Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Visitor Services Assistant

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The National Staffing Office-Shenandoah National Park~ is currently accepting applications to fill up to 6 vacancies. These positions are located in Virginia. Please visit find a park for additional park information. Appointments made under this announcement are limited to 1039 hours (six months) in a service year and may be terminated at any time. Appointments under this announcement are eligible for rehire and/or extension (when initial appointment is less than 1039 hours) if workload and funding allow. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May, 2018.

This announcement is being advertised under delegated examining procedures and is open to all U.S. citizens. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for approximately 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade.

APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT RECEIVE FULL CONSIDERATION.

The salary reflected in this announcement may not include locality pay and will differ based on the location. View this link for more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2015/general-schedule/.
Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selected employee.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/08/2017 to 12/14/2017
Salary
$14.07 to - $17.38 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 4 - 5
Location
Luray, VA
6 vacancies
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
NS-1612-SHEN-18-10073341-DE
Control number
483156000

This job is open to

Help

Duties

Help

The successful applicant will work in a team-oriented environment with a core responsibility of providing visitor services, including patrol, roving, fixed post assignments as well as public programs. Participates in day-to-day operation of a seasonal contact station. Provides visitor services in the field of roving patrol of site monitoring, and resource protection. Monitors special use permits and maintains good relations with partner organizations, concessions and stakeholders. Responds verbally to visitors inquiries offering information, direction and guidance. Serve as front-line representative to greet customers and answers questions. Public can include individuals who are distressed, confused, frustrated, difficult or even hostile. Relates effectively to people from varied cultural backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to diversity, race, gender, religion, people with disabilities and other individual differences. Operates two-way radio equipment. Educates customers regarding rules, regulations, and safety concerns to gain compliance. Direct customers with problems. questions, or complaints. Assists in medical or other emergencies up to level of training.

Additional duties for GS-05: Provide informal interpretation and public orientation to a park or recreation area (e.g., current events, resource management or environmental projects, and overview of areas natural, cultural, and/or historical resources). Provide information to the public using information or materials on management policies, and legislative updates on issues affecting the natural, historical, and/or cultural preservation of the area. Operate general computer software programs such as, word processing, spreadsheet, or database (e.g., Excel, Access, Word, or similar operating systems). Gather information from reporting parties concerning accidents/incidents within the area to notify appropriate personnel. Assess a situation to determine the appropriate response in accordance with policy guidelines.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Must possess or be able to obtain state issued driver's license.
  • Wearing a National Park Service uniform is required.

  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • Government housing may be available.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work overtime.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/14/2017 (unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement).

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate that you possess either the specialized experience or the education as described below. Equivalent combinations of experience and education may also be used to qualify.

In order to qualify for this position at the GS-04 level, you must possess one of the following:

A. One year of progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates my ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. General experience includes greeting the public, disseminating information, providing directions and fee collection. -OR- B. Two years of education above high school (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university. -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education.

In order to qualify for this position at the GS-05 level, you must possess one of the following:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. Specialized experience includes providing information or assistance to the public in a business or recreation setting; instructing groups of people or individuals; and compiling and analyzing information to report. Experience includes using software programs; such as, word processing, spreadsheet, or database (e.g., Excel, Access, Word, or similar operating systems). -OR- B. Four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university. -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. In order to receive credit for experience, your resume must clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the number of hours worked per week.

Credit for experience is given on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

In describing the nature of your duties (your experience), please be clear and concise. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Standing for long periods of time, walking, bending, lifting of moderately heavy items and sedentary work is required. Mental stress and physical fatigue occur due to high volume of personal contacts and the responsibility of dealing with large amounts of money.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is often performed in small, outdoor structures with open windows which results in exposure to extremes of temperature, rain, snow, wind, and direct sunlight. Park areas may be geographically located in areas of high elevation, rugged terrain or dense populations. High levels of vehicle noise and emissions may exist during heavy visitation periods. Duties may be performed alone in isolated locations.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Conscientiousness
  • Flexibility
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Speaking
  • Technology Application

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.