Wilderness Packer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Join Our Team as a Ranger at Land of the Yankee Fork State Park!
Are you passionate about Idaho's rich history and stunning landscapes?
Land of the Yankee Fork State Park in Challis, Idaho, offers the opportunity to protect, preserve, and share some of the state's most fascinating stories, from prehistoric bison hunts to gold rush-era ghost towns, to soaking in the area at the Challis Hot Springs. As a Ranger here, you will help visitors connect with landmarks like the Challis Hot Springs, Bayhorse Ghost Town, Challis Bison Kill Site, and the areas rich mining history at Custer, Bonanza, and the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge along the Custer Motorway. In addition, you will be providing information on the area's attractions including endless motorized trails on public lands including the Salmon-Challis National Forest, Mt. Borah, the Main & Middle Fork Salmon Rivers, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the Stanley Basin/Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and Craters of the Moon National Monument as well as many others.
This position combines visitor services, resource protection, and hands-on maintenance work. Rangers assist guests who come for scenic drives, picnicking, hiking, biking, camping, OHV riding, and to soak in the Challis Hot Springs, while also providing historical and interpretive information at the visitor center and museum. Responsibilities include maintaining motorized/non-motorized trails, grounds, facilities, and historic infrastructure to ensure they remain safe, clean, and accessible for the public. Rangers play an important role in preserving both the natural beauty and the historical integrity of the park.
The ideal candidate will have strong maintenance experience, including in vehicle, equipment, facilities, and grounds maintenance. Prior experience with trail maintenance or as a trail ranger is highly desirable. Excellent communication and customer service skills are essential, as is the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a remote setting. The park sits at elevations between 5,000 and 6,500 feet and offers a diverse work environment, from tranquil river valleys to rugged mountain trails. Whether you are maintaining historic trails, or guiding visitors through ghost towns, you will help make every visit memorable for each of our park visitors. At Land of the Yankee Fork State Park, you will have the chance to be part of Idaho's living history.
Learn more about Land of the Yankee Fork State Park: https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/land-yankee-fork/
For questions about this position, please contact Park Manager, Blake Packer:

• Phone: 208-879-5244
• Email: blake.packer@idpr.idaho.gov

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Visitor Services and Resource Protection

• Provides information to visitors and the public regarding park history, geology, plants, fish, and wildlife.
• Utilizes the parks reservation system to assist visitors with campsite reservations.
• Utilizes the parks registration system to complete retail, permit, and registration sales.
• Develops and presents interpretive programs for park visitors, school groups, and organizations.
• Ensures compliance with outdoor recreation programs, park rules, and regulations.
• Fulfills Compliance Enforcement Officer duties including enforcing Idaho Code/IDAPA.
• Patrols the park to protect and preserve its resources from vandalism and abuse.
• Works with local enforcement agencies, fire departments, and community leaders.
• Promotes public safety.
• Maintain a current CPR and First Aid certification.

Administrative

• Works with other park staff to hire, train, schedule, and supervise seasonal employees and volunteers.
• Prepares and maintains reports, expense transmittals, records, logs, and inventories in a timely manner.
• Purchases supplies and materials while following the department's purchasing rules and guidelines.
• May represent the department at meetings with the public, user and/or special interest groups, and partner agencies.

Park Maintenance

• Maintains Park facilities and grounds to ensure resource preservation and visitor safety.
• Performs a variety of maintenance duties including carpentry, roofing, plumbing, electrical, and masonry.
• Operates and maintains vehicles, OHVs, push/deck mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, heavy equipment, and a variety of hand and power tools.
• Maintains Park grounds which includes mowing, trimming, landscaping, spraying herbicides, and falling of hazardous trees.
• Maintains Park trails, buildings, and infrastructure which includes constructing fencing, installing signs, trail clearing, painting, carpentry, roofing, plumbing, electrical, and masonry.
• Natural Resource management includes identification and removal of noxious weeds through chemical and mechanical methods, hazard tree identification and removal, planting native flora, completing wildlife habitat restoration projects, plant/tree/soil analysis and remediation, and maintaining detailed resource logs.
• Operation and maintenance of irrigation systems including flood, pressure, and inground sprinklers.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This position requires working nights, weekends, and holidays, often in all weather conditions and around potentially hazardous materials such as caustic substances and pesticides.
• The role also requires the ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds regularly and up to 100 pounds occasionally, as well as frequent bending, stooping, and climbing ladders, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• This position requires the incumbent to possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout the course of employment.
• Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Some knowledge of outdoor recreation and/or natural resource management. Typically gained by completing at least 9 college-level credits in a natural resource and/or outdoor recreation field AND at least six months of experience working with natural resource issues and/or outdoor recreation; OR, at least twelve (12) months experience as a Ranger (or similar position) in a city, county, state or federal park and recreation system.
• Experience providing service to a variety of customers. Typically gained by at least 6 months of experience answering questions, providing direction, and asking questions to determine the needs or purpose of the visit.
• Experience supervising the work of others. Typically gained by at least six (6) months' work experience assigning work or training new/existing staff.

THE PREFERRED CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

• Experience operating and maintaining vehicles/equipment. Typically gained by at least six months of experience skillfully operating lightweight over-the-road type vehicles and equipment including 4X4 trucks (manual/automatic), OHVs (dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs), deck/push lawnmowers, weed eaters, trimmers, etc., and operating heavy equipment and such as skid steers, excavators, tractors, backhoes, front end loaders, etc.
• Experience performing construction and building maintenance. Typically gained by at least six months of experience skillfully performing basic carpentry tasks such as framing, roofing, cabinetry work, erecting drywall, installing windows or doors, minor home repair or remodel, and performing basic plumbing tasks such as repairing/replacing faucets, sinks, drains, and toilets.
• Some knowledge of Interpretation/Environmental Education. Typically gained by successfully completing at least three (3) college-level credits, one (1) agency-sponsored workshop, that included park interpretation or environmental education; OR, at least six (6) months of work experience creating and leading interpretive experiences such as campfire programs, school tours, and nature walks in a park and recreation or school system.

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE:

• Experience in trail maintenance and management. Typically gained by at least six months of experience working as a trail ranger or in a similar position performing duties such as trail assessment, maintenance, repair, construction, signage installation, and erosion control, as well as assisting visitors with trail information and ensuring trail safety.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE, LOVE WHAT YOU DO
WHY IDPR? We are innovators in outdoor recreation, committed to excellent service and resource stewardship. We foster experiences that renew the human spirit and promote community vitality. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in Idaho through outdoor recreation and resource stewardship. IDPR manages 30 state parks, trails and attractions throughout every region of Idaho and the registration programs for boats, snowmobiles and other off-highway vehicles (OHV). Money from these registration programs goes back to users to develop and maintain trails, facilities and programs. IDPR also provides free education courses for boaters and OHV operators. To learn more about Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation please visit:https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/
BENEFITS: We offer a competitive benefits package which includes excellent medical, dental and vision insurance. There is generous vacation and sick leave accrual that begins as soon as you start. There are ten paid holidays in a year; participation in one of the Nation's best state retirement systems; multiple saving plans and optional 401K; life insurance; wellness programs; ongoing training opportunities and more. For additional information related to benefits and/or State programs, please visit: https://dhr.idaho.gov/information-for-state-employees/.
EEO/ADA/Veteran: The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov.
Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.