Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park
Currently recruiting for the season from April 15th, 2024 to November 15th, 2024.
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million visits a year, it's one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. Visitors enjoy 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads.
Park headquarters is in Bar Harbor - a small town located on Mount Desert Island (MDI). Other duty stations include Schoodic Penninsula (North of MDI) or Isle au Haut (remote coastal island).
- Location
- Maine
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 225
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Housing is available on a limited basis and not guaranteed. We provide a variety of housing options, including RV spaces, shared apartments with private rooms, and one bedroom apartments. Some housing options allow pets, others do not.
- Family housing available
- Yes
- Single occupancy housing available
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- Yes
- Meals
- None
- Cell phone service
- Some, ask for details
- Internet access
- Good
About Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is a favorite vacation destination for good reason. The views are spectacular. The landscape is pristine. And, the wildlife is plentiful and protected. As a result, Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Acadia National Park protects more than 47,000 acres of lakes, ponds, mountains, and ocean shoreline along the coast of Maine. The 27-mile Park Loop Road system offers outstanding views of the park's ocean shoreline, coastal forests, and mountain silhouettes. At Acadia, you can explore the park's scenic 45-mile carriage road system or hike through forests and up mountains on 125 miles of historic hiking trails.
The Employee Experience
Seasonal positions at Acadia National Park have the potential to develop into meaningful careers. Several of our permanent staff members, including several division leads, once started as seasonal staff members at Acadia. Supervisors and work leaders are experts in their field who are eager to provide staff with opportunities to build their skills and learn new things. Our staff cares deeply about the work they do, and feel strongly about contributing to the National Park Service's mission. The reality we get to do work that matters in one of the most beautiful "offices" in the world is a humbling, joyful, and meaningful experience.
Ideal Candidate
Working in the National Park Service means working in the forever business. Every stone staircase we repair, every vault toilet cleaned, every email sent all contribute to a mission bigger than all of us: to preserve and protect incredible places for future generations. When you work at Acadia - you're joining a broader community of people who are united in our passion for the work we do.
An ideal candidate for any Acadia National Park work group would be someone who cares deeply about our mission, is eager to learn new skills, and can work as part of a team. Many of our seasonal positions involve a significant amount of fieldwork, and much of your workday will be spent working in the park. Safety, both physical and psychological, is always a core priority for our work groups. Acadia National Park team members are committed to creating a safe work environment for all our staff.
Room and Board
Park housing is available on a first come, first served basis. We have a variety of housing accommodations, including RV pads, one bedroom apartments, and multi-room units with private rooms and a shared living space/bathroom. Pets are allowed in some housing units. The cost of park housing varies depending on the unit. If you are referred to a hiring manager, they can provide the most accurate information about the cost of park housing. All housing residents are required to sign a housing agreement agreeing to all housing rules.
Employee Perks
Seasonal park employees are allowed to enroll in federal health insurance programs for the length of their employment with the National Park Service. Park staff are also given a sticker to place on a personal vehicle that serves as their park entrance pass.
Getting Here and Getting Around
It is recommended that employees bring a personal vehicle, as it can be challenging to get around Mount Desert Island without one.
For Fun
Mount Desert Island is a great place to live and work. Bar Harbor has a plethora of things to do (restaurants, shopping, etc.), and organizations across the island are consistently hosting events throughout peak season. Park employees often host community building events, including potlucks, craft groups, Lady Ranger night, etc. after work hours. One of the best parts of living on Mount Desert Island is that Acadia National Park is your backyard. It is not uncommon to go for a hike, bike ride, or paddle with coworkers somewhere in the park after work, if you so choose.
Current Job Openings
- Performs simple and routine work involved in the maintenance and repair of grounds, exterior structures, buildings and related utilities, requiring the use of a variety of trade practices.
- Responsible for the general cleaning, ground maintenance, repairs to the grounds, buildings and structures of the parks and the efficient operation, maintenance, and care taking of buildings, structures and grounds serving public and domestic use throughout the park.
- Position also focuses on custodial services, including cleaning sinks, toilets, sweeping and mopping floors, and ensuring that there are adequate supplies of soap, towels, and toilet paper for a public restrooms throughout the park, picnic areas, and/or camp grounds.
- Operates heavy power equipment such as lawn mowers, portable snow blowers, and all types of hand tools (such as shovels rakes, lawn edging equipment, etc.), to maintain buildings, grounds, roads, trails, etc.
- Loads and unloads supplies and materials from trucks, trailers, dollies, etc. Moves furniture, removes and sets signs, paints picnic tables and signs, rakes and waters lawns, trims trees and shrubbery, picks up litter, and cleans fire pits.
- Digs ditches and trenches with pick and shovel where soil is hard and compact and must grade or slope; occasionally breaks up pavement, soil, or concrete; mixes and pours concrete, asphalt, and hot/cold mix; fills and levels holes in damaged roads. Moves heavily loaded wheelbarrows and hand trucks; uses heavy type power mowers including adjusting blades, cleaning and oiling. Cuts heavy trees with axe or chainsaw; stacks heavy logs, lumber, and sacks of cement, etc., or performs other duties requiring similar judgment and comparable physical effort.
- Performs janitorial duties for buildings in the absence of janitor and as back-up support.
- Operates heavy power equipment such as lawn mowers, chain saws, brush cutters, brush chippers, portable snow blowers, and all types of hand and light power tools.
