Little Pend Oreille NWR Maintenance Assistant (2026)

Spend your days between the river and mountains of the Inland Northwest at Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge!

Volunteers needed for the following 6-month commitments: May - October 2026. Shorter, 3-month commitments (May-July, August-October) are also being considered.

This position assists the maintenance staff with various tasks and projects, including, but not limited to:

• mowing & weeding
• fencing repair
• parking lot maintenance
• campground maintenance
• tractor operation (seeding & disking)
• basic vehicle maintenance
• grounds keeping
• trail maintenance
• road maintenance
• carpentry

This position also supports the biology and visitor services programs, which may include:

• invasive plant removal
• native plant plantings
• supporting wildlife surveys
• making visitor contacts
• supporting guided visits from schools and groups

Desired (but not required) qualifications:

• Commercial Drivers License (CDL)
• ATV/UTV training
• Equipment operation training or experience
• Experience performing basic maintenance tasks
• Proficiency with hand and power tools
• Specialized trade experience welcome (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, welding)

This position is located at the headquarters area within Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, which also includes administrative offices, fire cache, and maintenance yard. To learn more about the refuge go to https://www.fws.gov/refuge/little-pend-oreille.

Environmental hazards include inclement weather, wildfire risk, and exposure to ticks.

Schedule is typically 4 days on and 3 days off. Day to day schedule varies. Couples will work the same days but may not have the same daily schedule. This position requires 24 hours/week per resident. Exact start and end dates negotiable. The ability to identify projects and work independently and/or mostly unsupervised is the most desired skill for this position.

The location of the refuge is about 60 minutes (54 miles) south of the Canadian border in the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains. The closest municipality is the town of Colville, WA, which hosts several grocery stores, a hospital, and other services. Nearby recreational opportunities include Lake Roosevelt NRA (30 minutes), Colville National Forest (1 hour), and Priest Lake State Park (2 hours). Several other parks, refuges, and public lands exist within a half-day's drive. Many of these locations have opportunities for hiking, water sports, and mountain biking. The city of Spokane, which includes an international airport, is approximately 2 hours away.

RV or motorhome utility hookups for electric, water, and sewage available. No propane.

When applying please provide contact information for three references. Two references should be professional. If applying as couple please provide both applicant names.

For questions about this position, please contact:

Cassie Roeder

Refuge Manager (Acting), Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge

cassandra_roeder@fws.gov

(509) 559-3021