Visitor Services Assistant (Seasonal)
Job Location:
Twentynine Palms, CA - USA
Hourly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Serve as representative to answer questions and offer guidance. Monitor sites and maintain relations with park partners and concessions while on roving patrols.
The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April - July but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions project needs or funding.
Anticipated Entry on Duty: March - July 2027.
Some positions filled may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Some of the Visitor Services Assistant Standard Duties include but are not limited to:
- Provide visitor services including patrol roving fixed post assignments and public programs.
- Participate in day-to-day operation of a seasonal contact station.
- Site monitoring and resource protection.
- Operates two-way radio equipment.
- Responds verbally to visitor inquiries offering information and guidance.
- Public can include individuals who are distressed confused frustrated difficult or even hostile.
- Monitors special use permits and maintains good relations with partner organizations concessions and stakeholders.
- Educates customers regarding rules regulations and safety concerns to ensure visitor safety and resource preservation.
- Direct visitors and the public with problems questions or complaints to appropriate resources.
- Assists in medical or other emergencies up to level of training.
Additional duties for GS-05:
- Provide informal interpretation and public orientation to a park or recreation area (e.g. current events resource management or environmental projects and overview of areas natural cultural and/or historical resources).
- Provide information to the public using information or materials on management policies and legislative updates on issues affecting the natural historical and/or cultural preservation of the area.
- Operate general computer software programs such as word processing spreadsheet or database (e.g. Excel Access Word or similar operating systems).
- Gather information from reporting parties concerning accidents/incidents within the area to notify appropriate personnel.
- Assess a situation to determine the appropriate response in accordance with policy guidelines.
- 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. One year of progressively responsible clerical office or other work that indicates your ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. General experience includes greeting the public disseminating information providing directions and fee collection.
-OR-
B. Two years of education above high school (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business secretarial or technical school junior college college or university.
-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 in the federal service. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. Specialized experience includes providing information or assistance to the public in a business or recreation setting; instructing groups of people or individuals; compiling and analyzing information to report; greeting the public disseminating information providing directions fee collection and using software programs such as word processing spreadsheet or database (e.g. Excel Access Word or similar operating systems).
-OR-
B. Four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business secretarial or technical school junior college college or university.
-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 (60 semester hours) will be creditable towards meeting specialized experience for the GS-05. For example if you have 80 semester hours of college coursework only 20 semester hours (those beyond 60 semester hours) will be used to qualify at the GS-05 level.
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 bending lifting of moderately heavy items and sedentary work is required. Mental stress and physical fatigue occur due to high volume of personal contacts.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is often performed in small outdoor structures with open windows which results in exposure to extreme temperatures rain snow wind and direct sunlight. Park areas may be geographically located in areas of high elevation rugged terrain or dense populations. High levels of vehicle noise and emissions may exist during heavy visitation periods. Duties may be performed alone in isolated locations.
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.
Required Experience:
Junior IC
