Restoration Worker Leader

Yosemite National Park’s Vegetation and Ecological Restoration Branch is hiring for the 2025 field season. This is temporary position, not to exceed 1039 hours. Multiple positions will be hired through this job announcement for the Wilderness Restoration Program and Merced River Plan Program.

Incumbents will lead work crews of 4 or more people in a variety of ecological restoration and vegetation management projects park wide, including in remote wilderness areas. Backcountry travel several days (4-8) per week is required for some positions.

Specific duties include:

• Implements ecological restoration projects in meadows, riparian areas, wilderness, and other park locations to restore natural process. Projects include re-routing trails or removing ditches or trail ruts from meadows, riparian areas and wetlands; removing and restoring inappropriately located wilderness campsites and social trails; riverbank restoration and fuels reduction.
• Coordinate logistics for current and future projects.
• Actively promotes and participates in an effective safety program to safeguard visitors, employees, environment, facilities, and equipment through regular safety discussions with crew and others, regarding physical and emotional safety.
• Makes field decisions regarding work in progress related to changing conditions.
• Coordinates/communicates with project manager regarding implementation of project.
• Keeps precise records on restoration techniques, daily project accomplishments, and cost effectiveness.
• Utilizes a computer to prepare summary reports and enter and track monitoring and GPS data.
• Ensures project is documented through photos, maps of photo point descriptions and locations, ensures that all data is collected according to protocol.
• Performs management of exotic plant populations using hand pulling and mechanical methods.
• Uses a variety of hand and power tools including chain saws, gas-powered augers, drills and heavy-duty weed eaters.
• May operate machinery such as skid steer or loader.

Physical Demands: Heavy physical exertion is often required, and much work is performed in a rugged, mountainous terrain. Incumbent must have:

• Ability to bend, lift and carry large objects such as rocks and logs weighing up to 50 lbs solo and more than 100 lbs. with others.
• Ability to dig into rocky and gravelly soil using hand tools.
• Ability to operate power equipment and small-scale heavy equipment which can be tedious, repetitive and bone-jarring.
• Ability to carry a heavy pack over mountainous terrain for up to 15 miles a day.
• Ability to sit at a desk or in front of the computer for short periods of time.

Working Conditions: Work will be performed in both wilderness and front country areas. Work includes walking and backpacking in mountainous terrain and working in inclement (hot, cold, wet) weather conditions. Incumbent must be capable of hiking over 15 miles a day for several consecutive days and negotiating with map, compass and GPS.