Orchard Technician (NPS, Capitol Reef National Park)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at Capitol Reef National Park (CARE), is recruiting 1 Orchard Technician to participate in assisting the horticulturist and resource management staff with orchard and vegetation management for orchards in the Fruita Rural Historic District in CARE.

Capitol Reef National Park manages the largest NPS orchard in the heart of southern Utah’s red rock country. Mormon pioneers began planting fruit trees in the valley in the 1880s, and today some 2000 trees still exist as part of their legacy. The park manages these trees using historic methods, with the goal of providing fruit harvests for visitors and preserving some of America’s rare fruit varieties for future generations. The orchard program consists of several horticulturists and seasonal employees who manage the irrigation, pruning, harvests, plantings of the 19 individual orchards. We oversee a wide range of apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, nuts, and grapevines, and are recruiting for an additional field technician for the 2025 summer season. The position will also have the opportunity to work on the science and management side of the operation, but will be mostly focused on physical work on the orchard grounds.

The technician will receive daily oversight and guidance from CARE’s horticulturist.  Orchard management activities will mostly consist of vegetation removal around trees and irrigation ditches, hand working irrigation, pruning and brush removal, care for young saplings, pest monitoring and control, cover crop management, and other tree care in the field.  The technicians will primarily be field based, helping the other orchard employees with needed tasks in the orchards. This position will also have the opportunity to work with the orchard staff on a landscape replanting project in the fall of 2025, which will involve planting close to 100 trees and shrubs including cottonwoods, mulberry, spruce and walnuts, to mention a few.

The hands-on experience provided by this position will foster an understanding and appreciation for natural and cultural resource management and protection and allow the opportunity to share that with park visitors.  The position will also provide personal and professional development that will contribute new knowledge and perspectives for future application in various science and environmental fields.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct daily irrigation, moving metal dams to direct water and shovels to dig needed ditches, furrows, and keep water moving to new trees every day;
• Assist with keeping orchard irrigation ditches and fruit trees clear of vegetation throughout the season, often using weedwhackers and hand tools;
• Move sprinklers as needed to keep landscape plantings healthy;
• Help with managing rodents and other pests; and
• Assist with U-Pick fruit harvest from the park orchards, interacting with a wide range of visitors.
• Gain experience with horticultural practices such as:
  • Young tree care;
  • Grafting;
  • Cover crop management; and
  • Soil assessment.
• Manage and maintain field gear, tools, and other NPS equipment;
• Ensure compliance with GBI and NPS safety protocols during fieldwork; and
• Learn and apply horticultural and botanical practices in a historical preservation context.

Timeline:

• June-September 2025, 14 weeks with possibility of extension;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and
• Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 10 hours daily (subject to field needs throughout the year).

Location:

Capitol Reef National Park is located near Torrey, UT. The location is remote. The nearest gas station is 10 miles away and the nearest grocery store is approximately 35 miles away. A personal vehicle is required for travel/transport outside of work. There is currently no cell service in housing or near the duty station and it is spotty in other locations. Reliable cellular service is usually only found when nearing Torrey. The intern should find living in a remote location desirable. Located in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef NP is filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges. In addition to unique geological resources, the park also has a rich cultural history.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $18 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: The Park will provide housing in a 5-6-bedroom dormitory. The Technician will have a private room with a shared bath, shared kitchen and common areas. The dormitory includes all appliances, coin-operated washer and dryer, some kitchen pots, pans and dishes, and internet service. Heat, electricity and water are included. Housing is located approximately a 5-minute walk from the duty station.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture or Botany or other related field, or combination of related coursework in and direct experience and knowledge of plant taxonomy and ecology, including use of technical botanical keys (dichotomous plant key without pictures);
• Familiar and comfortable with long hours of physical labor in variable and inclement conditions
• Experience with or interest in learning hand-worked irrigation techniques and systems
• Interest in orcharding, historical fruit preservation, or horticulture and an eagerness to work hands-on in this type of field;
• Familiarity with, or proven ability and desire to learn, specific State and Federal laws and Park Service policies related to plants;
• Basic experience using digital cameras and computer software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Access, Excel);
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record; and
• 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:

• Ability to work productively both independently and as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, GBI and agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to perform physical labor for extended periods of time (e.g., digging, bending over, hauling material, hiking);
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 50 pounds, and otherwise maintain good physical condition;
• Good organizational skills; and
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license; clean driving record; and ability to safely operate a 4WD truck on paved and unpaved roads, including narrow, sandy or muddy desert roads.

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.

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.

The overall nature of the position is primarily field-based, requiring significant physical effort and requiring walking/standing over 4 hours and carrying equipment 50 lbs or less. There is exposure to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and temperature changes.