Contact Name: Walter Opuszynski
Company/Organization/Agency: Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
Address: 5 Perry Street, Suite 20, Barre, VT 05641 USA
Email Address: walter.opuszynski@vermont.gov
Contact Phone: (802) 522-6022
Job Title: Trail Crew Member II
Job Description: Pay: 16 ($17.12 per hour)
Season: 23 weeks (May 22 – October 29)
State Lands: Statewide
STATE TRAIL CREW MEMBER II
Definition:
Crew Members perform trail work in both backcountry and front country settings in a close-knit team of four to six Trail Crew Members. Work will be performed at Vermont State Parks and State Forests throughout Vermont. Duties and work projects are performed under the direction of the Trail Crew Leader with oversight by the District Trails Coordinator and/or District Recreation Representative, with the need for significant independence interacting with the public while in the field. Position will run from the end of May to early November.
Examples of Work Performed:
Complete routine trail maintenance and construction on an assortment of trail types (ranging from hiking to multi-use) including, but not limited to, the following:
• Cleaning, constructing and restoring water bars.
• Clearing and maintaining trail corridors to meet specifications.
• Marking trails with paint blazes and installing signage.
• Support the oversight and on-project training of Crew Member I and any volunteers working on project under the direction of the Trail Crew Leader and/or Trail Coordinator.
• Documenting and reporting trail Safety concerns and areas that need to be addressed through future maintenance.
Complete technical trail work duties, including but not limited to, the following:
• The installation of erosion control devices such as waterbars, drains, check dams, and ditches.
• Construct wooden bridges, puncheon, and boardwalks.
• Install stone staircases, step stones, and retainer walls.
• Utilize power tools such as Chainsaws and brush saws to clear trees, saplings and blowdowns from trails. (Chainsaw training and certification is provided by VT FPR).
• Milling lumber and/or logs with a chainsaw.
• Utilize drills and other power tools for rock work, timber construction, and light carpentry projects.
• Utilize a variety of rigging, typically utilizing a griphoist and/or a rope winch to move rocks, logs, soil, and other heavy materials on project sites.
• Operate small equipment such as power wheelbarrows as needed under the guidance and direction of the Trail Crew Leader and/or Trail Coordinator.
• Adhere to all applicable OSHA, VOSHA, and FPR safety guidelines at work.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The ideal candidate will have the following skill sets (some advanced and technical skill training will be provided by FPR):
• Respectfully represent VT FPR at all times.
• Ability and willingness to work with other people.
• Knowledge of various trail maintenance and construction standards.
• Ability and willingness to care for, maintain and safely utilize chainsaws, hand tools and power tools. Basic trail maintenance and construction skills, or similar experience in property maintenance, forestry, construction, or landscaping.
• Knowledge and experience with basic carpentry skills (training will be provided on technical skills such as milling lumber with chainsaws, etc.).
• Knowledge of rockwork, including proper contact, understanding methods of dry-stacking rocks, along with quarrying and moving rocks.
• Understanding of the forces which affect trail surfaces such as surface water movement associated with varying topographies.
• Standard First Aid and CPR Certification; Wilderness First Aid is preferred.
• Ability to camp on project for up to three nights per week in either front country campsites or back country spike camps.
Environmental Factors:
Duties are performed outdoors in all types of weather. Members must demonstrate the following:
• Lift heavy items, at times up to 50 lbs.
• Carry heavy loads over difficult terrain in a variety of weather conditions.
• Manual dexterity is needed to operate equipment and use tools.
• Camp in both front country and back country settings. (The crew will travel from various work areas and may have access to campsites, lean-tos, or cabins, if available. Where developed campsite facilities are not available, the crew will establish and camp at a spike camp location close to the worksite location.)
Minimum Qualifications for Application:
Education: High School Diploma
Experience: At least one year of trail work or equivalent experience (landscaping, construction, gardening, outdoor experiential skills etc.). Valid Driver’s License,
Preferred experience (not requirements): Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder Certification. Training in any methods of rock work or carpentry skills. Chainsaw certifications.
Additional Compensation: Mileage reimbursement if vehicle is used for work, access to State Park campsites based on availability, Wilderness First Aid and Game of Logging (as needed) and trail construction/maintenance skill training, stipend toward the purchase of chainsaw boots, VT State fishing license.
Provided by FPR: Safety equipment and a canvas tent/campsite for days off.
Job Start Date: 5/22/2023
Application Deadline: 3/3/2023
Additional Information: Application submission and more details can be found at: https://vtstateparks.com/employment.html