FUL-Park Ranger (I)

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee the general operations of the Interpretive and Education team and programming including visitor center operations. Serve as first-line work lead (non-supervisory) to permanent and temporary staff and volunteers.
• Develops and present a variety of formal and informal interpretive programs to a wide variety of audiences; conduct research for interpretive programs; and develop social media posts for information education and interpretation.
• Work as part of a team of federal state and non-profit partners toward developing delivering and improving interpretive and educational programming including program evaluation and coaching. Maintain positive relationships with all manner of stakeholders and partners.
• Present information to a variety of community groups stakeholders park staff regional staff etc. on a variety of topics. Maintain positive relationships candor with staff the public and partners. Serve as point of contact for the parks VIP program.
• Must be able to work in a collaborative engaging and fun work environment. Communication and teamwork are absolutely essential.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Physical Demands: Requires some physical exertion and can involve extensive periods of standing and walking in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines outdoors or in caves and carrying backpacks tools rescue equipment or other loads. Some employees may engage in firefightingsearch and rescue and other strenuous activities; these employees may be required to lift or carry equipment weighing more than 50 pounds over long distances. Employees who participate in all-risk operations will be required to meet fitness requirements on a continuing basis.

Working Conditions: Can include moderate risks or discomforts that require safety precautions (e.g. exposure to extreme temperatures climates rough terrain wild animals pests and/or insects). The incumbent may be required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks boots gloves etc. Some employees may be engaged in all-risk operations and be exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations which require a range of safety and other precautions.

The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916 the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this countrys outstanding natural historical and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful satisfying and safe park experience help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation learning and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit possess and maintain a valid drivers license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You are required to complete training obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You may be required to work evenings weekends and holidays.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 1 night per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

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 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/07/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300 Subpart F.

For current Federal employees if hours worked per week are not included on your resume you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized 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 periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. 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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level:
Experience: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes duties such as interpretation park ranger park guide or tour group presenter; experience with working at a visitor center or public facing facility; environmental educator or teacher; archeological or historical preservation research with an emphasis on interpretation and public engagement; forestry and/or fire management work in a park with emphasis on public engagement recreation or conservation area; management assistant or program specialist work involving the public interpretation of related to protection conservation or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
Education: Successful completion of 4 years course of study above high school leading to a bachelors degree with 24 semester hours of related course work. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. Calculate your education and experience percentages by determining what percentage of the required amounts you possess. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level:
Experience: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes duties such as interpretation park ranger functioning as a team lead or tour leader; operations assistant for a visitor center or public facing facility; environmental educator or teacher at the elementary/middle school level or environmental education center; law enforcement work with moderate emphasis on public engagement and interpretation; archeological or historical preservation research work focused presenting interpretation presentations and/or producing written information for the general public; forestry and/or fire management work in a park recreation or conservation area; management assistant or program specialist work involving the development and/or implementation of interpretive materials related to protection conservation or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
Education: Successful completion of 1 full academic year of graduate education in natural resource management natural sciences earth sciences history archeology anthropology park and recreation management law enforcement/police science social sciences museum sciences business administration public administration behavioral sciences sociology or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources or superior academic achievement. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:
Experience: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).Specialized experience includes duties such as interpretation park ranger or tour leader; operations manager for a visitor center or public facing facility; environmental educator or teacher at a high school level or higher and/or experience as operations manager of an environmental learning center; law enforcement work with heavy emphasis on public engagement and interpretation; archeological or historical preservation research work focused on development and presentation of interpretation programs and/or producing written information for the general public; forestry and/or fire management work in a park recreation or conservation area with an emphasis on public engagement; management assistant or program specialist work involving the development and/or implementation of policy related to protection conservation or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
Education: Successful completion of at least 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree in natural resource management natural sciences earth sciences history archeology anthropology park and recreation management law enforcement/police science social sciences museum sciences business administration public administration behavioral sciences sociology or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. Calculate your education and experience percentages by determining what percentage of the required amounts you possess. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify. You must include transcripts.