Field Unit Local (FUL) Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Requirements Continued... 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/29/2026-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-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: Specialized Experience Requirement: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level (Note: Clerk, Assistant or Technician work in a single grade occupational series at the GS-05 level does NOT generally qualify for this position, however GS-06 level may) in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Experience that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. 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: developing and presenting independently researched programs; developing material for non-personal services and interpretive media; coordinating the operation of a visitor facility and/or information desk; assisting in coordinating special projects. -OR- Education: You have successfully completed one year of graduate-level education in a related field appropriate to the position.

Examples of major study areas include 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 provide transcripts. -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): as evidenced by one of the three following methods: I am in the upper third of my graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR I have a GPA 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in my major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR I am a member in one of the national scholastic honor societies. -OR- Combination: You have a combination of related graduate level education and appropriate specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.

For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement) and one-half year (9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours) described above that is directly related graduate level college study in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education). You must include hours worked per week on resume and include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: Specialized Experience Requirement: You possess at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Experience that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. 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: coordinating, evaluating or directing interpretive programs; assisting with developing long-range program plans; developing educational programs; and coaching/mentoring interpretive staff. -OR- Education: You have successfully completed two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education OR a master's/equivalent graduate degree related to the occupation.

Examples of major study areas include 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 submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education). -OR- Combination: You have a combination of related graduate level education and appropriate specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.

For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement) and one year (18 semester hours or 28 quarter hours) described above that is directly related graduate level college study in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education).

You must include hours worked per week on resume and include 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.

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Interpretation and Communication: Develops and presents formal interpretive experiences to engage the public, makes informal visitor contacts, produces a variety of interpretive media, and engages with various audiences through digital content.

Visitor Services and Facility Operation: Coordinates day-to-day operation of visitor facility, including developing work schedules, answering visitor questions, demonstrating effective customer service, providing visitor information through interpretive media, assessing facilities, and reporting damage or malfunctions.

Training and Education: Develops lesson plans for curriculum based education, delivers education programs in schools and in park, and coaches, mentors, or trains other park staff, interns, volunteers, or partners. Coordinate, develop and/or lead digital strategites and efforts to implement and sustain exiting/new media platforms.

Partner and Community Engagement: Maintains working relationships with organizations such as academic institutions and local government agencies, engages new audiences and communities, and represents the park in community events. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level (GS-9). National Park Service (NPS) Park Ranger (Interpretation): The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans.

Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery.

Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources.

National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.