Park Guide (Seasonal)
Job Location:
Garfield, NJ - USA
Hourly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Park Guides greet visitors to educate and inform them in our National Parks. Work can include providing information on natural cultural or historical resources.
Anticipated Season: March - September 2027.
Open to the first 750 applicants.
Applicants must be submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the 10/26/2026 to be considered.
For more park(s) information select Learn more about this agency below:
Some of the Park Guide Standard Duties include but are not limited to:
- Staff information counter in a visitor center.
- Answering questions on a variety of subjects.
- Present limited and repetitive pre-established talks including introductions to films map talks and static exhibit interpretation.
- Orient hikers to conditions and equipment needs.
- Guide small parties (up to 20 people) on short walks.
- Some park locations issue backcountry camping permits and provide backcountry camping information.
Additional duties for GS-5:
- Performs duties including programs that require application of broad subject-matter knowledge of the park.
- Guide large groups (up to 50 people) on longer walks or programs.
- Provide a wide range of services to park visitors.
- Orient and explain current park events and warn of safety hazards.
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
- Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
- Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
- Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
- You may 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/or shift work.
- You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
- You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid drivers license will be required in such cases.
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.
- You may be required to complete training obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
- You 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.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience your 2 page 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 must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the Resume under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating the event you submit more than one resume only the latest submission will be reviewed.
To qualify for this position at the GS-04 level you must possess one of the following:
A. Six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience for a total of one year of experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the applicants 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. Examples of general experience include but are not limited to: selling merchandise collecting and accounting for fees or other monies greeting visitors disseminating information providing directions or other work which required dealing with people on a recurring basis and that indicates the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of this position. 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 park guide or tour leader naturalist environmental educator or teacher or other similar work.
-OR-
B. Successfully completed two years of study above high school (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours) which included at least 12 semester hours in subjects such as American History science and/or public speaking.
-OR-
C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that together equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 level you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level. 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 park guide or tour leader naturalist environmental educator or teacher or other similar work.
-OR-
B. Successfully completed four years of study above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelors degree with courses related to the occupation such as American History science public speaking parks and recreation education or communications.
-OR -
C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that together equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. Note: only education in excess of what is required for the GS-04 grade (60 semester hours) will be creditable toward the GS-05 grade when substituting education for experience. For example 90 semester hours of college coursework will meet 50% of qualification requirements (30 semester hours beyond what is required for the GS-04 grade is equivalent to 6 months of experience).
Note: This position includes money handling preference for optional consideration. Money handling requires a higher background check.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.
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.
To qualify based on education you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name school name credit hours course level major(s) and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and that (1) deemed your education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or (2) given full credit for courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
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 salary range on this vacancy does not grant an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.
Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE 1039 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402b7) based on series and grade anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment combined total of 1039 hours during that period you are still welcome to apply. However please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.
The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1039 hours unless granted an exception by OPM.
*This position may be filled under a temporary seasonal appointment not-to-exceed 1560 hours rather than 1039 hours depending on the park and program*
Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels project needs employee performance or other considerations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Standing for long periods of time walking for distances up to six miles daily climbing and descending steep inclines bending and lifting moderately heavy items in a repetitive motion is required. Mental stress and physical fatigue occur due to high volume of personal contacts occasional emergency responses and repetitive nature of interpretive programs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed indoors at the visitors center as well as in outdoor areas resulting in exposure to extreme temperatures rain snow wind and direct sunlight.
All Department of Interior (DOI) employees their spouses and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim permit lease small tract entry or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here 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.
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.
