Wilderness Operations Assistant (Summer Season)

Yosemite Conservancy Wilderness Operations team partners directly with the Yosemite National Park Wilderness Branch to manage the Wilderness Permit Reservation System on Recreation.gov. Applications for Wilderness Permit Reservations exceed 200,000 each year, and every Wilderness Permit Reservation made prior to a visitor’s arrival in Yosemite National Park undergoes a rigorous review process by the Yosemite Conservancy team.

The Wilderness Operations Assistant reports to the Director of Wilderness Operations and supports the full scope of Yosemite National Park’s Wilderness Education Program and Yosemite Conservancy’s Ostrander Ski Hut. This role provides high quality wilderness education and trip planning to visitors by conducting a thorough permit reservation review process, staffing a public assistance phone line, answering online help desk queries, issuing wilderness permits, maintaining the Bear Canister Rental Program, communicating vital information regarding current conditions and road or trail closures due to fire, wildlife concerns and other causes, and assisting wilderness operations more broadly, including scheduled time patrolling and working in wilderness areas.

The Yosemite Conservancy Wilderness Operations team consists of up to five team members who all report to the Director of Wilderness Operations. Our office is a vibrant hybrid space that encourages and implements innovative ideas, fostering a collaborative work environment that is responsive to the feedback and needs of visitors and colleagues alike. This role works closely with many National Park Service (NPS) Wilderness Rangers where a supportive team-oriented culture is essential to our collective success. Our goal is to facilitate an exceptional wilderness experience for the visitor while balancing their safety and enjoyment with the protection of fragile wilderness resources.

Who We Are

We're passionate about Yosemite — and about helping all people connect with, learn about, and take care of the park. As a member of the Conservancy team, you'll be making a difference for Yosemite every day. We work together to provide enriching visitor programs and services, and to support projects that protect wildlife, restore trails and habitat, advance scientific research, inspire visitors, and much more.

What You Will Do

The Wilderness Operations Assistant reports to the Director of Wilderness Operations and is responsible for:

Leads:

• Operate Wilderness Permit Reservation System on behalf of Yosemite National Park Service and the Recreation.gov booking software.
• Review and process wilderness permit lotteries and reservations with thorough understanding of the wilderness trails and land use regulations.
• Communicate complicated and sometimes sensitive information to the public and visitors over phone, helpdesk, and email, providing outstanding customer service regarding the permit system and trip planning.
• Advise visitors on trip planning and navigating the Wilderness Permit Reservation System, including lotteries for wilderness permits and Half Dome permits for day hikers, issuing permits, and sharing comprehensive knowledge of the Yosemite Wilderness with prospective permit holders.
• Provide specific Leave No Trace (LNT) and Preventative Search And Rescue (PSAR) messaging to inform visitors of concerns such as snow levels, high creek crossings, water availability, fire restrictions, trail or road closures, park regulations, special equipment needs and special resource sensitivities.
• Serve as an expert point of contact for NPS Wilderness personnel using Recreation.gov software, maintaining a supportive relationship for NPS colleagues.
• Occasionally patrol trails, either on foot, ski or snowshoe, to increase familiarity with wilderness areas and report field conditions.

Supports:

• Monitor multiple online resources for accuracy and accessibility and moderating content in keeping with current conditions and administrative changes.
• Support the maintenance of the Bear Canister Rental program.
• Record revenue and daily visitor contacts for reports.
• Provide trip planning assistance to guests of the Ostrander Ski Hut, communicating hut information and local conditions that will impact travel to the Hut.
• Other duties as assigned.

Who You Are / Keys to Success (the must-haves)

To be successful in this job, you will excel in these areas:

Requirements:

• High School Diploma.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• At least one year of relevant experience.
• Hiring contingent on successful completion of government background check.

Hard skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong working knowledge of Yosemite National Park and the Yosemite Wilderness Regulations, trails network and routes of Yosemite Wilderness, and an eagerness to expand upon this knowledge.
• Strong organization, time management, critical thinking, problem solving, data entry and attention to detail.
• Computer proficiency, especially Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Ability to learn and master new software and technology including Recreation.gov, FlyBook, Shopify and Microsoft Access. Training will be provided.
• Ability to independently prioritize, plan, lead and monitor multiple tasks.

Soft skills:

• Strong customer service orientation coupled with a genuine care and love of wilderness and the desire to share this joy with others.
• Commitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of the Yosemite Conservancy and to advancing a culture of inclusion in the organization and in Yosemite.
• Proactive, capable, and comfortable working independently and in a group setting.
• Conveying patience and poise through excellent written and verbal communication.
• Defusing tense situations with empathy and professionalism, fostering an environment where dissatisfied visitors feel heard and supported.
• Fun and flexible creative thinker with a sense of humor.

Working Conditions

• Primarily desk-/computer-based when supporting regular office operations and the Wilderness Center.
• Must have sufficient internet capability to perform duties during periods of telework
• May patrol in remote wilderness locations where there is regular and recurring exposure to extreme temperatures or adverse weather conditions with extensive periods of standing and walking over potentially rough terrain.
• May possess and maintain comprehensive, current knowledge of Yosemite’s trail networks in lieu of performing patrols.
• Lift and carry objects weighing up to 30 pounds when moving supplies.

What Else You Should Know

We value diversity among our staff just as we value it among park visitors. As such, Yosemite Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage people of all backgrounds to apply to join our team.

This position is full-time 32-40 hours per week and based in the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center in Yosemite National Park. The anticipated work season is late April through October 2026. Housing may be available. The pay rate is $20 per hour commensurate with experience. 40 hours of sick leave is included for the season. Scheduled time off must be agreed upon before hiring.

How to Apply
Your application must include one PDF that contains your cover letter, resume, and your responses to the Writing Exercise below. Please incorporate your responses into the same document as your cover letter and resume (no separate files).Please no phone calls or emails. Deadline for application materials is March 16, 2026.

Writing Exercise: Please provide an email response to the following help desk queries that demonstrates your understanding of wilderness while emphasizing your pith and helpfulness. Keep in mind that you will answer dozens of these each day. Brevity is your friend but do showcase your writing style.

Scenario 1
Name: Tom Smith
Message: I got the wilderness permit for Yosemite Falls trailhead in June but just received an email from your office that says I can’t hike Half Dome with this permit? Hiking Half Dome is my dream! Why can’t I hike Half Dome with my permit?

Scenario 2
Name: Simone Simmons
Message: Do you have any suggestion on alternate start points that can access the JMT? I realize obtaining a permit is difficult and I have been unsuccessful in the weekly lottery for the Happy Isle and Lyell Canyon permits, even with utilizing the full date ranges. Is there any other start point that would be available besides Mt Whitney?