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Park Ranger (Recent Graduate)


Job Location:

Napa, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 50925 - 50925
Posted: 6 October 2026 (4 days ago)
Application Deadline: 3 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Park Ranger (Recent Graduate). You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.


Duties

  • Rule Enforcement and Safety: Maximize safe visitor enjoyment of facilities and water recreation. Conducts regular and frequent patrols by vehicle or on foot in heavily-used recreation areas in order to serve as a point of contact for a variety of guests. Advise guests and persuade them to come into compliance with park rules and regulations to deter unsafe behavior and damage to federal property.
  • Visitor Services: Staff and maintain visitor contact posts including the Dufer Point Visitor Center and Oak Shores Day Use Area Entrance Station. Provide basic maintenance including facility cleaning and dispersed trash pickup. Assists with planning and implementing programs and events.
  • Natural Resource Management: Engages in trail work recreation improvements and resource restoration activities.
  • Emergency Assistance: Administers first aid and supplies emergency assistance while coordinating with first responders.
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements
Conditions of employment

    • 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 have and maintain a valid drivers license throughout employment.
    • You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
    • Pre-employment and random drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
    • You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC).
    • Must possess or obtain certification in First-Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) issued through the Red Cross or American Heart Association.
    • You are 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.
    Recent Graduate applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement 08/27/2026.

    To be eligible you must meet one of the following:
    1. A student that has completed within the previous two years a qualifying associates bachelors masters professional doctorate vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. Certain exceptions to the two-year limitation will be made for veterans who due to military service obligations were precluded from applying to the Program during the two-year eligibility period. OR
    2. An individual who has completed a qualifying career or technical education program which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs Job Corps Climate Corps AmeriCorps and Peace Corps or specific Volunteer Service Programs.
    Qualifications

    Requirements Continued...

    • Recent Graduates will enter a formal training program with a mentor and execute an Individual Development Plan outlining training requirements and program expectations.
    • Recent Graduates must receive at least 40 hours of formal training directly linked to their employment field.
    • Recent Graduates will be required to sign a Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement.

    Qualifications:

    All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/27/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

    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-04 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. Experience may have been in technical administrative or scientific work fish and wildlife management recreation management law enforcement or other park related work. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Park guide environmental education or tour leader 2) Law enforcement or conducting patrols to check conditions at various areas; 3) Archeological or historical preservation research work 4) Forestry and/or fire management work in a park recreation or conservation area. 5) 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. -OR-
    • Education: Successful completion of at least a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelors degree with 24 semester hours of coursework in a related field of study. Related fields of study include: natural resource management natural sciences earth sciences history archeology anthropology park and recreation management law enforcement/police science criminal justice 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. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled. NOTE: You must include transcripts. -OR-
    • Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience first take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Then divide your semester hours of undergraduate education by 60. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. For example I have 6 months of the specialized experience described in A above (50% of the experience requirement) and 3 years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified in B above (50% of the related coursework required). NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelors degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. You must include hours per week and transcripts.
    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.
    Education

    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

    Individuals serving in Recent Graduate appointments may be non-competitively converted to a permanent position with the Bureau of Reclamation upon successful completion of the program but conversion is neither promised nor guaranteed. To be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position these Recent Graduates must also:

    If converted to a permanent or term appointment the anticipated target position is Park Ranger full performance level GS; however that may change based on the need of the organization at that time. The full performance level of the target position will be dependent on the type of position and will be determined at the time of conversion. Recent Graduates converted to a term position in the competitive service may subsequently be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition.

    Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

    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.

    As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

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

    The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

    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.

    Review our 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.