Position type: Full Time, Non-Exempt, Subject to furlough
Reports to: Director of Wilderness Operations
Location: Yosemite Valley / Yosemite National Park
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 Coordinator 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. The Coordinator takes a leadership role among team members, training and leading assistants in providing high quality wilderness education and customer service. This position works in close coordination with the Director and NPS colleagues to support daily operations of the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center, the Bear Canister Rental Program, Ostrander Ski Hut, and assists 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 Coordinator reports to the Director of Wilderness Operations and is responsible for:
Leads:
- Train new staff to operate the Recreation.gov booking software and the Wilderness Permit Reservation System on behalf of Yosemite National Park Service.
- Distribute daily workload among team members and monitor progress to ensure accurate completion of permit reservation review and Wilderness Center tasks. Verify recording of daily metrics for reports.
- Coordinate with NPS Canister Ranger to track and manage bear canister inventory in remote duty stations across the park through the summer season. Advise replenishment of supplies and inventory.
- Coordinate with NPS to maintain adequate staff coverage in the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center throughout the summer season.
- Provide elevated staff support to manage visitor escalations and serve as NPS Point of Contact and acting supervisor when the Director is out of office.
- Train Wilderness Center staff to operate Shopify Point of Sale System. Stock and sell merchandise at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center.
- Stay apprised of current conditions and operational changes, ensuring pertinent information is disseminated to all colleagues in a timely manner.
- Review and process wilderness permit lotteries and reservations with thorough understanding of the wilderness trails and land use regulations.
- Communicate complex information to wilderness users and the public over phone, help desk, 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 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 including water availability, bear activity, work needed and resources at risk.
Supports:
- Seasonal opening and closing of the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center and Ostrander Ski Hut.
- Assist NPS Wilderness staff with the in-person issuance of wilderness permits in the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center and other permit issuing stations throughout Yosemite National Park.
- Curate Wilderness Center merchandise in coordination with Retail to ensure inventory is pertinent to wilderness users and drive sales growth.
- Coordinate winter frontline staff for year-round maintenance of the Bear Canister Rental Program and assist with revising relevant documents and procedures.
- Support Ostrander Ski Hut online reservations and maintain updated Standard Operating Procedures.
- Assist Ostrander Ski Hut logistics, including mule packing for all supplies, firewood and propane.
- Provide trip planning assistance to guests of the Ostrander Ski Hut, communicating hut information and local conditions that will impact travel to the Hut.
- Maintain an expert level of Yosemite Wilderness knowledge and monitor multiple information streams for accuracy and to identify emerging use trends.
- Assist in troubleshooting technical issues and supporting contingency plans during system failures and outages. Compile reports of software bugs to recommend system improvements.
- Coordinate with YC and NPS colleagues to ensure official online content and external communications are consistent and up to date, in keeping with current conditions and administrative changes.
- Identify opportunities to improve existing processes and new opportunities for program growth.
- Assist with new staff onboarding and offer feedback to inform staff evaluations.
- Record and verify revenue and other metrics for program reports.
- Assist with seasonal meetings and trainings.
- 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 organization, time management, critical thinking, problem solving, data entry and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to lead others and to independently prioritize, plan, lead and monitor multiple tasks.
- Strong office administration and computer skills, and ability to learn new software and technology.
- Computer proficiency, especially Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).
- Ability to master Recreation.gov, FlyBook, Shopify and Microsoft Access.
- Excellent multi-year working knowledge of Yosemite National Park Wilderness and Wilderness Regulations including trails, routes and travel.
- Highly competent at self-reliant wilderness travel and the ability to educate others in how to do so.
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.
- Excellent communication and relationship skills with a variety of partners and colleagues.
- Independent self-starter who displays initiative in taking on new projects.
- Ability to defuse tense situations with empathy and professionalism, fostering an environment where dissatisfied visitors feel heard and supported.
- Conveying patience and poise through excellent written and verbal communication.
- 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.
- Patrols 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 rough, uneven terrain.
- 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 full-time position is year-round, non-exempt, with a 4-week furlough. Compensation is $25-26/hour. This position is based primarily in-person at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center in Yosemite National Park. Minimal teleworking is possible but will depend on in-park operational needs. Housing may be available.
We also offer excellent benefits, including:
- 11 annual holidays and 2 floating personal days
- 100% paid premiums for employee health insurance
- vision and dental insurance
- basic life insurance
- vacation and sick leave
- retirement program and contribution (following one year of employment)
- annual National Parks pass
How to Apply
Please apply through our online application system. The deadline to submit your application is November 21, 2025.
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).
Writing Exercise
To help us assess your communication style, please provide draft email responses to each of the two Help Desk scenarios below. Show professionalism, clarity, and understanding of wilderness regulations. Because this role receives many inquiries daily, responses should be concise while still reflecting your voice.
Scenario 1
Name: Jean-Luc Picard
Message: I got the permit to hike Red Peak Pass in early June. I received a warning from you all saying that conditions for that route would be potentially snowy at that time of year. I thought June was summertime! Where can I go instead?
Scenario 2
Name: Kathryn Janeway
Message: I am confused by the new permitting system for Half Dome. I used to be able to request a Half Dome permit in my wilderness application, now there is no mention of it. I am happy to hike Half Dome in a day or overnight! Can you please explain it to me?
