Park Ranger (Interpretation)

You will serve as a Park Ranger with Fort Washington Park. The purpose of this position is to interpret resources to convey national significance; connect visitors to personal relevance; facilitate shared learning; support specific learning objectives to meet educator and community needs; inform the public for compliance and safety; support management of natural and cultural resources representative of national heritage; and enhance mutual understanding for individual and social benefit. Some of the major duties you will perform at the full performance level (GS-9) include but are not limited to the following: Interpretation and Communication- develop and deliver formal programs, informal visitor contact, and digital media Visitor Services- coordinate daily operation of Visitor Center, volunteer programs, etc. Training- train, mentor, coach, and evaluate a broad range of interpretive programs Education- develop and deliver in-park, off-site, and/or virtual education programs that tie NPS resources to education standards Safety- promote personal, visitor, and staff safety by including risk assessments in all decisions and actions Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level (GS-7). Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement • 10/01/2026-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. Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s), you will be rated not qualified: Historic Weapons Supervisor Certification • AND- Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: 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 is defined as demonstrated experience: Coordinate (under guidance of a supervisor) education programs. Develop in-park, off-site, and virtual education programs that tie park resources to national, state, and local standards. Track, report and analyze visitor use statistics to improve visitor services and programs. Assist in coordinating special projects, such as special events, youth initiatives, teacher workshops, and regional committees, at all stages. Provide world class customer service to all visitors, staff, volunteers, contractors, partners, and stakeholders. (Note: One grade interval work such as guide, clerk, assistant or technician work (Park Guide or Visitor Services Assistant) in a single grade occupational series at the GS-05 level does NOT qualify for this position, however GS-06 level experience may). You must include hours per week worked. Please also include the grade level of any federal positions. • OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 1 full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation or superior academic achievement. Education related to the position includes a major study 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 of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience, first determine percentage of education requirement satisfied (example 1 semester of graduate study completed would be 50% of the one-year requirement). 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 hours per week and transcripts. Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's 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) Grade-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 the 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: 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 is defined as demonstrated experience: Conducts a wide range of interpretive projects and assignments using fully developed interpretive skills, techniques, and tools to address diverse program needs. Delivers varied formal interpretive programs and uses visitor feedback, surveys, and other evaluation methods to adjust program content and recommend improvements. Engages diverse audiences through digital platforms, creating and adapting content to extend interpretive reach. Facilitates dialogue and audience participation in digital environments, applying established engagement and communication techniques. Develops interpretive media products-waysides, signs, digital content, and exhibits-and writes clear, accessible interpretive and informational content. (Note: One grade interval work such as guide, clerk, assistant or technician work (Park Guide or Visitor Services Assistant) in a single grade occupational series at the GS-07 level does NOT qualify for this position, however GS-08 level experience may). You must include hours per week worked. Please also include the grade level of any federal positions. • OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the occupation. Education related to the position includes a major study 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 of education and experience as listed above. To combine education and experience, first determine percentage of education requirement satisfied (example 27 semester hours of graduate study completed would be 50% of the two-year requirement; note that only graduate level education beyond the first year can be combined with experience). 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 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. Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Driver's License: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Uniform: You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. Government Charge Card: You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel authority. Probationary Period: 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 service. In 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 individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications