Professional Crew 2026 (Crew Members, Assistant Crew Leaders, Trail Crew Leaders)

Compensation: Members $23.00/hour, Assistant Trail Crew Leaders $24.00/hour, Trail Crew Leaders $24.50-25.50/hour, all positions are temporary, full-time, non-exempt

Priority application date: December 8, 2025

Season dates: Assistant & Leader: March 9 - Oct 9, 2026, Members: April 27 - October 9, 2026

Base of operations: WTA Packing Facility in North Bend, WA

About Washington Trails Association

Washington Trails Association (WTA) is the nation’s largest state-based trail nonprofit. For 60 years, we've been mobilizing public lands advocates, trail stewards and on-the-ground hiking experts in pursuit of our vision of Trails for Everyone, Forever. Each year, with the support of over 23,000 donating members, WTA staff and more than 3,500 volunteers perform over 160,000 hours of trail maintenance across the state. Through our online Hiking Guide and Trailblazer app, we help hundreds of thousands of people find trails, from everyday adventures to backcountry explorations. Our vision depends on fostering an organization and outdoor community where all people are welcome, represented and included.

About the Professional Crew opportunities

WTA seeks Crew Members, Assistant Crew Leaders and Trail Crew Leaders to join the Professional Crews (Pro Crew) to advance our mission to mobilize hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors to explore, steward and champion trails and public lands. The Pro Crew works statewide on a broad variety of trail projects.

Ideal candidates will be dependable, flexible and self motivated. They will love working outdoors with others in all weather, have prior experience with trail work, traveling in the backcountry and share our belief that everyone should feel safe and included in the outdoor community.

Professional Crew Location and schedule

The Pro Crew, consisting of Crew Members, Assistant Crew Leader and Trail Crew Leader will be based at the WTA Packing Facility in North Bend, WA. Employees are responsible for their own commute to and from North Bend at the start and end of each hitch or project day.

The Pro Crew will work in backcountry and frontcountry locations for multiple land managers throughout Washington State. The Pro Crew works primarily on an 8-day hitch schedule with six days off in between hitches. A typical work week is 40 hours and a typical 8-day hitch usually begins Wednesday and runs through the following Wednesday. Work days are 10 hours and may differ during the initial training period. There is an unpaid summer break from August 3-9, 2026.

A WTA vehicle will be provided for transportation to work parties from base location. Should a personal vehicle be used to fulfill program needs, mileage reimbursement is provided for travel between the work site and the base of operations (WTA Packing Facility), up to 250 miles round trip. Position is eligible for paid holidays, sick leave, health stipend and an employer match retirement plan. For more information on benefits, please visit our website at www.wta.org/benefits.

Learn more about the Crew Member - Pro Crew 2026

Learn more about the Assistant Trail Crew Leader - Pro Crew 2026

Learn more about the Trail Crew Leader - Pro Crew 2026

Join our team

Our hiring process

At WTA, we consistently evaluate and update our hiring process to align with current best practices for equity and inclusion. The hiring process for this role will include a phone screen, virtual panel interview and reference checks. WTA’s practice is to run a background check with the opportunity to discuss any results before final hiring decisions are made. If you have any questions or need accommodation in our recruitment process, please contact seasonaljobs@wta.org.

Equal opportunity

We believe WTA and Washington’s outdoor community are stronger when made up of people with varied backgrounds, identities, abilities and lived experiences. WTA is committed to advancing equity and continually working to become a more inclusive organization. People of color and people with other identities that are underrepresented in the outdoor industry — including but not limited to gender identity, class, sexual orientation, age, ability and background — are strongly encouraged to apply. To read our complete Equal Opportunity Employer statement, please visit www.wta.org/careers.

How to apply

Complete a brief application form and submit a resume to seasonaljobs@wta.org. Please use the following format for file names: “last name, first name - resume.”

If applying for Crew Member please use “Member - Pro Crew” in the subject line. If applying for Assistant Trail Crew Leader please use “Assistant Trail Crew Leader - Pro Crew” in the subject line. If applying for Trail Crew Leader please use "Trail Crew Leader - Pro Crew" in subject line.

All job descriptions can be found on our website.

The positions are open until filled, with priority given to applications received by December 8, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Liza Noworyta at lnoworyta@wta.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

A supplementary per diem of up to $50/day is provided for multi-day backcountry trips. WTA provides a $300 reimbursement to offset wear and tear on personal gear. Positions are eligible for paid holidays, sick leave, health stipend and an employer match retirement plan. For more information on benefits, please visit our website at www.wta.org/benefits.