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Posted: January 5, 2026 (9 days ago)

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Seasonal Laborer (Motor Vehicle Operating)

National Park Service

Department of the Interior

Recent

Salary

$24.50 - $28.58

per hour

Closes

April 24, 2026More NPS jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This seasonal job involves hands-on outdoor work maintaining roads, grounds, trails, and buildings in Shenandoah National Park, including driving trucks and trailers, operating power tools, and performing general labor tasks.

It's a temporary position based at Big Meadows, Virginia, ideal for physically fit individuals with practical experience in manual labor who enjoy working in nature and can handle varying weather conditions.

No formal education is needed, but you must show through your resume that you can perform these duties independently.

Key Requirements

  • Ability to perform laborer tasks without more than normal supervision
  • Experience operating trucks up to 10,000 pounds and trailers up to one ton in all traffic and weather
  • Knowledge of safe work practices and ability to interpret instructions and specifications
  • Proficiency in using and maintaining power equipment like mowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, and leaf blowers
  • Dexterity and safety in handling hand tools such as shovels, rakes, Pulaskis, and rock bars
  • Ability to provide labor assistance for maintaining buildings, grounds, roads, trails, and campgrounds
  • Physical ability to perform duties in outdoor environments with reasonable accommodation if needed

Full Job Description

This recruit is for temporary Laborer positions with the Roads & Grounds Unit at Shenandoah National Park. Duty station for the positions is at Big Meadows on Skyline Drive near mile-marker 51.

This announcement has an early cut-off date (see Duties section for more information).

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualifications System for Trades and Labor Occupations (X-118-C) will be used in determining applicants' qualifications.

There is no specific length of training or experience required; however, you must be able to demonstrate through the experience shown in your written resume and your responses to the questionnaire that you possess the competencies to perform the duties of this position without more than normal supervision.

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) Work practices Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc.

Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment Dexterity and safety SCREEN OUT: {Performs laborer tasks.

This includes experience to load/haul and operate trucks weighing up to 10,000 pounds and trailers weighing up to one ton in all traffic and weather conditions; provide laboring assistance to others in the maintenance of buildings, grounds, roads, and trails; operate and maintain power equipment such as mowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, etc.; safely use and maintain a variety of hand tools such as shovels, rakes, Pulaski's, rock bars, etc.

to clear ditches and maintain campgrounds. If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration.

In 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). Major Duties:

Initial Cut-off Date: This is an open continuous announcement, in which applications are collected over several months, and have multiple cut-off dates.

Applications will be considered throughout the open period of the announcement. ** The first cut-off date for early referral is January 21, 2026.

** Referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled.

These positions will perform grounds mowing, clear vegetation in steep, rocky terrain using chainsaws, etc.

Duties may include: Assist tree workers in removing hazard trees along the roadway and includes chipping tree limbs, bucking up and clearing down trees, and traffic control.

Operate chainsaws on steep uneven terrain clearing vistas of small trees (slash cutting). Mowing operations includes a large amount of string trimming and riding mower operations to maintain grounds.

Assist equipment operators to clear ditches, walls, clean drop inlets, and string trimming around drop inlet covers. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.

Operate and maintain tools/equipment and vehicles. Load and haul equipment on 1-ton trucks with trailers to and from job sites.

POSITION LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia, approximately 90 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.

The duty station will be located at Big Meadows Maintenance Area, Madison County, VA, which is located on Skyline Drive near mile-marker 51.

Working hours will normally be 7:00 AM until 4:30 PM with every other Friday off including weekends.

Shenandoah National Park preserves and protects more than 300 square miles of nationally significant natural and cultural resources, scenic beauty, and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginia's 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 the Park is designated wilderness with over 500 miles of hiking trails and the iconic Skyline Drive, SHEN was established as an eastern Park that provided a "western Park experience".

Due to the Park's easy accessibility to D.C and other highly populated areas along the east coast, visitation exceeds 1.4 million visitors annually which results in significant resource protection and visitor management issues and incidents.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/5/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/5/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: NE-1612-SHEN-26-12849667-OC