NPS/S. Barrier Photo: Aviation
National Park Week - sPark Opportunities
“Wow, you are so lucky to work here!” Whenever we hear this sentiment from a visitor, we can’t help but agree! Working in a national park as beautiful as Mount Rainier is truly amazing.
Have you ever thought about the people behind the scenes who help keep this park open? Or have you ever considered working at a national park? Jobs can range from part-time volunteer work to student interns to housekeepers to permanent federal employees. In a national park the size of Mount Rainier, we have nearly any job you might encounter in a small-sized city, plus some fun extras!
NPS/D. Robinson Photo: Park Ranger at Sunrise.
The National Park Service employs approximately 150 year-round employees and an additional 150 seasonal employees in the summer here at Mount Rainier. Job openings are announced online at https://www.usajobs.gov/. Seasonal jobs often go live online the season prior to employment (for example, summer job openings are announced the fall/winter before). Mount Rainier National Park hosts a unique range of positions including Wildlife Technicians, Climbing Rangers, Geologists, Law Enforcement, Recreational Fee Technicians, Interpretation, Budget Technicians, Carpenters, Roads Crew, and more.
NPS/B. Henricksen Photo: Rangers and Astronomy Interns pointing lasers at the night sky during a summer Star Party ranger program.
Students ranging in age from 15-35 years old can find a variety of internship and fellowship programs with the National Park Service. Two programs offered most summers at Mount Rainier National Park include the Youth Conservation Corps (15-18 years old) trail maintenance work and the Scientists in Parks Program (18 years old and up) astronomy interns. Learn more about national internship and youth programs.
NPS Photo: Trail crew volunteers working on trail maintenance.
Mount Rainier’s Volunteers In Parks (VIP) program provides meaningful service opportunities for hundreds of volunteers who commit thousands of hours every year to protecting our natural and cultural resources and providing a positive visitor experience. We seek to provide an avenue for people to connect with the park on a deeper level while developing skill sets, building community, and practicing stewardship through projects that support the park’s mission. Here at Mount Rainier our volunteers are a vital part to our operations and overall success. Discover volunteer opportunities by visiting https://www.nps.gov/mora/getinvolved/volunteer.htm.
Rainier Guest Services operates concessions properties at Mount Rainier National Park, including the National Park Inn and Paradise Inn. Rainier Guest Services hires year-round and seasonal employees in all facets of customer service, including Cook, Server, Front Desk Clerk, General manager, Host, Housekeeper, and more. Additional information can be found at https://mtrainierguestservices.com/about-us/careers/.
Mount Rainier National Park is lucky to have the support of our park partners. Our partners include Washington’s National Park Fund, Discover Your Northwest, Washington Trails Association, Mount Rainier Visitor Association, VisitRainier, Nisqually River Council, Puyallup River Watershed Council, Chinook Scenic Byway, and the White Pass Scenic Byway. To read more about each of our park partners, the work they do for Mount Rainier, and employment opportunities, visit https://www.nps.gov/mora/getinvolved/partners.htm.
To learn more about various employment opportunities at national park sites, visit https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/workwithus.htm.
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