Visitor Outreach Technician (NPS, Joshua Tree National Park)

The Great Basin Institute; Twentynine Palms (CA); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Leave and holidays

Pro deals

Job summary

The Great Basin Institute is recruiting one Visitor Outreach Technician to support Joshua Tree National Park in enhancing visitor education and safety. The position runs 34 weeks at 40 hours per week, Tue–Sat with some holidays and nights, on-site at Joshua Tree NP.

Responsibilities include assisting with data collection, developing outreach media, and improving orientation and safety messaging while supporting volunteer coordination and public engagement. A DOI BI background check is required.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for engaging visitors, volunteers, partners and staff.
• Ability to learn and communicate park information and safety guidance clearly.
• Willingness to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic public-facing environment.
• Comfort with outdoor conditions and safety protocols; able to hike and stand for long periods.

Responsibilities

• Assist in hands-on data collection and related field/office tasks.
• Support development and use of outreach products like videos and photos.
• Enhance visitor orientation, planning and safety messaging through in-park channels.
• Support volunteer programs and on-site coordination and public outreach.
• Improve safety and volunteer recruitment through clear, organized experiences.

Skills

Communication skills

Public engagement

Data collection

Education

College degree in a related field (preferred)

Tools

Photography

Videography

Digital media

Job description

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with the NPS at Joshua Tree National Park, is recruiting one (1) Visitor outreach technician to participate in enhancing visitor education and safety within the park.

The work for this project includes supporting visitor services, public engagement, science and resource stewardship activities, and the volunteer program at Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR). The work includes providing visitor orientation and safety information in park visitor centers. Participants will assist with answering visitor questions, providing trip planning and safety information, and supporting front-desk operations. Participant interactions with visitors will help identify common visitor information needs, safety concerns, and outreach gaps, which will be communicated to NPS staff to support visitor engagement and outreach planning. The participant will then work hands-on with NPS staff to develop strategies to enhance visitor experience.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assisting in hands-on data collection and related field and office tasks;
• Supporting the development and use of outreach products, including videos, photographs, and other media;
• Enhance visitor orientation, trip planning, and safety messaging through digital and in-park communication channels;
• Support interpretation-led volunteer programs and stewardship projects by assisting with on-site volunteer coordination and public outreach activities;
• Improve visitor and volunteer safety through clear and effective communication and support volunteer recruitment and retention by contributing to safe, well-organized volunteer experiences.

Timeline

• November through June/July, Term length: 34 Weeks
• Full time (40 hours/week);
• Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday with potential of working holidays and nights;
• 8 hours daily.

Location

Joshua Tree National Park encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in southern California, 2- to 3-hour drive from Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Joshua Tree National Park is of special management concern, lying in the transition of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Aside from the outdoor recreation opportunities and natural wonders within the park, Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Mojave Preserve, as well as Lake Mead and Spring Mountains National Recreation Areas are nearby and afford a diversity of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, mountain biking and rock hounding to fishing, boating and skiing/snowboarding. Field conditions at Joshua Tree include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, winter weather. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and prehistoric cultural sites.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation : $24 hourly;

Benefits

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance premiums;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Personal leave and holidays; and
• Access to Pro Deals.

Housing

• Will not be provided and the selected participant will be expected to procure housing on their own.

Qualifications

Required:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to professionally engage with visitors, volunteers, partners, and staff from diverse backgrounds;
• Ability and willingness to learn and accurately communicate park information, visitor safety guidance, regulations, responsible recreation practices, and natural and cultural resource information;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrate initiative, adapt to changing priorities, and maintain professionalism in a dynamic public-facing environment;
• Ability to safely work in challenging outdoor conditions in accordance with established safety standards, including triple-digit heat, cold temperatures, high sun exposure, strong winds, thunderstorms, and potential flooding events;
• Ability to hike and work for extended periods over uneven and rugged desert terrain and perform duties involving prolonged standing, walking, bending, and carrying program or field equipment;
• Basic computer proficiency and willingness to learn digital tools used for data collection, visitor services, scheduling, outreach, photography, video, and other public-facing communications;
• Ability and willingness to work the established schedule, including occasional evenings and holidays, while demonstrating a commitment to visitor safety, public service, teamwork, and stewardship of park resources;
• Must be able to work safely in challenging outdoor conditions, in accordance with established safety standards and protocols. Conditions may include triple-digit temperatures, extended hiking over varied terrain, thunderstorms, and potential flooding events;
• Must provide a valid drivers license and possess a clean driving record;
• Successful applicants must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

Preferred:

• A college degree in a related field is preferred but not required; relevant work, volunteer, or lived experience will also be considered;
• Experience or demonstrated interest in visitor services, environmental education, interpretation, outdoor recreation, conservation, or public lands;
• Technical skills or experience in photography, videography, digital media, or content creation are encouraged;
• Experience communicating educational, scientific, or safety information to members of the public;
• Experience working with volunteers, community groups, or public-facing programs is preferred;
• Familiarity with outdoor recreation, Leave No Trace principles, and/or working in desert or remote environments is beneficial.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position may require the employee to work outdoors in inclement weather of Joshua Tree National Park including a wide range of weather conditions and events. It will also require prolonged standing, walking, bending, and carrying program or field equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority

This project is federally funded through the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Participants serving under this authority may be eligible for the PLC non-competitive hiring status and certificate. The PLC Authority requires all applicants meet the age and US Citizen requirements. Additional information regarding the PLC can be found on the GBI website under the Research Associate Programs FAQ.

Notes

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Disclaimer

Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.