Winter Trail Members - Saguaro National Park

Winter Trail Members - Saguaro National Park

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Saguaro National Park, is seeking 2 Members to contribute to primarily backcountry trail maintenance projects alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 11/2/2026

Estimated End Date: 3/13/2027
*a 19-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description:Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ

The Maintenance Headquarters are on the East side of the park, Rincon Mountain District (3693 S Old Spanish Trail) but there is potential to work on the West Side (Tucson Mountain District) of the park depending on the work projects.

Saguaro National Park is located outside of the city of Tucson, AZ. The park is host to camping, hiking, and backpacking trails for every level of adventurer. The park protects its namesake, our nation's largest species of cacti, the giant saguaro. Summers in the Sonoran Desert can be extremely hot with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees and evening lows averaging 72 degrees. Winters present comfortable daytime temperatures in the 60s but cooler nighttime temps that often drop below freezing. Access to all major amenities can be found in the town of Tucson which is a quick 20-minute drive from the park.

For more information about Saguaro National Park, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview: The ACE Member will serve their season working on trails either in the high country or front country of the desert southwest. Most of this position will consist of backcountry service. The service requires very strenuous effort in moving heavy materials to and around the job site. The Member must be able to hike steep trails in all weather conditions transporting tools and personal gear and work in difficult terrain. Members routinely move items over 50 pounds.

The ACE Member will assist with rehabilitating and maintaining the following trail related structures: log cribbing and steps, water bars and culverts, stone retaining walls, and stone steps and other tread structures. Tread improvement, out sloping, berm busting and rock removal will be common. Team members will likely assist in cutting and shaping stone. Tools will include a wide variety of hand and power tools such as various hammers, shovels, stone tools, rock bars, digging tools, and power shop tools such as cut-off saws, grinders, and drill presses. May use powered tracked material haulers. Consistently moves heavy materials to and around the job site. Serves under the supervision of a Trail Work Leader or higher graded trail employee.

There are a variety of trail maintenance projects in the Cactus Forest of the Rincon Mountain District, brushing, installing timber check steps, and re-naturalizing parts of the trail. Other potential project work is helping with mine closures, bench installation projects and trail maintenance throughout the park. These projects have the same requirements of hiking, hauling heavy things and trail maintenance tasks.

There may also be project work at other southern Arizona Park units such as Organ Pipe National Monument, Tumacácori Historical Park, and others.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Most of this position will consist of backcountry service. When on front country assignments the schedule will run Monday to Thursday with 4 days on, and 3 days off. For backcountry assignments the schedule will run from Wednesday to Wednesday and consist of 8-day hitches, and 6 days off, where team members will be camping in a backcountry or front country setting.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility Requirements to be considered for this position. Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS.

Boot Gear Allowance: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on work boots. Eligible gear must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase. 

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

Qualifications 

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas. 

• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. 

• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.

• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE’s insurance and liability requirements.

• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks 

• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation. 

• Members may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.

• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an associates or bachelors degree and/or have relevant experience in environmental science, botany, ecosystem restoration, natural resource management, or related discipline.

• Knowledge of trails maintenance and construction methods.

• Ability and willingness to hike 15 miles in a variety of potentially harsh environmental conditions and camp in a backcountry or front country setting.

• Ability and willingness to use a variety of hand tools, carry and move things weighing 50 lbs or more

• Deep interest in outdoor recreational pursuits and being a productive part of a team.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools.. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.

• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.

• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 50 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.

• Environmental: Outdoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates  

• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.

• Travel: This position does not require unique travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. 

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the site Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE’s online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC Senior Member Manager, Sabrina Caruso.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are enrolled in a program to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO:  Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.