Visitor Outreach Technician (NPS, Joshua Tree National Park)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with the NPS at Joshua Tree National Park, is recruiting one (1) Visitor outreach technician to participate in enhancing visitor education and safety within the park. 

The work for this project includes supporting visitor services, public engagement, science and resource stewardship activities, and the volunteer program at Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR). The work includes providing visitor orientation and safety information in park visitor centers. Participants will assist with answering visitor questions, providing trip planning and safety information, and supporting front-desk operations. Participant interactions with visitors will help identify common visitor information needs, safety concerns, and outreach gaps, which will be communicated to NPS staff to support visitor engagement and outreach planning. The participant will then work hands-on with NPS staff to develop strategies to enhance visitor experience. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assisting in hands-on data collection and related field and office tasks;
• Supporting the development and use of outreach products, including videos, photographs, and other media;
• Enhance visitor orientation, trip planning, and safety messaging through digital and in-park communication channels;
• Support interpretation-led volunteer programs and stewardship projects by assisting with on-site volunteer coordination and public outreach activities;
• Improve visitor and volunteer safety through clear and effective communication and support volunteer recruitment and retention by contributing to safe, well-organized volunteer experiences.

Timeline:

• November through June/July,  Term length: 34 Weeks
• Full time (40 hours/week);
• Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday with potential of working holidays and nights; and
• 8  hours daily.

Location:

Joshua Tree National Park encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in southern California, 2- to 3-hour drive from Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Joshua Tree National Park is of special management concern, lying in the transition of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Aside from the outdoor recreation opportunities and natural wonders within the park, Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Mojave Preserve, as well as Lake Mead and Spring Mountains National Recreation Areas are nearby and afford a diversity of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, mountain biking and rock hounding to fishing, boating and skiing/snowboarding. Field conditions at Joshua Tree include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, winter weather. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and prehistoric cultural sites.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $24 hourly;

Benefits: 

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance premiums;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Personal leave and holidays; and
• Access to Pro Deals.

Housing​​​​​​​: Will not be provided and the selected participant will be expected to procure housing on their own.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to professionally engage with visitors, volunteers, partners, and staff from diverse backgrounds;
• Ability and willingness to learn and accurately communicate park information, visitor safety guidance, regulations, responsible recreation practices, and natural and cultural resource information;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrate initiative, adapt to changing priorities, and maintain professionalism in a dynamic public-facing environment;
• Ability to safely work in challenging outdoor conditions in accordance with established safety standards, including triple-digit heat, cold temperatures, high sun exposure, strong winds, thunderstorms, and potential flooding events;
• Ability to hike and work for extended periods over uneven and rugged desert terrain and perform duties involving prolonged standing, walking, bending, and carrying program or field equipment;
• Basic computer proficiency and willingness to learn digital tools used for data collection, visitor services, scheduling, outreach, photography, video, and other public-facing communications;
• Ability and willingness to work the established schedule, including occasional evenings and holidays, while demonstrating a commitment to visitor safety, public service, teamwork, and stewardship of park resources;
• Must be able to work safely in challenging outdoor conditions, in accordance with established safety standards and protocols. Conditions may include triple-digit temperatures, extended hiking over varied terrain, thunderstorms, and potential flooding events;
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record;
• Successful applicants must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your Application.

Preferred: 

• A college degree in a related field is preferred but not required; relevant work, volunteer, or lived experience will also be considered;
• Experience or demonstrated interest in visitor services, environmental education, interpretation, outdoor recreation, conservation, or public lands;
• Technical skills or experience in photography, videography, digital media, or content creation are encouraged;
• Experience communicating educational, scientific, or safety information to members of the public;
• Experience working with volunteers, community groups, or public-facing programs is preferred;
• Familiarity with outdoor recreation, Leave No Trace principles, and/or working in desert or remote environments is beneficial.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position may require the employee to work outdoors in inclement weather of Joshua Tree National Park including a wide range of weather conditions and events. It will also require prolonged standing, walking, bending, and carrying program or field equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.