Washington Trails Association is seeking several Trail Crew Leaders who love working with people and share our commitment to trail stewardship and volunteerism. Trail Crew Leaders work outdoors leading youth and adult volunteers in building and maintaining trails on public lands during the summer 2016 season. These positions are temporary, field-based positions working in locations throughout Washington.

Washington Trails Association preserves, enhances, and promotes hiking opportunities in Washington state. In 2016, WTA celebrates 50 years of protecting trails. WTA has built the largest statewide volunteer trail maintenance program in the nation using a proven formula of “be safe, have fun and get some work done.” WTA leads more than 130,000 hours of volunteer service annually to maintain, repair and build trails across the state. Nearly one-quarter of WTA volunteers are youth.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leading volunteer work parties

Establish a safe, fun and inclusive working environment for a crew of volunteers of diverse ages and backgrounds
Train, motivate and lead volunteers to complete a variety of trail projects including annual maintenance, repairs and new construction
Ensure all technical work is to standards, including tread construction, drainage structures, and construction of steps, turnpike and puncheon
Calmly 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 work party projects and plans with supervisor and land manager
May assist supervisor in identifying appropriate volunteer trail projects

Documenting work parties

Ensure safety talk 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
Provide digital photo documentation of project progress and volunteer engagement

Schedule:

Trail Crew Leader positions are temporary positions starting in May 2016 and continuing through September or October 2016.

Job skills, experience and personal traits preferred:

Demonstrated experience working in an outdoor setting
Demonstrated skills in trail maintenance and building
Strong interpersonal skills to ensure a fun, safe and quality volunteer experience
Cultural competency experience and demonstrated ability to work with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities and economic backgrounds
Ability to work independently and contribute to a team effort
Ability to remain calm and manage emergency situations
Ability to work in an outdoor environment including hiking and backpacking 6-10 miles daily in a variety of terrain
WFA or WFR certificationand CPR certification valid through the duration of employment
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive a truck on highways and dirt roads
Reliable vehicle (WTA provides mileage reimbursement)
Reliable internet and printer access for work party planning and documentation
Ability to work weekends and 10-hour days
A strong commitment to WTA’s mission

Washington Trails Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

How to apply

Visit www.wta.org/about/job-opportunities to view all open positions.
Email a resume, a brief cover letter describing your experience, qualifications, availability, and at least two references, to seasonaljobs@wta.org; reference the job title in the subject line. Applications accepted until January 21, 2016. Finalists must pass a Washington State background check.