Deputy Chief of Visitor and Resource Protection (Law Enforcement)

As the Deputy Chief Ranger you will:

• Provide leadership to the division working with the Chief Ranger to identify priorities and set work goals.
• Plan projects to enhance the overall efficacy of the division and evaluate the results to determine success and next steps.
• Manage human resources by insuring all employees receive required training in a timely manner and are provided routine and consistent coaching and mentoring to elevate performance.
• Exercise financial management by planning and allocating budget monies from multiple fund sources and adjusting schedules organizational structure and project priorities in the face of changing financial conditions.
• Utilize technical competence to apply law policy and guidance in the execution of duties.

• Everglades National Park official website: County and the Florida Keys: Monroe County FL - Official Website Official Website
• Miami Dade County Chamber of Commerce: of employment
  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Subject to pre-employment physical and drug testing.
  • Must possess a Type I Law Enforcement Commission.
  • New employees of the Department of the Interior must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of net pay within 30 days of entrance on duty.
  • Any individual who is currently holding or has held within the previous 52 weeks a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
  • Selectee(s) will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.
  • Selectee(s) must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Appointment will be subject to the applicants successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to addition this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • Prior to appointment you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision hearing cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.

  Qualifications

  Requirements Continued...

  • Prior to appointment the people selected for these positions must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties pass a medical examination and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment selectees will be tested in all five components and must pass the agility run bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid drivers license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operators License and Driving Record. You must also 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 disclose all valid drivers licenses whether current or past possessed by you.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call evenings weekends holidays overtime and shift work.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
  • The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.
  • You must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
  • You must support and enforce a drug-free work environment.
  As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
  
  This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest meet the organization goals and mission of the agency and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the determining if your employment advances the public interest the agency will consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
  Under applicable law the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies in writing that the individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period such appointments are terminated.
  
  Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  
  Qualifications:
  All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/09/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
  
  Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees if hours worked per week are not included on your resume you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees your resume must state either full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.
  
  For periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
  
  Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:
  • Must currently possess have previously held (within the past three years) or be able to obtain a valid Type I (permanent) National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission by 02/09/2026.
    • You must provide documentation of your commission or ability to obtain a Type I commission by the closing date of this announcement with your application to receive credit. Scans of commissions with expiration date visible and pictures redacted or notation of commission number and expiration date in your resume are examples of acceptable documentation.
    • More information can be found in the Education section of this job announcement.
  • This is a secondary/administrative position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans preference eligible in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.
  - AND -
  
  Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
  • EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS 12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience could include: Park Guide or tour leader; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park recreation or conservation area; management assistant or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection conservation or management of park areas or similar operations; providing advice to senior management on law enforcement visitor and resource protection and fire protection; providing leadership and oversight for organizing planning directing. coordinating and reviewing all visitor and resource protection programs in a park; leading/managing a division or park with a large complex interdisciplinary staff; or managing a portfolio of program responsibilities which include providing fees and law enforcement services to a park unit. You must include hours per week worked.

  Education

  Qualifications Continued...
  
  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.
  
  Law Enforcement Commission: This position requires applicants to possess have previously held (within the past three years) or be able to possess by 02/09/2026 a valid Type I (permanent) National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission which requires completing training from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) including a Ranger Specific Basic Training Program and an NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program.
  
  Education:
  There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at this grade level.
  
  Additional Information:
  Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position grade level and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment OF-306 prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work. Also you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code Title 18 section 1001).

  A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
  
  A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent temporary or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

  A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and as such may be granted in conjunction with one another.
  
  This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

  Additional information

  Physical Demands: Work is primarily in an office environment but may involve periods of strenuous activity when involved in field activities. Incumbent must maintain good physical condition and be able to pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) or applicable standards outlined in Directors Order/Reference Manual-57 NPS Occupational Medical Standards Health and Fitness. Work demands range from moderate periods of office work (walking standing sitting and lifting) to strenuous periods of extreme physical and mental activity. Incumbent must be capable of lifting objects up to 50 pounds hiking through water with high temperatures and humidity with a heavy backpack use of ATVs/UTVs/vessels/aircraft and being outside for extended periods during hot cold or inclement weather in all hours of the day.

  
  Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office environment and in the field which involves everyday risks and discomforts requiring normal safety precautions typical of office settings meeting and training rooms and passenger vehicles. Incumbent must also work in environments outside of office settings and require work outdoors day or night in all types and conditions of weather and terrain. Prolonged periods of rigorous physical exertion may be required when responding to law enforcement incidents search and rescue fire and other emergency and all risk operations. Large segments of supervision involve hazardous and potentially life-threatening situations. Working with enforcement actions and search and rescue incidents in hazardous outdoor terrain creates significant hazard conditions that must be constantly monitored and factored into decisions. The general work environment varies from office settings to unsafe terrain conditions.
  
  The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
  
  This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected they will be placed in the regular retirement system. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position.

  Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.