Park Ranger (I)

You will serve as a Park Ranger (I) with National Park Service. The primary purpose of this position is to interpret resources to convey national significance; connect visitors to personal relevance; facilitate shared learning; and support specific learning objectives to meet educator and community needs. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Develop and deliver cohesive, audience-centered interpretive experiences-grounded in thorough, unbiased research; informed by multiple perspectives; designed to meet strategic park goals; and presented through a wide range of fully-developed techniques, media, and facilitation skills in both in-person and virtual settings. Engage the public through a range of formal programs and informal interactions that build intellectual and emotional connections to the meaning and relevance of park resources; use these contacts to understand audience needs and interests; evaluate the effectiveness of interpretive experiences; and apply data-driven insights to refine the overall program and recommend new techniques, topics, and approaches. Coordinate daily visitor facility operations by scheduling staff, overseeing and improving visitor services, maintaining adequate information materials, assessing and troubleshooting facility conditions, responding to public inquiries, and using evaluation data to recommend staffing adjustments and new visitor center features. Actively engage local communities through on- and off-site programming; build relationships with individuals and organizations; represent the park at public events; coordinate workshops and meetings; collaborate with volunteers, partners, and stakeholders; contribute to interagency and community teams; and support or assist in developing partnership networks and complementary interpretive or management plans. Coordinate special projects from inception to completion by drafting and managing proposals, timelines, and budgets; documenting project information; monitoring progress and communicating updates; ensuring compliance with requirements and standards; providing technical problem-solving support; and evaluating outcomes to confirm goals and objectives are met. Requirements Continued... 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-10/02/2026-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: Specialized Experience Requirement: At least one year of specialized experience from the public or private sector, equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park related work. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Park Guide or tour leader; environmental educator or teacher; 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. Your resume must include hours worked per week to receive credit for your specialized experience, or you will be found not qualified and removed from consideration for this position. • OR- Education: Successful completion of two years of graduate level study which is directly related to the work of the position. Examples of related education include but are not limited to; natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. Two years of graduate study is considered to be 36 semester hours. PLEASE NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of courses with credit hours and grades listed if you are using education to qualify. Official transcripts will be required upon selection. • OR- Combination of education and experience: A combination of specialized experience as described in A above and education as described in B above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience) and 18 graduate level semester hours (50% of the education). PLEASE NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of courses with credit hours and grades listed if you are using education to qualify. Official transcripts will be required upon selection. 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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary or 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary or 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 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Additional Requirements located under qualifications 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