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Park Ranger

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

Summary

These positions are temporary and may not exceed 1039 hours (six months) in a service year. They may be terminated sooner or extended depending on management needs.

Selectees may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries.

Positions may not be filled at every duty station.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/14/2023 to 08/25/2023
Salary
$20.36 to - $32.79 per hour

Plus a 3.53% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Locations
Bartlett Cove, AK
9 vacancies
Denali County, AK
2 vacancies
Denali Park, AK
12 vacancies
King Salmon, AK
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
AK-1537-AKRO-23-12088373-DE
Control number
743080400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL)

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Duties

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The parks and duty stations hiring for these positions are below, as is each park's anticipated seasonal period. The typical seasonal period varies due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April/May, 2024.

Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali Park, Denali County and Toklat, AK. Applicants selected for Denali County will be duty stationed at Wonder Lake, AK): April - September
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Bartlett Cove, AK): April - September
Katmai National Park and Preserve (King Salmon and Lake and Peninsula County, AK. Applicants selected for Lake and Peninsula County will be duty stationed at Brooks Camp, AK): May - September
Kenai Fjords National Park (Seward, AK): April - September
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (Skagway, AK): May - September
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (Port Alsworth, AK. Applicants selected for Port Alsworth may be duty stationed at Twin Lakes, Chinitna Bay and/or Silver Salmon Creek, AK.): April - September

You must apply to each duty station you are interested in working at.

This position includes protection of park resources and visitors through patrols, education and compliance checks. The individual(s) selected will provide information regarding regulations and explain the importance of resource preservation and protection. The individual(s) will contact and provide visitors information regarding Leave No Trace principles and specific hazards found throughout the park. Patrols are conducted by both motorized and non-motorized watercraft and on foot in both front country and remote areas of the park. Other duties consist of providing backcountry orientation, emergency medical services, search and rescue, environmental protection and resource management data collection. Selectees may also perform development and delivery of Interpretive talks and tours. May require hikes up to 8 miles a day over rough, uneven terrain.

Additional duties for the GS-07 position: Teaches others - provides on-the-job training, mentoring and assistance to team members by providing guidance, feedback and direction to accomplish projects and/or daily operations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, driving, bending, etc. The work, on a regular and recurring basis, requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as climbing, hiking and lifting heavy objects. Work may be performed on uneven, steep, rough, slippery, and/or rugged terrain.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work is performed in a setting in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness, e.g., high or low temperatures, confined spaces or adverse weather conditions. The work environment regularly involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress. In addition, work may be performed in areas of extremely rough terrain with wide annual variations in climatic conditions.

Government housing may be available at Denali Park, Bartlett Cove, Seward, Skagway and Port Alsworth (Twin Lakes, Chinitna Bay, Silver Salmon Creek). Government housing is available at Denali County (Wonder Lake), Toklat, King Salmon and Lake and Peninsula County (Brooks Camp).

Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • All positions except those at Bartlett Cove and Seward require an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certification. Certification level requirements vary based on the duty location and level of the position.
  • This position is subject to drug testing. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • All positions except those at Bartlett Cove and some at Denali Park will be required to carry firearms in the back-country or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals.
  • All positions except those at Denali Park, Denali County (Wonder Lake), Toklat and Skagway will be required to operate a small watercraft less than 26 feet in length. Operation includes transport of personnel (including visitors), tools, and materials/supplies to job/work sites.
  • All positions except those at Katmai National Park and Preserve 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.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Positions at Denali County (Wonder Lake) and Toklat require occupancy in government quarters.
  • Positions at Skagway will be required to obtain/maintain a valid US Passport or US Passport Card.
  • 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 on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 20 nights per month.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/25/2023-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. 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 resume must reflect full and/or part-time number of hours worked. If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

SELECTIVE FACTOR/SCREEN-OUT for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) positions only: Some positions require an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Certification. Certification levels required are Wilderness First Responder, Emergency Medical Responder, or higher; Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, or higher; and Emergency Medical Technician, or higher. This is not a screen-out if you do not want to be considered for positions that require an EMS certification. You have the option to apply to the General positions that do not require an EMS certification, and/or you may also apply to positions that require an EMS certification. You must apply to the appropriate specialty/specialties based on your preference in order to be considered for those positions.

***To be considered for positions with an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certification requirement, you must attach a copy of your certification with the expiration date or state the level and expiration date in your resume. If you do not currently have this certification but will have it before entrance on duty, you must include the expected level and completion date in your resume.
You must maintain certification throughout your employment.***

Candidates who do not meet the EMS requirement will not be considered for positions with the EMS requirement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include basic research for the purpose of conducting interpretative tours to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions; assisting with monitoring the condition of natural and/or cultural resources to protect those resources; assisting in patrols to check permits and aiding in search and rescue; providing visitor services such as explaining Leave No Trace and answering visitor questions on natural and/or cultural resources about a park or similar recreational area. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Four years of education above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of course work in a related field. Related course work are subjects 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. You must include a copy of your transcripts.

-OR-

A COMBINATION OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent), in excess of the first 60 semester hours earned towards your degree and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent in order to meet this description. You must include hours worked per week in your resume and a copy of your transcripts.

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:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include researching and conducting interpretative tours to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions; monitoring and reporting on the condition of natural and/or cultural resources to protect those resources; performing patrols to check permits and conducting search and rescue; providing visitor services such as explaining regulations, Leave No Trace, answering complaints, and visitor questions on natural and/or cultural resources about a park or similar recreational area. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION: One full year of graduate study in a related field. Related fields 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. 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. (One year of graduate education is 18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or the number your school uses to represent one year.) You must include a copy of your transcripts.

-OR-

A COMBINATION OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours worked per week in your resume and a copy of your transcripts.

Volunteer experiencerefers 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.

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

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

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.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. Salary and COLA subject to annual review and adjustment.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster with prior supervisory approval.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1039hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR ?575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can 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:
  • Seach and Rescue (SAR)
  • Speaking
  • Technical Competence
  • Technology Application
  • Wilderness Skills and Knowledge
  • Teaches Others (GS-07 only)
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

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