Facilities Assistant

The National Park Service (NPS) at Camp Nelson National Monument is looking to hire volunteers to serve in our Division of Facilities and Maintenance.

Volunteers are responsible for assisting staff to enhance the visitor experience through buildings and grounds maintenance. This may include a variety of hands-on tasks related to janitorial, grounds keeping, carpentry, roads, fences, and general interior and exterior facilities maintenance. Experience, skills, and training needs will be assessed by qualified NPS staff. Volunteers will proactively participate in safety assessments prior to engaging in tasks and in reference to the Job Safety Analysis for the task.    

Facilities Assistant — Volunteer Service Description  

Description  

Volunteers are responsible for assisting staff to enhance the visitor experience through buildings and grounds maintenance. This may include a variety of hands-on tasks related to janitorial, grounds keeping, carpentry, roads, fences, and general interior and exterior facilities maintenance. Experience, skills, and training needs will be assessed by qualified NPS staff. Volunteers will proactively participate in safety assessments prior to engaging in tasks and in reference to the Job Safety Analysis for the task.  

Duties  

• Volunteers will be required to work outdoors in various weather climates.  
• Assists higher graded maintenance workers or tradesmen in the performance of their work.  
• Must be able perform moderate physical activities with no challenges. Duties require sitting, standing, or walking for extended periods of time. Some duties may also require strenuous physical activity such as lifting, and carrying heavy items over rugged, precipitous, and sometimes unstable terrain.    
• Must be able to feel comfortable using riding power, weed eater, tractor, hammer, saw, brush and roller, screwdriver, wrench, electric drill/saw and other hand/power tools. 
• Carry out lawn and landscaping duties, including but not limited to watering, mowing, weeding, trimming, and other activities as instructed.  
• Operate small pickup trucks, other vehicles, or small equipment. Activities that involve the operation and maintenance of ATVs include mandatory training which will be provided. 
• As skills and experience are appropriate, may assist with a variety of carpentry projects including, but not limited to: installing, and/or restoring wooden structures in buildings or on trains; designing, fabricating, and installing cabinets, shelving, fitted furniture, drywall, or wooden sign restoration; adding fixtures and fittings such as door handles, locks, hinges, and closures. 
• Exert moderate to heavy physical effort while operating equipment, lifting trash containers, moving tables and benches, etc. The incumbent will be expected to routinely lift and carry items weighing 30-50 pounds. 
• Assist with trail maintenance including picking up litter and washing waysides. 
• Duties may include removing felled branches and other debris on the 4-miles of formal and dirt trails that exist in the park and removing invasive plant species at areas frequented by visitors, including the Officer’s Spring, Stone Fort Overlooks, Northern Fortification Line, and Eastern Fortification Line; and removing non-historic fences from areas where new park trails will be developed. 
• Additional duties may involve replacing wooden revetments, embrasures, and gun platforms at Fort Putnam, a reconstructed earthwork located east of the visitor center and an area frequented by visitors. 

Skills and Expectations  

• Represent the National Park Service and Camp Nelson National Monument in a professional manner. 
• Wear the provided Volunteer uniform at all times while on duty and dress appropriately for maintenance tasks. 
• Reliable transportation to and from Volunteer duty site. 
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Qualifications & Training:  

Based on individual experience and in consultation with staff who will assess skill level and training needs, duties may include painting, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and HVAC work in buildings; outdoors on grounds performing mowing, string trimming, vegetation control and litter removal; and other general maintenance projects. Any on-the-job training will be based on a review of individual skill sets and job certificates as well as NPS requirements for performing such work. Must be at least 18 years of age. 

Volunteers will be provided with orientation training regarding the mission and history of Camp Nelson National Monument. The volunteer will receive safety and use training from our Maintenance staff on essential tools such as lawn mowers, snow blowers, and power tools.   

Use of a government vehicle may be required while on duty. All volunteers must complete the appropriate driving forms and Defensive Driving training to be allowed to drive a government vehicle. 

Safety Considerations  

• Work is performed both inside and outside. Volunteers may be continuously exposed to potentially hazardous and unpleasant worksite conditions such as: fumes, vibrations, excessive noise, flying particles, moving parts of machines, welding flash, dust, dirt, and grime. 
• Work is performed on-site, on a variety of conditions (see above) and structures. The work is often very dirty or of a nature that may require special personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, safety toe shoes, respirators, eye and ear protection, clothing, etc. 
• Climatic conditions are considered to be moderate to extreme, ranging from extreme cold to extreme heat, high humidity, rain or snow, and high winds. Exposure to temperatures vary from 0° - 90° Fahrenheit. 

Job Hazards 

• General housekeeping 
• Slip, trip, and fall hazards 
• Electrical hazards 
• Equipment operation 
• Equipment maintenance 
• Work organization and process flow (including staffing and scheduling) 
• Work practices