Seasonal Animal Packer & Caretaker

Seasonal Animal Packer & Caretaker

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): Kings Canyon National Park, California

Salary Range: $22.13 - $25.81 Per Hour

Job Summary: Kings Canyon National Parks: 4 Vacancies. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April to May but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April-May 2026. Salary Range: $22.13 - $25.81 per hour. For additional information regarding the open positions for this park, reach out to: Barnaby Fisher at barnaby_fisher@nps.gov or 559-565-4364 OR Tony Fiorino at antonio_c_fiorino@nps.gov.

Major Duties:

• The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1560 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary between sites depending on funding, weather conditions and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding. Major Duties include: Feeds and cares for 6 to 10 mules and 4 to 6 saddle horses. Feeds and wrangles stock in backcountry settings. trains and corrects behavior problems in horses and mules. Administers medications to stock. Performs farrier duties including emergency field shoeing and trimming. Builds loads and packs food, tools, camp equipment, explosives, supplies and materials to trail crews. Transports livestock, supplies and materials via truck and trailer from source to trail heads including transporting, loading and unloading of hay. Maintain tack, sheds and corral fence lines. Incumbent frequently drives on narrow winding mountain roads. Performs routine vehicle inspections on trucks and trailers and does minor repairs. Work requires hiking in a mountainous area (elevations above 10,000 feet) over a rough and uneven terrain with backpack/tools up to several miles in a day. Position is subject to frequent extended travel and camping in remote areas. Physical Effort: Animal Caretaking and Packing: Heavy physical effort is required in bending, lifting while using saddles and tack. Frequently lifts and loads pack boxes and other objects weighing 50 pounds. Occasionally, with assistance, lifts and loads pack boxes weighing from 60 pounds to over 100 pounds. Routinely rides up to 15 miles a daily, and periodically 25 miles or more. Frequently works with horses and mules weighing over 1000 pounds utilizing greater strength and agility to wrangle stronger and more active livestock. Motor vehicle operation: Moderate physical effort is needed by this position in operating, turning, backing and controlling vehicles which carry heavy loads. Required to frequently lift items weighing up to 50 pounds. Considerable physical effort may be required to change tires and make limited emergency repairs, such as installing an emergency fan belt or replacing an electrical fuse on open highways. Working Conditions: Incumbent must have the ability to live and work effectively in mountainous wilderness areas in close contact with small numbers of people for extended periods of time. The incumbent will be working outdoors in extreme temperatures varying from +100 to near 10 F. When working outside, worker is frequently exposed to bad weather. Incumbent works in rain, mud, snow, and in cold temperatures. Icy, slippery conditions are normal for approximately six months each year. The working environment is dusty, dirty, hot, wet and under certain conditions noisy. There may be occasions during the season that the incumbent will work in heavy rain, falling snow, and frigid conditions. The incumbent may be required to work long hours, hike or ride long distances in rough terrain, and work around hazardous conditions. Wrangling involves work with occasionally unpredictable and ill-natured animals resulting in exposure to the possibility of injury from bites, scratches and kicks. The individual may be exposed to poisonous reptiles and plants. At time he/she may be required to make stream crossings in cold, swift water, either by horse or by foot. The individual must be able to withstand with rigors of life in remote, primitive conditions for periods of two to twelve weeks at a time. Kings National Park at times has poor air quality and the presence of smoke during fires. The Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains of California may pose human health problems due to air pollution. Work will be performed at times when there is poor air quality.

Qualifications: SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position requires regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry above 10,000 ft elevation for extended periods of time. Selectees must be able to hike by foot in the backcountry at high altitude for extended periods of time while carrying backpacks, tools and supplies of at least 50 lbs., and be able to camp for several days at a time. - AND- Ability to do the work of an Animal Packer and Caretaker (Trails) without more than normal supervision. (Screen Out) experience includes: worked as an Animal Caretaker feeding, caring for, and handling mules and saddle horses. Maintained fences and pastures. Experience in animal packing and routinely packed and led a string of 4-5 pack animals in wilderness and non-wilderness areas. Additional information on the specific qualification requirements for this position are found in the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations. It is available for review on OPM's web site at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/#url=WG-5000 If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. ICTAP/CTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

How to Apply: To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/17/2026.You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account. Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application." Click here for USAJobs Help with "How to create an application" To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12900521 Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS. Select documents you want included in this application. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed. Select if you want to include your demographic information. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site." Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown. Upload any missing required documents or optional documents. Review and Submit Application. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job. Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-17