Trail Crew Leader – South Puget Sound

*housing available, Program Dates: June 24, 2024- October 11, 2024*

Washington Trails Association is seeking a Trail Crew Leader who loves working with people and shares our commitment to trail stewardship and volunteerism. The Trail Crew Leader works outdoors leading volunteers in building and maintaining trails on public lands. The position’s primary responsibility is to lead single and multi-day work parties on the southern part of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (HWY 410 corridor) and the greater South Puget Sound region. This is a temporary, full-time field-based position based from the Enumclaw Forest Service Bunkhouse with work primarily occurring  in the South Puget Sound.  This role reports to the Olympics & South Puget Sound Field Manager.

Primary Responsibilities

Leading volunteer work parties

• Ensure physical and emotional safety for a volunteer crew of diverse ages and backgrounds
• Support, motivate, and train volunteers to complete a variety of trail projects. Projects may include annual maintenance, tread construction, drainage structures, and constructions of steps, turnpike, puncheon and retaining walls and will take place over single and multi-day frontcountry and backcountry trail work events
• Effectively manage emergency situations following WTA’s emergency response protocols
• Positively represent WTA mission, programs and membership in all interactions with volunteers, trail users and others

Preparing for work parties 

• Arrive at each work party with tools, refreshments and work plan
• Coordinate and scope work party projects and plans with WTA staff and land manager
• May communicate directly with volunteers via email and phone prior to work parties
• May assist other WTA staff and volunteers in identifying appropriate volunteer trail projects

Documenting work parties 

• Ensure morning safety review is delivered to volunteers and documented
• Maintain and submit sign-in and liability release for volunteers in a timely manner
• Prepare and submit summary report and thank you email to volunteers for each work party in a timely manner
• Report all incidents affecting the safety, health, and well-being of volunteers
• Using a WTA cell-phone, provide digital photo documentation of project progress and volunteer engagement

Outreach & other 

• May assist efforts to engage hikers, volunteers and community groups in other WTA programming (e.g. representing WTA at events in the region)
• Perform other tasks in the frontcountry and backcountry to ensure program success
• Potential to engage youth through school programs and trail maintenance events

Experience, Skills, Knowledge, and Values

WTA is committed to supporting professional development, so we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the listed qualifications.

Competitive candidates will highlight the following in their application, or express willingness to learn:

• Demonstrated commitment to WTA’s mission and values on diversity, equity and inclusion
• Demonstrated ability to create a crew community where every member feels included and valued
• Demonstrated skills in trail maintenance and building
• Ability to effectively manage emergency situations
• Ability to accept and integrate feedback graciously, and give effective feedback to team members
• Ability to work in an outdoor environment, including hiking and backpacking up to 8 miles daily in a variety of terrain, and follow minimum impact guidelines
• WFA and CPR certification minimum requirement valid through the duration of employment; WFR certification preferred
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive a truck on highways and dirt roads
• Ability to work weekends and 10-hour days
• Reliable internet (library and other public access is fine) for work party planning and documentation
• Demonstrated experience leading a team in an outdoor setting

Location and Schedule

The Trail Crew Leader is a temporary position starting as early as June 24 and continuing through October 11, 2024. The expected schedule for the Trail Crew Leader is 40 hours a week over 4-5 days each week. Generally, work parties will occur Thursday-Sunday unless otherwise defined, and requires working most weekends. Work party-related communication as well as documentation of activities may occur outside of work party days. Several times during the season the crew leader may be assigned to lead volunteers in backcountry trail projects 4-7 days in length. The trail maintenance team will be on a weeklong midseason hiatus occurring August 5-12 where work parties will not occur. Housing will be provided during the duration of work, beginning June 24 and ending October 11 at the Forest Service bunkhouse in Greenwater, WA. 

Compensation

The hourly rate for this position is $23.00 – $24.00 per hour depending on experience. A supplementary per diem rate of $50/day will be provided for multi-day, overnight backcountry trips. WTA provides a cell phone, hard hat, work gloves and safety glasses. WTA does not provide boots, clothing or other personal outdoor and backpacking gear required for fieldwork, but does provide a $200 reimbursement to offset wear and tear on personal gear. Position is eligible for paid holidays, sick leave, health stipend and an employer match retirement plan. For more information about WTA’s benefits, please visit our website: www.wta.org/benefits

A WTA vehicle will be provided for transportation to work parties. Reimbursement for up to 250 miles per round trip will be provided for staff members who use a personal vehicle to fulfill program needs, unless commuting to/from base of operations (Forest Service bunkhouse in Greenwater, WA).  

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We believe WTA, and Washington’s hiking community, is made better by people with varied backgrounds, identities, abilities and lived experience. WTA is committed to advancing equity and continually working to become a more inclusive organization. People of color and others with identities that are underrepresented in the outdoor industry (including but not limited to: gender identity, class, socioeconomic status, conviction history, sexual orientation, age, ability, and background) are strongly encouraged to apply.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at WTA will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. WTA does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, ancestry, caste, color, creed, expunged juvenile record, familial status, family relationship (denying employment because a family member already works for the employer), gender identity, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, off-duty tobacco use, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, genetic information, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, actual, potential, perceived, or alleged pregnancy outcomes, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.