Job Board

We seek a motivated, highly skilled government relations professional to develop and lead Public Lands Alliance’s (PLA) government relations strategies with Congress and federal agencies. You will enrich America’s public lands by advancing policies that empower and
expand partnerships between land management agencies and nonprofit organizations. The programs, services, volunteerism, and philanthropic support generated by nonprofit public lands partners are essential to ensuring parks, forests, and wildlife refuges are protected and conserved for future generations. You will report to our CEO, work closely with the Government Relations Committee of the PLA Board of Directors, and build and sustain relationships across the political spectrum. You will plan, coordinate, and implement effective strategies to achieve legislative success on Capitol Hill and inform policy decisions with land management agency leadership. You will regularly engage with PLA member organizations – the nonprofit partners of America’s public lands – to enhance their capacity to advocate for their site-specific initiatives.

Duties

• Assist curator with the care, maintenance, and preservation of the museum collection in both exhibit and storage facilities
• Perform museum housekeeping including technical and delicate cleaning of objects that require special treatment and handling such as: glass, metals, ceramics, textiles, books, paintings, photographs, and furniture.
• Create and maintain manual and automated curatorial records which include accession records, catalog records, and inventories using the National Park Service systems.
   

Qualifications:

• 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 may be required to travel overnight away from home up to. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  Qualifications
  All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/04/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
• Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.
• To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
• EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of collections of museum material, or other experience related to the position to be filled. You must include hours per week worked. You must include hours per week worked.
  -OR-
  EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field. Related fields of study include art, history, museum studies, scientific subjects, or other courses related to the position to be filled. You must include transcripts.
  -OR-
  Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.
• 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
  To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
• If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Apply here. 

Title: Western Regional Trail Coordinator

Reports to: Director of Trail Operations

Location: Remote within North Dakota, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, in proximity to the NCT. Exact location TBD and flexible.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Classification: Full-Time

Salary: $60,000

To apply, submit an electronic resume and cover letter to hr@northcountrytrail.org by September 3, 2026.

At the North Country Trail Association we are driven by a set of core values which guide our actions, shape our culture and support our mission. We believe in fostering an environment where accountability, collaboration, excellence and inclusion thrive, and we are looking for individuals who share these values. Join our team and help us create a positive impact while growing both professionally and personally.

Position Summary: The Regional Trail Coordinator is responsible for furthering the development of the North Country National Scenic Trail within an assigned region. This position serves as the public face and voice that represents the Association locally and as the liaison between the North Country Trail Association and key regional partners. The role involves collaborating with staff, Chapters, Affiliates and partners, in addition to working closely with the National Park Service (the Federal Administrator of the trail) and local land managers.

Key Responsibilities

Partnerships

• Effectively builds relationships and represents NCTA with key agency partners, land managers, partner organizations, and the public for the purpose of promoting the trail, exchanging information, coordinating interagency involvement, identifying project plans and clarifying NCTA objectives.
• Works in close partnership with the National Park Service in all aspects of Trail Management.
• Foster and maintain strong effective relationships with NCTA Chapter Leaders and Affiliate organization staff to ensure seamless collaboration in the management of the NCNST.

Trail Management

• Assist in trail route planning, design and layout to ensure the NCNST is located and constructed sustainably, following the standards outlined in the NCNST handbook and the standards of land management partners.
• Lead and assist in ongoing assessment of existing trail segments to establish action plans for construction and routine maintenance needs.

Trail Planning and Protection

• Collaborate with NCTA staff, NPS and volunteers to plan and refine the route of the NCT-including responsibilities such as meeting facilitation, project management, prioritization, mapping and more.
• Work with Trail Protection staff and volunteers to advance trail/land protection efforts, including engaging landowners, building local partnerships, supporting land protection projects, and prioritizing regional needs.
• Review and provide strategic input on resource management plans, regional trail or development plans and policy framework development (local, state and federal) that may impact the NCNST.
• Secure necessary environmental permits and land manager special use applications to facilitate the development and management of the NCNST.
• Contribute to the development of policy guidance on a wide range of recreational, environmental, natural and cultural resource issues.

Volunteer Management

• Support Chapter and Affiliate leaders in setting annual priorities aligned with NCTA’s goals.
• Develop and deliver volunteer training in trail standards, construction, maintenance, crew leadership, etc. while contributing to the creation of training manuals, policies and procedures.
• Manage projects and provide field support to achieve NCTA’s priority trail maintenance, construction projects and protection goals.
• Connect volunteers with NCTA resources and staff, directing requests to the appropriate personnel.

GIS and Data Management

• Support GIS Program Manager with regional data management and map updates to advance trail management and protection efforts using ESRI software
• Collect or assist volunteers in collecting new GPS data and ground-truthing existing trail data.
• Utilize ArcGIS software to create detailed project maps.

Additional Duties

The Regional Trail Coordinator may also take on responsibilities such as advocacy, grant development and management, outreach and supporting the Director of Trail Operations and NCTA staff with additional projects as needed.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resources or a related field, or at least five years of professional experience in trail construction, volunteer management, group facilitation, and/or working with land management agencies.
• Familiarity with the National Trails System and National Scenic Trails.
• In-depth knowledge of land/resource management principles, trail design, construction, and maintenance and ability to train volunteers in these areas.
• Knowledge of NPS, US Forest Service, and other agency guidelines for land use, outdoor recreation, and trail management.
• Ability to assess and recommend mitigation for impacts to natural and cultural resources.
• Experience with GPS data collection and proficiency in ESRI’s ArcGIS Software.

Requirements of Work

• Exceptional project management skills with proven ability to timely results within scope.
• Experienced in leading meetings and facilitating productive group discussions with diverse stakeholders, fostering collaboration and engagement.
• Collaborative team player skilled in working with both internal and external teams to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Self-motivated and proactive, able to work independently with minimal supervision, maintaining effective communication and coordination with supervisor and other staff.

Supervisory Controls and Work Environment

• The employee is under the general supervision of the Director of Trail Operations but is responsible for independently determining, scheduling, and prioritizing their daily tasks. The duties of this position are a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, with work being performed in a wide variety of settings. Work will involve strenuous outdoor activities and requires the ability to:
• Work outdoors in remote settings and in inclement weather
• Lift up to 50 pounds
• Travel frequently and for multiple days at a time; including camping, hiking and backpacking in varied terrain.
• Perform manual trail work and utilize trail tools and equipment
• As a remote position, adequate home office space and internet access is necessary for this role. This position involves regular travel, including utilization of a personal vehicle and rental vehicles.
• This position offers a flexible schedule, including weekend and evening work as required to complete the necessary duties.

Benefits and Other Compensation

This position is eligible for NCTA employee benefits including paid time off, observation of all federal holidays, health insurance, flexible work environment and 403(b) participation with employer match.

To apply, submit an electronic resume and cover letter to hr@northcountrytrail.org by September 3, 2026.