Park Ranger (Protection)

Requirements Continued... 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Temporary Promotion - Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service).

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

01Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/14/2026-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. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years) a valid Type 1 National Park Service Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by 11/14/2026. More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement. This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C.

8412(d) (FERS). In addition to the qualifying experience and/or education described above, applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 11/14/2026. Candidates must currently be a credentialed Field Training Officer for the NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program. Applicants must have attended a NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) Training Officer Course.

The two NPS-approved courses of instruction are the NPS FTEP Training Course and the DHS FLETC FTEP Training Officer Course. Candidates must have completed one of the two courses by 11/14/2026 in order to qualify as a Field Training Officer. -AND- Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:.

02Experience

To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GL-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated: substantial prior primary law enforcement experience either inside or outside the Federal government which includes experience in investigating, apprehending or detaining criminals or criminal suspects.

You must include hours per week worked on your resume -OR- Education: Successfully completed three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, or a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree at an accredited college or university, in a field of major study that is directly related to the work of the position such as: 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.

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 a copy of your academic transcripts with your application if qualifying on education. -OR- Combination of education and specialized experience as described above.

To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours in excess of 36 semester hours by 18, or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. They must equal at least 100% to qualify using this option.

Note: You must include a copy of your academic transcripts with your application if qualifying on education and you must include hours per week worked on your resume. Temporary Promotion Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates applying for a temporary promotion, must meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade qualification requirements.

Detail Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates must meet qualification requirements, however, candidates are not required to meet the time-in-grade qualification requirements of this position. Details also apply to current employees who hold the full performance level of the position (GS-11) or higher grade level on a permanent basis. While on detail, the employee continues to hold their official position from which detailed and keeps the same status and grade.

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.

This position requires substantial prior primary law enforcement experience either inside or outside the Federal government (e.g. investigating, apprehending, or detaining criminals or criminal suspects). Park Ranger (Protection) - Standard & Field Training Officer Major Duties: Serves as a Field Training Officer, providing expert guidance and training on law enforcement procedures as a law enforcement instructor.

Conduct technical training and education programs including development of law enforcement training curriculum as a certified law enforcement instructor. Provide evaluation of student performance for both team and individual training settings to determine behavior anchor points and acquired skills/abilities.

Develop law enforcement training curriculum using advanced principles and techniques to include lesson plan development, research, curriculum review, development, and revision; develop training materials utilizing different approaches and methods to instruct in classroom settings and practical exercises. Maintains working relationships with key stakeholders to complete joint training projects or to share best practices; develop and deliver presentations to students and management officials.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Location Negotiable - Available parks and duty locations (not all locations may be filling positions): Big Cypress NP - Ochopee FL Biscayne NP - Homestead FL Blue Ridge Parkway - Laurel Springs NC, Blowing Rock NC, Spruce Pine NC, Asheville NC, Waynesville NC, Floyd VA, Vinton VA, Big Island VA, Bedford VA, & Montebello VA Boston NHP - Boston MA Bryce Canyon NP - Bryce UT Buffalo - Harrison AR Canaveral NS - Titusville FL, New Smyrna FL Cape Cod National Seashore - Wellfleet MA Cape Hatteras NS - Buxton NC, Nags Head NC, & Ocracoke NC Chattahoochee River NRA - Sandy Springs, GA Chickasaw NRA - Sulphur, OK Colonial NHP - Yorktown VA, Jamestown VA Cumberland Gap NHP - Middlesboro KY Cuyahoga Valley NP - Brecksville OH, Peninsula OH Delaware Water Gap NRA - Bushkill PA Everglades NP - Homestead FL, Everglades City FL, Key Largo FL, & Flamingo FL Gateway Arch NP - Saint Louis MO Gateway Sandy Hook - Highlands NJ Glen Canyon NRA - Page AZ Golden Gate NRA - San Francisco CA, Sausalito CA Grand Canyon NP - Grand Canyon AZ, North Rim AZ Grand Teton NP - Moose WY, Colter Bay WY Great Smoky Mountains NP - Townsend TN, Gatlinburg TN, Cherokee NC Gulf Islands NS - Gulf Breeze FL, Ocean Springs MS Hot Springs NP - Hot Springs AR Independence NHP - Philadelphia PA Joshua Tree NP - Twentynine Palms CA Lake Mead NRA - Boulder City, NV Little River Canyon NP - Fort Payne, AL Mammoth Cave NP - Mammoth Cave KY Mojave NP - Barstow CA Mount Rushmore NM - Keystone SD Natchez Trace Parkway - Franklin TN, Hohenwald TN, Cherokee AL, Tupelo MS, Mantee MS, Ridgeland MS, & Port Gibson MS New River Gorge NP - Glen Jean WV, Lansing WV, Beaver WV Organ Pipe Cactus NM - Ajo, AZ Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Van Buren MO, Eminence MO Padre Island NS - Corpus Christ, TX Rocky Mountain NP - Estes Park CO San Antonio Missions NHP - San Antonio, TX Sequoia and King's Canyon NP - Kings Canyon National Park CA, Three Rivers CA, & Sequoia National Park CA Valley Forge NHP - King of Prussia, PA Yellowstone NP - Yellowstone NP WY Yosemite NP - Yosemite CA Zion NP - Springdale UT Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Statement: The salary annotated on this announcement does not include the cost-of-living allowance, nor locality pay.

Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances to calculate locality pay. COLA pay in Alaska is 3.00% with the exception of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, which is 1.49%. COLA pay in Hawaii is 8.64% with the exception of Hawaii island, which is 2.91%. COLA pay for Puerto Rico is 2.49%. COLA pay for US Virgin Islands is 11.88%. Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.