Park Ranger (PSAR)
Job Location:
Bayfield, CO - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
This position is located in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in the Division of Visitor and Resource Protection.
Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as permanent appointments but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will be guaranteed 6 months of work the remainder of the year will be subject to availability of non-base funding.
The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is January - December but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions project needs or funding.
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:
- Analyzes evaluates and determines the most effective patrol routes for the parks Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) program accounting for the strategic goals and objectives of the park. Develops patrol guidelines and instructions for use by other staff members in the performance of regularly scheduled and special purpose PSAR patrols of various park resources.
- Conducts regularly scheduled and special purpose PSAR patrols of various park resources such as backcountry and/or wilderness areas park trails campgrounds parking lots shorelines rivers docks roads concessions etc. Independently determines new patrol routes for self and/or others and prepare for patrol(s) accounting for the specific needs topography and requirements of each patrol.
- Develops and presents a substantial variety of formal and informal PSAR-related educational programs and/or media using prescribed outlines guidelines and established educational practices techniques and tools delivered in-person and through educational media and technology.
- Serves as a member of a Search and Rescue (SAR) Team on events that may require trail response ground/hasty searches helicopter evacuations river rescues body recoveries and/or litter carries.
- Performs routine grounds and facility maintenance to keep park areas clean safe and welcoming.
- 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
- Pre-employment and random drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
- A physical examination will be required or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
- You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided
- You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC). On the job training will be provided.
- You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
- 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.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/06/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.
To receive credit for experience 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.Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level:
- Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience 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. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
- Education: Successful completion of at least 4 years college education with at least 24 semester hours of related course work. Related fields of study include natural resource management natural sciences earth sciences history archaeology 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. One year of education above high school is equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
- Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience first take the percentage of education completed then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.
To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level:
- Specialized Experience Requirement: 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 is defined as demonstrated experience: As a Park Ranger law enforcement; EMT or paramedic; 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 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 one year of graduate level study in directly related fields such as 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 emergency management or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
- Combination of education and experience. A combination of education and experience as described above.
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelors degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college university or major subdivision based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grad-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on 4 years of education or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place for example 2.95 3.0 2.94 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society.
To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:
- Specialized Experience Requirement: 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 is defined as demonstrated experience: Working in Emergency Medical Services Search and Rescue or Law Enforcement or investigative work Park Ranger or providing education and outreach Forestry and/or fire management work in a park recreation or conservation area and 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 such as volunteer administrative support.. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
- Education: Successful completion of at least a Masters degree or equivalent graduate degree or successfully completed at least two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree such as 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 emergency management or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources OR LL.B. or J.D. if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
- Combination of education and experience. A combination of experience as described above.
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name school name grades credit hours earned major(s) grade point average or class ranking and date the degree was conferred if applicable. A typed list of courses grades semester/quarter hours GPA etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications U.S. Department of Education. information Requirements Continued... 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. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office setting classroom in the field on trails and in remote backcountry or wilderness settings. Search and Rescue and EMS work involves frequent exposure to potentially dangerous situations and/or hazardous environments to include hazardous flight landings and takeoffs extreme outdoor weather conditions and/or exposure to communicable diseases. Various levels of personal protective clothing are required to perform functions safely. 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.
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.
This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position is: 90 miles of Bayfield WI. You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g. mortgage or property deed lease/rental agreement utility bill insurance policy etc.). See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence.
Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position existing work at the higher grade level and recommendation by the positions supervisor.
Physical Demands: The work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as climbing hiking and lifting heavy objects. Work may be performed on uneven steep rough slippery and/or rugged terrain. EMS and search and rescue involve walking long distances over rough terrain carrying heavy loads and using technical rescue equipment. Going without sleep for long periods of time is a common occurrence.
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 duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
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.
