Job Titles: Professional Trail Crew Members and Trail Crew Leaders
Position Start Date: May 5, 2025 - flexible
Position End Date: Nov. 21, 2025 - flexible
Hiring Schedule: Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
Position Description:
Professional Trail Crew Members and Leaders are expected to have a diverse skill set and be willing to learn about all facets of trail maintenance and construction.
2025 season projects will include trail maintenance in the White Mountains, wilderness trail reconstruction, stone and timber staircases, machine built accessible and multi-use trail construction, etc. There is a potential for late fall and winter opportunities in Patagonia. US based projects are expected to be within a four hour drive of the headquarters in Turner, Maine where crew housing is available in a beautiful setting with access to garden space and trails.
Typical trail based duties include:
- Corridor clearing with chainsaws, hand saws, pole saws, and loppers
- Constructing full bench, hand built trail
- Conducting hand finish work behind machine built trail
- Installing rock staircases and other rock structures in backcountry and wilderness areas
- Steel and timber bridge construction
- Operating loaders and tracked dump trucks to move materials
- Finish grading and compacting gravel surface trails.
Team members work 40 hours a week. The schedule is either four 10 hour days followed by three days off or eight 10 hour days followed by six days off. The schedule is subject to change with notice, project dependent. Project sites will be located in Maine and New Hampshire. Members work with and report to company owner Jed Talbot and the Project Supervisor. Crew structure is somewhat project dependent- members can expect to either work together as one crew or split into multiple crews with occasional solo work and frequent collaborations with other crews.
Position Requirements and Qualifications Include:
- Minimum 2 years experience with trail maintenance and construction techniques, and/or relevant manual labor
- Experience with, or willingness to learn equipment operation such as skid steer loaders, mini-excavators, tracked dump trucks, compactors, front end loaders, etc.
- Ability and willingness to work safely, efficiently, and unsupervised while outside in all weather conditions
- Physical ability to carry a 50 pack for 10 miles over rough terrain
- Physical ability to sustain long days of intensive manual labor
- Experience and comfort with being in the woods for long periods of time, sometimes alone
- Flexibility with work schedule
- History of safe working practices
- Reliable personal vehicle for transportation to/from project sites
- Personal camping gear (tent, sleeping pad, bag, headlamp, etc.)
- High level of self motivation and discipline
- Ability to execute a high standard of work while being mindful of production rates
- Capacity to take direction and constructive criticism
- Ability to communicate effectively with crew members, supervisor, and owner
- Desire to contribute to a shared community environment
- Capacity to act as a respectful, professional representative of OBP to clients and partners
Benefits:
- Competitive hourly rate based on experience and commitment
- Compensation for driving and hiking time
- Shared company vehicle provided
- End of season bonus, based on combined weekly and seasonal commitment
- On site crew housing provided during work weeks- some projects require camping (OBP provides base camp gear)
- Reduced rate crew housing available for non work time
- Company attire (short sleeve shirt, long sleeve shirt, hats, hoodies, etc.)
- Wilderness First Aid and USFS Sawyer Certification opportunities
- Skills training and experience including technical trail skills, equipment operation, rigging, stone splitting, shaping and pinning, chainsaw safety and operation, accessible trail design and layout, etc.
- Opportunity to travel, work, and explore beautiful areas such as the White Mountains of NH, the coast of Maine, the North Maine Woods and remote areas of Patagonia in Argentina.
To apply:
Applicants should email a cover letter stating reasons for seeking employment with OBP, a résumé, and contact information for a minimum of three references to Jed@obptrailworks.com
Please feel free to contact us with any questions. For more information on OBP Trailworks, email us or visit our website at www.obptrailworks.com.