- Loads and unloads supplies and materials from trucks, trailers, dollies, etc.
- Digs ditches and trenches; occasionally breaks up pavement, soil, or concrete; mixes and pours concrete, asphalt, and hot/cold mix; fills and levels holes in damaged roads.
- Performs janitorial duties for buildings and grounds when required.
- Operates vehicles in all traffic conditions, performs minor operator maintenance, vehicles weigh up 10,000 pounds.
- Operates full range of track and wheel mounted engineering equipment such as motor grader, front end loader, bulldozer, excavator, backhoe, snow plows, sander and dump truck.
- Performs typical duties such as grade roads and building sites, push material into piles, load and drive trucks, dig trenches, clear sites of brush.
- Moves equipment from site to site using truck and trailer.
- Digs and cleans ditches. Installs culverts with outlets, inlets, and head walls.
- Removes and trims trees. Chips, bucks, and hauls down wood using chain saws, chippers, and chip trucks.
- Assists with maintenance and repair of equipment.
- Operates small equipment and hand tools such as chains saws, chipper, brusher, shovels and rakes.
- Performs general maintenance work such as erecting signs, repairing fence, cutting vegetation, or cleaning ditch.
- Leads work of lower graded employees at times.
Maintenance Worker
For this Custodial and Grounds Maintenance Worker role, please read the full job announcement before applying.
Duties include:
Laborer
Read the full job announcement at USAJOBS.gov before submitting an application.
Job duties include:
Maintenance Worker (Trails) - WG-5
Trails workers shaping grade, setting stone steps, building dry stone and retaining walls, and more, on historic trail system.
Park housing is available on a limited basis and is not guaranteed.
Read the full job announcement and job description at USAJOBS.gov before submitting a federal resume and other required documents. Submit a federal resume and any other required documents identified in the job announcement via USAJobs.gov.
Applying for a federal job is different than applying to jobs in nearly every other industry. Thus, Acadia National Park is free federal resume workshops. Learn more.
Maintenance Worker (Trails) - WG-7
Experienced trails workers shaping grade, setting stone steps, building dry stone and retaining walls, and more, on historic trail system.
Park housing is available on a limited basis and is not guaranteed.
Read the full job announcement and job description at USAJOBS.gov before submitting a federal resume and other required documents. Submit a federal resume and any other required documents identified in the job announcement via USAJobs.gov.
Applying for a federal job is different than applying to jobs in nearly every other industry. Thus, Acadia National Park is free federal resume workshops. Learn more.
Laborer/Motor Vehicle Operating
Read the full job announcement and job description at USAJOBS.gov.
Engineering Equipment Operator
Please read the full job announcement and job description at USAJobs.gov before submitting a federal resume and other required documents.
Emergency Services Ranger/General Ranger
Please read the full job announcement before submitting a federal resume and other required documents on USAJobs.gov.
Watch a Day in the Life of an Emergency Services Ranger (AKA – General Ranger).
The incumbent conducts daily operations of the visitor use program on Mount Desert Island or Isle au Haut. The person in this position interacts with visitors to Acadia National Park by talking with them along park trails, in campgrounds and in parking lots. The incumbent explains park rules and regulations, provides information to make visitor experiences positive and safe, conducts preventative search and rescue on trails and in parking lots and educates visitors about the natural and cultural history of Acadia. On Isle au Haut, the incumbent staffs a visitor contact station, greets incoming campers and day use visitors off the boat, assigns campers to their campsites and conducts interpretive and informational talks on the boat trips from the town dock to Duck Harbor.
Motor Vehicle Operator
Read full job announcement and jobs description at USAJobs.gov.
You must possess and maintain a current Class B or higher Commercial Driver's License prior to entrance on duty.
Operates one or more motor vehicles including platform truck, van trucks, stake trucks, dump trucks, specialty pumping equipment, and trash removal trucks, which typically have an approximate gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds and up to 35,000 pounds. Vehicles are usually equipped with air brakes. Vehicles are driven on the basis of either specific trip assignments or regularly established schedules over public roads at highway speeds to transport passengers, supplies, materials, solid waste, or equipment and tools, or to tow equipment throughout rural or urban areas. Operates vehicles over rough terrain, in close quarters, and in heavy traffic on both long and short hauls. Performs operator maintenance on all vehicles operated (e.g., monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, checking tire pressure and hose connections, and washing vehicle.) May perform semi-skilled and unskilled maintenance, repair, and janitorial work in and on various unit buildings. Typical duties include installing faucet washers and gaskets, replacing faucets, other minor plumbing repair, touch-up painting, minor carpentry repairs, and janitorial work in public and administrative buildings. Performs minor repairs and preventative maintenance of equipment. Does manual labor tasks, such as digging, pulling, cleaning drainage ditches, lifting and emptying trash containers, cleaning rest rooms, picking up litter, cleaning picnic grills, etc.
How to Apply
All federal resumes and required documents should be submitted via the job announcement at USAJobs.gov. Applying for a federal job is different than applying to jobs in nearly every other industry. Thus, Acadia National Park is hosting free federal resume workshops. Learn more about these workshops at go.nps.gov/AcadiaJobs.
Contact Info
- Amanda Pollock
- amanda_pollock@nps.gov
- (207) 288-8806
- www.nps.gov
