Job Title

Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, is seeking four (4) Recreation and Trails Technicians to contribute to the Recreation project alongside the Cle Elum Ranger District staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: May-June (flexible start dates) End Date: September-October (16 weeks from start date) Location Details/Description: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Cle Elu Ranger District, Cle Elum Washington Cle Elum Ranger Station, Cle Elum, WA - The Cle Elum Ranger District, part of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, spans approximately 419,000 acres in central Washington, about 85 miles east of Seattle along Interstate 90. This district is a premier destination for year-round recreation, offering over 400 miles of non-motorized trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and more than 400 miles of motorized routes for off-highway vehicles (OHVs). Visitors can enjoy alpine lakes, rugged peaks, rolling hills, camping, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Nearby communities such as Cle Elum, Roslyn, and Ellensburg provide essential amenities including grocery stores, restaurants, and medical facilities. The area also offers cultural attractions like historic downtowns, local festivals, and easy access to regional services, making it an ideal location for those who value outdoor recreation and small-town living with proximity to urban conveniences. For more information about Cle Elu Ranger District, please visit the USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee NF website. Position Overview: Recreation Technicians will assist Forest Service personnel in maintaining and managing a wide range of recreational opportunities both within and outside designated wilderness areas. Depending on experience and interests, duties may include maintaining facilities, repairing trails, constructing infrastructure such as picnic tables and trail bridges, monitoring wilderness areas, coordinating project work with partner organizations, vegetation management, and conducting off-road vehicle patrols. In addition, technicians help educate the public on regulations, permit compliance, campsite impacts, and Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, promoting responsible recreation and resource stewardship throughout the district. * Perform routine operations and maintenance at developed and dispersed recreation sites, including cleaning and servicing vault toilets, campsites, campgrounds, and trailheads; restocking supplies; vegetation management; and general site upkeep. * Install, maintain, and/or repair recreation infrastructure (picnic tables, fire rings, shelters,cabins, etc); complete minor facility repairs using various hand and power tools. * Use tools such as drills/rivers, staple guns, and other fasteners to install informational and regulatory signage at campsites and trailheads. * Maintain, repair, and construct Forest Service system trails to standard, including clearing debris, tread and drainage work, brushing, and reconstruction using hand tools (crosscut saws, chainsaws, axes, shovels, pulaskis, rock bars, loppers, and other related tools). * Assist with trail project planning and logistics, including condition surveys, maintenance prescriptions, material preparation, and tool maintenance. * Use GPS/GIS-enabled technology to collect data, complete maps, and conduct inventories of recreation sites, system trails, user-created trails, and trail conditions. * Operate four-wheel-drive vehicles, UTVs, dirt bikes, or similar equipment on rough, steep, and remote roads and motorized trails when trained and authorized, and patrol motorized single-track and double-track trails to monitor conditions and ensure compliance with regulations. * Patrol recreation areas and trails for compliance. Provide educational visitor contacts regarding recreation opportunities, rules and regulations (including Wilderness and motorized use), Leave No Trace principles, site conditions, fees, restrictions, and closures; encourage compliance and report apparent violations to supervisors. This is not a law enforcement position. * Coordinate and collaborate with partners and volunteers on recreation and trail projects as assigned. * Travel and work in frontcountry and remote backcountry environments; hike long distances carrying tools and equipment; backpack and camp in remote locations; and work in variable weather conditions * Other duties as assigned, may include tasks such as making public contacts during fire season, assisting with hazard tree surveys, working with volunteer groups, attending training sessions, etc. This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. Schedule: Work schedule would be Mon-Thursday 7am to 5:30pm. However, certain backcountry hitches would require an alternate schedule of Fri-Mon 7am to 5:30pm. This alternate schedule would be optional, only mandatory if the employee wanted to work in the Wilderness. Position Benefits Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $775/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the USFS and ACE and is not flexible. Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please see the ACE website for more information on PLC eligibility. This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility requirements to be considered for this position. Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website. Housing: Government housing will be available in either a shared bunkhouse at the Ranger Station or at the Liberty Bunkhouse site 15 minutes outside of town. Individuals may choose to secure their own accommodations if preferred, however local housing is often limited. RV locations with hookups can be rented locally as well. Relocation Assistance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process. Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include the opportunity to complete more specialized training such as chainsaw operations, hazard tree surveys, off-highway vehicle operation, crosscut saw use, etc. Qualifications Required: * Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas. * Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. * Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group. * A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements. * Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks * Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. * ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation. * To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website. Preferred Skills: * Prior work involving similar skills is preferred. Examples include maintenance work, construction or repair work, tool use, landscaping, as well as customer service work or other public-interfacing experience. * A background in maintenance work, tool use, construction, and/or visitor/customer service is preferred but not required * Personal reliable transportation is required, as the duty station is considered remote. * Members must possess a high fitness level and interest in camping, with potential for backcountry work trips in inclement weather. * A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). * Ability to pass a basic written test and road test to obtain a US Government Motor Vehicle Operators Card. * Ability to pass a federal criminal background check. * ACE is a drug free workplace and reserves the right to drug test at any time. * Ideal applicants will hold (or be pursuing) a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field, though relevant experience and a passion for public lands may be substituted. * Prior trails and ranch work experience is preferred for similar types of work. Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: Physical Demands: Requires frequent, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions. Members must possess a high fitness level and interest in camping, with potential for backcountry work trips in inclement weather. Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 50 lbs., ability to move up to 40 pounds. For trails technicians- Carrying all necessary backpacking gear, transporting, and using a variety of hand tools including crosscut saws, shovels, axes, loppers, power tools, etc. Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled. These are highly demanding outdoor positions that require substantial physical fitness and mobility, and a tolerance for extreme weather and demanding conditions, snow, sun, heat, mosquitoes and long-hours are not uncommon. Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic. Travel: This position requires domestic travel to the site. This position does not require unique travel. Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the USFS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the USFS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the USFS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to USFS, and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required. To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website.. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Member Manager, Yunielis Clemente Ortiz yclemente-ortiz at usaconservation dot org If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you! ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are enrolled in a program to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.