Cook Job Vacancies at National Park Service
Cook Job Vacancies at National Park Service
About the job
Help Duties
The trail cook is responsible for all phases of the operation of a backcountry-type kitchen and food service for the daily meals of up to 25 trail crew. The duties of the position include:
- Plan meals and requisition necessary foodstuffs and supplies on a weekly or semi-weekly basis with a minimum of waste.
- Plan, prepare, and serve family-style a variety of nutritionally well-balanced menus including specialty diet items such as vegetarian dishes. Preserves, stores, and utilizes foodstuffs fully without modern refrigeration (i.e. ice chests).
- Assures that equipment, dishes and utensils, and food storage areas are kept orderly and sanitary while displaying good personal hygiene and supervises the hygiene of the kitchen area and helpers.
- Performs other camp duties as necessary, such as splitting wood, fueling fires to heat water, treating water, monitoring camp sanitation as a whole including camp layout, camp commissary facilities, backcountry latrine facilities, backcountry bathing facilities, dish washing facilities.
- Can deal effectively and safely with wildlife in camp, including black bears, ravens, raccoons, mountain lions, etc.
Physical Demands: Work is performed in work areas that require incumbent to stand, stoop, bend and work in tiring uncomfortable positions. He/she frequently lifts and carries supplies, materials and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds. May occasionally handle items with assistance that weigh over 50 pounds. Typical strenuous activity includes: frequently lifts and carries objects up to 50 pounds, cutting and stockpiling of wood for camp and kitchen fires, frequently walking several miles a day in the course of daily chores or in going to work at the project site. May be required to work long hours and hike or ride horses long distances in rough terrain. May be required to assist animal packers in the un/loading of camp supplies carried by mules and horses.
Working Conditions:
Work split shift hours in order to prepare and serve morning and evening meals. Must have ability to live and work effectively in isolated back country areas in close contact with small numbers of people for extended periods of time up to 6 months of the year. Must live and work outdoors in mountainous terrain to 13,000 feet in elevation in all extremes of weather. Hazardous conditions may exist in working around stock, falling and bucking trees for firewood, working around heat, working around gas stoves and other gas equipment, and working with sharp knives. May perform duties in areas where wildlife is present and be required to store and protect food stores from wildlife (i.e.-bears, deer, rodents, small mammals). May perform duties where poisonous reptiles, plants, and insects are known to be present.
Requirements Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
- Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
- You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver’s license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and Driving Record. You must also submit, and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver’s licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
- You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
- You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
- You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
- Government Charge Card: You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
- Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or
- (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
Qualifications
Ability to do the work of a Cook without more than normal supervision (Screen out) experience includes: cooking experience involves one or both of the following situations: (a) planned and prepared nutritionally balanced meals for 5-10 people at a time in semi-remote locations (outdoor kitchens in campgrounds, possibly with access to roads). These trips typically lasted between two weeks and three weeks but may have been longer. (b). cooked on a daily basis for groups of 25 or more in indoor kitchens for two months or more at a time. In either scenario, ordered food for these groups in weekly increments and had to work within a budget set by employer. Stored fresh fruits, vegetables and meats with or without the use of refrigeration during these jobs depending on the location. Used gas and propane to cook meals for these groups.
Additional Screen-out:
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. Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks present a uniquely challenging work environment. These parks represent an extraordinary continuum of ecosystems (93% designated wilderness) arrayed along the greatest vertical relief (1,370 to 14,495 feet elevation) of any protected area in the lower 48 states. They are the highest, most rugged portion of the High Sierra Mountains. Selectee(s)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.
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: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118C/index.htm
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.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.
Additional Information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Non Competitive Rehire Eligibility:
Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.
The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.
Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Additional information contact:
Sequoia: Antonio_Fiorino@nps.gov
Kings Canyon: Barnaby_Fisher@nps.gov
Yosemite: Jessica_Crow@nps.gov
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information,
