Seasonal Park Guide-Contiguous to Area

As a uniformed employee of the National Park Service you will work primarily in the visitor center for the South Unit of the Badlands National Park and are responsible for daily visitor center operations.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Serves as a front-line representative providing informal interpretive opportunities and formal interpretive programs such as walks talks multimedia demonstrations and childrens programs. Programs are prepared and developed using original research into primary and secondary source materials based on park themes and planning documents.
• Provides visitors with accurate information on park resources and cultural history as well as safety and access information for the surrounding region.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Incidental Driving: You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists) you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued drivers license that is current and has not been revoked suspended canceled or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued drivers license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation and again every year or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities) and at your own expense all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid drivers licenses whether current or past possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State drivers license.
• Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Government Housing: Housing may be available.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/06/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position starting and ending dates of employment (month/year) and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e. work 40 hours a week rather than indicating full-time). If part-time the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: Possess six (6) months of General Experience and six (6) months of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-03 level. General Experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized Experience is experience that involved oral presentation of historical scientific or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical historical or scientific information for oral presentation to groups. Examples of specialized experience could include but are not limited to Park Guide or tour leader; docent; museum or observatory guide; teaching assistant; or other similar work. (Excess specialized experience can be substituted for general experience; but excess general experience cannot be substituted for required specialized experience.) Your resume must include the hours you performed these duties per week.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of two years of education above high school (60 semester hour or 90 quarter hours) which includes at least 12 semester hours of directly related courses such as in American history science public speaking. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example I have 3 months of general and 3 month of specialized experience or 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify) which included at least 6 semester hours of related courses such as American history science public speaking (50% of the directly-related courses required). Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. Your resume must include the hours you performed these duties per week.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community student social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.