Seasonal Maintenance Worker; Trails

Seasonal Maintenance Worker (Trails)

National Park Service – Shenandoah National Park, Trails and Backcountry Facilities Branch.

These temporary positions focus on maintaining, repairing, and constructing park trails and structures.

• Build, repair, and maintain erosion control structures, retaining walls, tread surfaces, and re‑blaze trails.
• Maintain park boundary line.
• Remove vegetation growth and fallen rock and tree obstructions from trails.
• Maintain ADA‑accessible trails and trails in high‑visitor, backcountry, and Wilderness areas.
• Use hand tools (shovels, picks, fire rakes, swing blades, McLeods, pulaskis, rock bars, cross‑cut saws, wheelbarrows, grip hoist, etc.) and small power equipment (chainsaws, weed trimmers, rock drills, jack hammers).
• Operate vehicles (pickup trucks, 4WD, utility trucks, vans, light mower, tractors, ATVs) to transport personnel and equipment to worksites.
• Perform strenuous activity, including hiking up to 10 miles on steep terrain while carrying work tools; at least 90% of work is outdoors.

Duty‑stationed at either Park Headquarters Maintenance Area, Luray, VA or Big Meadows Maintenance Area near mile‑marker 51 on Skyline Drive.

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation.
• Meet Selective Service registration for males.
• Valid driver’s license with required documentation.
• Uniform compliance as per National Park Service standards.
• Government housing may be available.
• Minimum age: 18 years, or 16 years with high‑school completion/education agreement, or current secondary school enrollment with part‑time employment.

• Ability to work without excessive supervision.
• Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, and repair.
• Technical practices and use of measuring instruments.
• Interpreting instructions and specifications.
• Use and maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Knowledge of materials.

Skilled in at least two of the following trades—carpentry, masonry, landscaping, painting, etc.—with experience in trail construction and rehabilitation, including wall construction, turnpiking, cribbing, foot bridge assembly, windfall removal, tree felling, and operating utility vehicles. Must be able to carry up to 100‑pound objects and hike up to 20 miles per day.

Requires heavy physical effort, bending, lifting, carrying, and hiking across uneven terrain. Must be able to haul up to 100 pounds and hike up to 20 miles daily.

• Entry level

• Temporary

• Management and Manufacturing

• Government Administration