Seasonal Student Trainee (Laborer-Trails)

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of this position is to perform very heavy physical labor in the maintenance and construction of the park unit's trail system.

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 elements listed in Section 25 of the Online Occupational Questionnaire 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 requirement 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 Work Practices (including keeping things neat, clean, and in order) SCREENOUT: Perform independently, without more than normal supervision, routine and basic laborer duties involved in the maintenance, repair, restoration, rehabilitation, and stabilization of park trail systems and the rehabilitation of public use facilities, or work of a similar nature (recreational facility maintenance, wildland firefighting, forestry, landscaping, ranching/farming, commercial fishing).

Able to lift and carry objects weighing over 50 pounds. Can hike long distances over challenging terrain and work in demands environmental conditions.

Follow oral and written instructions on reoccurring assignments. Have utilized standard safety equipment and follow proper safety procedures to avoid serious injury.

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. Major Duties:

The incumbent will routinely perform the following duties of the position as follows: Clearing brush and fallen limbs from trails.

Cleans, repairs and constructs log or rock drains; installs log or rock retainer bars/steps and checks/ constructs foot and stock bridges from native materials.

Constructs and maintains trail structures such as turnpikes, causeways, cribbing trail tread and constructs new segments of trail; performs rehabilitation and meadow restoration on abandoned or heavily impacted sections of trail.

Uses and maintains tools and equipment to include shovels, picks, rakes, axes, Pulaski's, McLeod's crosscut, pole, bow, boppers, chisels, sledgehammers, single jacks, rock bars, draw knives, measuring tapes, levels, squares, scribes, jackhammers, rock drills, etc.

Assists other park crews on projects if time permits. Cut-off Dates: 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.

**INITIAL CUT OFF IS Monday, January 12, 2026** Additional referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled.

For more information about the park of the position please contact: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore