native plant control program which includes manual and mechanical control methods as well as the use of herbicides Keeping records on restoration techniques and daily project accomplishments, and preparing weekly reports Use of computer for email, reports and data entry into access databases Use of GPS May lead groups of volunteers, interns and staff Physical Demands: Heavy physical exertion is often required, and much work is performed in a rugged, mountainous terrain. Incumbent must have: Ability to bend, lift and carry large objects such as rocks and logs weighing up to 50 lbs. solo and more than 100 lbs. with others. Ability to dig into rocky and gravelly soil using hand tools. Ability to operate power equipment and small-scale heavy equipment which can be tedious, repetitive and bone-jarring. Ability to carry a heavy pack over mountainous terrain for up to 15 miles a day. Working Conditions: Work can be performed in both wilderness and front country areas, with some positions having only front country work. Work includes walking and backpacking in mountainous terrain and working in inclement weather conditions. For wilderness positions, incumbent must be capable of hiking over 15 miles a day for several consecutive days and negotiating with map and compass. Incumbent may live and work in isolated mountainous wilderness areas, in close contact with small groups of people, over extended time periods. Incumbent must work outdoors at elevations of 2,000 to 13,000 feet in all extremes of weather. Front country living conditions can range from a canvas-walled tent or other shared Park Service housing units. Restoration work is dusty and other hazardous conditions exist when moving rock or fallen and bucked trees or working around pack animals or heavy equipment. Area Information: Yosemite National Park, California, known worldwide for its spectacular natural beauty is the backdrop for this position. Sitting astride the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park covers 1,182 square miles of varied wilderness ecosystems, from river valleys to alpine meadows to lofty 13,000-foot-high peaks. Yosemite Valley is located 208 miles from San Francisco, 81 miles from Merced, and 94 miles from Fresno. Shopping, medical, postal and laundry services are available in the park. 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.

Education

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

Requirements

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 may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may 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 discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past. 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. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 3 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. 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. Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.

Evaluations

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements: 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) Use of Measuring Instruments Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Other Information

Government housing MAY be available for this position. 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. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.