Park Ranger (Interpretation) - FUL

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. 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 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 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. At the GS-09, this is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/10/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.

To qualify at the GS-05, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes activities such as: park guide or tour leader, law enforcement or investigative work, archaeological 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, or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked.

01EDUCATION

Successful completion of at least 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study which includes 24 semester hours of related course work.

Major study may 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 include transcripts.

Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only progressive education in excess of the first 2 years (60 semester hours or equivalent) is creditable when combining. You must include transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-07, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (Note: One grade interval work such as guide, clerk, assistant or technician work in a single grade occupational series at the GS-05 level does NOT qualify for this position, however GS-06 level may). This experience can be obtained in either the public or private sectors.

This experience MUST include: (1) developing and presenting independently researched programs; (2) developing material for nonpersonal services and interpretive media; (3) coordinating the operation of a visitor facility and/or information desk; (4) assisting in coordinating special projects. You must include hours per week worked.

02EDUCATION

Successful completion of at least one year of graduate-level education in a related field appropriate to the position as shown above. You must include transcripts. Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and graduate education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only graduate level education is creditable when combining. You must include transcripts.

Superior Academic Achievement: Successfully completion of a bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the duties of this position AND meet one of the following Superior Academic Achievement provisions: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision , such as College of Liberal Arts or School of Business Administration, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average: earn a grade-point average of (a) 3.0 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 of the curriculum.

Note: grade-point averages will be rounded to the one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9, and 3.45 = 3.5; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: elected membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. You must provide transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-09, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: 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). Specialized experience includes: 1). Performing work that demonstrates specific knowledge of interpretive principles. 2).

• Create, develop, and design formal and informal interpretive curriculum using a variety of fully developed skills, techniques, and tools. 3).
• Develop interpretive curriculum, structured programs, tours, presentations, demonstrations, events, and virtual interactions.
• Conduct research on different scientific and /or historical subjects. 4).
• Develop or design interpretive material, provide non-personal services and interpretive media (e.g., signs, waysides, publications, exhibits, audio, video and other digital content). 5).
• Engage public with formal structured interpretive programs (e.g., walks, talks, tours, presentations, demonstrations, events, and virtual interactions). 6).
• Lead others, provide oversight, resource education, mentorship, training, and coaching.

This experience could have been gained serving as a Park Ranger directly conducting interpretive work, Park Interpretive Specialist, Outdoor activities Director, Park Activities Coordinator providing formal educational resource training, developing curriculum, or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked.

03EDUCATION

Successful completion of at least two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education OR a master's/equivalent graduate degree in a field related to the occupation as shown above. You must include transcripts. Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and graduate education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only progressive graduate education beyond the first year is credible when combining.

You must include transcripts.

Major Duties: Develop and present formal and informal audience and learner-centered interpretive experiences using interpretive skills, techniques, and tools delivered in-person and through interpretive media and technology. Research, develop, and present interpretive programs on a variety of interpretive and educational themes. Plan, schedule, prepare and effectively conduct education programs; workshops, seminars, and conferences to promote the parks education program, to include distance learning.

Plan, distribute, and monitor work assignments; evaluate work performance and provide feedback to others on their performance. Communicate effectively and apply interpersonal skills. Develop and maintain effective relationships with others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

Use a personal computer and various software applications such as word processing, reports, spreadsheets, databases, graphs, desktop publishing, and electronic mail (e.g. Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, Access, and Internet Explorer), and peripherals (e.g. various printers, plotters, copiers, faxes and scanners).

Additional major duties: Education Program Coordination, Historic Weapons Safety and Demonstrations, Interpretive Media/Visual Info Production, Special Park Uses, Technology, Web, Social Media Coordination, and/ or Youth Program Coordination. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. At the GS-09 level, this position will be a Code 4 Supervisor, with supervisory duties 15 percent of the time.

Salary Information (per year): GS-05: $40,736 - $52,957 GS-07: $50,460 - $65,599 GS-09: $61,722 - $80,243 **First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. 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.