Seasonal Small Craft Operator

Seasonal Small Craft Operator

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): International Falls, Minnesota

Salary Range: $32.6 - $38.07 Per Hour

Job Summary: This position is located in a National Park Service Unit. The primary purpose of this position is the operation of small oar, sail or mechanically propelled craft, generally under 55 meters (180 feet) in length used to transport cargo and personnel, conducting tows, and participating in resource management and protection patrols and search and rescue operations.

Major Duties:

• The small craft operator (boat captain) will operate sightseeing trips ranging from 20 to 70 miles (round trip). These are runs on large open surface lake areas with wind fetching up to 15 miles. The boat operator must use engine power and rudder controls to maneuver the boot close to the dock nod then secure anchor lines. These operations can be hazardous and take great skill to accomplish in a safe and professional manner. 50-ton: Serve as a boat captain in command of a 49-foot and 59-foot sightseeing vessel powered by a two Cummins 610-hp engines used to transport up to 35 and 49 paying passengers on the park interpretive trips and charters on Rainy, Kabetogama, and Namakan Lakes. Have full responsibilities for instructing and directing deck hands in safe operations during docking, passenger loading, navigation, and boat underway procedures. Perform daily checks, cleaning, and minor maintenance on vessel, outboard motor, and on-board safety equipment. Report maintenance and repair needs in a timely way to the park's senior Interpretive Specialist. Could be scheduled to assist the other maintenance employees, as required, to meet the program objectives. Other duties will require less than 30% of the small craft operator's time. Other duties will be in the fields of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and custodial services. On occasion will serve as a work leader for a deck hand when assigned to assist in boating operations. Cut-off Dates: This is an open continuous announcement, in which applications are collected over several months, and have multiple cut-off dates. Applications received by the initial cutoff date will be considered first. **INITIAL CUT OFF is Monday, December 29, 2025** Applications will be considered throughout the open period of the announcement however additional referral certificates will only be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled. Area Information Government Housing May Be Available Voyageurs National Park is located in northern Minnesota. The park encompasses over 218,000 acres of boreal forest and water along the Canadian border. The park is a class one air shed, and the lakes of the park are identified as outstanding resource value waters within the State. Lakes include Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point; along with 26 smaller remote lakes. The area made up a portion of the Voyageurs highway that opened the North American Continent to European settlement. The waterways of the park were integral to the growth and movement of the Ojibwe people of the region. The majority of work in the park requires access via boat in the summer or snowmobile in the winter. During winter operations the park maintains over 100 miles of snowmobile trails and 25 miles of ice roads. Within the park there are over 200 campsites, 4 visitor centers; and a concession operated hotel, only accessible by boat, snowmobile, or plane; there are 45 miles of trails; 3 boat launches; and about 15 miles of roads. Designated as an international dark sky park in 2020, the park offers one of the best year-round dark sky viewing opportunities in the state. The park is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park. International Falls is the full-service gateway community at the north entrance, offering a hospital, two medical clinics, shopping, schools, community college, movie theater, bowling alley, community center and churches. International Falls also serves as the gateway to Canada, so those who are visiting may also include a day trip to our sister city, Fort Frances, Ontario Park website: http://www.nps.gov/VOYA Facebook: Voyageurs National Park | Facebook Instagram handle: @voyageursnps

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors: Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT) Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation) Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle) Operation of Motor Vehicles Reliability and Dependability as a Small Craft Operator Work Practices (including keeping things neat, clean, and in order) SCREENOUTS: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Have performed work involving the operation of small mechanically propelled crafts to transport passengers. This experience must have included: operating small craft (25 to 63 foot, single or twin screw) to transport personnel and supplies; Have navigated in a variety of water conditions including low or high water in the presence of floating debris, submerged or topographical features, under extreme weather conditions including high winds, snow and heavy rain in both daylight and non-daylight hours. Have been responsible for transporting and securing cargo and passengers, and loading/unloading materials at shorelines. Have determined load limits, weight distribution of loads and safe methods for transporting a variety of types of loads. Can lift and carry objects weighing up to 30 pounds. USCG LIMITED MASTER LICENSE: Possess prior to applying and maintain during employment: 1) A U.S. Coast Guard Limited Master License for a master of motor vessels of at least 50 gross registered tons upon inland waters; 2) The selectee must be able to maintain the license and credentials prior to applying and during employment. 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 Statement: 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.

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 05/29/2026.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. Prompted to 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/12845920 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: 2026-05-29