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Park Ranger (I)

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

Summary

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
10/10/2023 to 10/24/2023
Salary
$30.85 to - $40.10 per hour

Plus, a 3.53% Cost of Living allowance (COLA), that is subject to annual adjustment and review.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Locations
Bartlett Cove, AK
3 vacancies
Copper Center, AK
3 vacancies
Denali Park, AK
2 vacancies
Seward, AK
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - Not-to-exceed 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
AK-1537-AKRO-24-12160663-DE
Control number
753674200

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 typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for each duty station is listed below. These employment periods can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Denali National Park and Preserve (DENA) - Denali Park, Alaska and Toklat, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is March to September.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA) - Bartlett Cove, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is March to September.

Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) - Seward, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is April to September.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST) - Copper Center, Alaska - Anticipated employment period is April to Sept.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Training: Assists in planning, implementing, and delivering interpretive skills and educational theory and methodology training to seasonal staff. This includes creating and delivering training sessions that, topic aside, are by their very nature demonstrations of desired interpretive programming. Works with training planning team to evaluate effectiveness of training program and to develop innovations to substantially improve its effectiveness.

Coaching: Observes interpretive programs and shares oral and written feedback in a supportive, professional manner. Mentors and leads seasonal staff in day-to-day program development. Uses effective leadership and communication skills to work with interpreters in such a way as to promote respect, confidence, teamwork, and professionalism. Works with coaching team to evaluate effectiveness of coach training program, coaching protocols, and coach effectiveness, and to develop innovations for substantial improvement.

Interpretation: Researches, develops, and presents a variety of formal and informal interpretive programs which may include conducted walks, campground programs, off trail wilderness hikes and illustrative programs and which demonstrate a clear grasp of the principles of interpretation. Prepares written interpretive program outlines. Competent with PC compatible equipment and software such as PowerPoint, MS Word, scanners, printers, etc.

Operations: Develops work schedules. Update or write manuals, SOPs and handouts. Identifies and reports on facility conditions, exhibit conditions, supply inventories and purchasing needs. Communicates effectively with other divisions and park partners.

Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Government Housing may be available at the following duty stations: Bartlett Cove, Copper Center, Denali, and Seward.

Government Housing is available and required at Toklat.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.

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 employees.

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.

Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion and can involve extensive periods of standing and walking, in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines outdoors or in caves, and carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, or other loads. Some employees may engage in firefighting, search and rescue, and other strenuous activities; these employees may be required to lift or carry equipment weighing more than 50 pounds over long distances. Employees who participate in all-risk operations will be required to meet fitness requirements on a continuing basis.

Working Conditions: The work can include moderate risks or discomforts that require safety precautions (e.g. exposure to extreme temperatures, climates, rough terrain, wild animals, pests, and/or insects). The incumbent may be required to use protective clothing or gear, such as masks, boots, gloves, etc. Some employees may be engaged in all-risk operations and be exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations which require a range of safety and other precautions.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for occasional/situational telework and the selectee may be authorized to telework with prior supervisory approval.

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

Individuals selected under this vacancy announcement are eligible for the possibility of extensions or rehire in subsequent service years. These positions are temporary and may not exceed 1039 hours (six months) in a service year.

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.
  • 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.
  • At DENA - Toklat duty station - Occupancy of government quarters is required.
  • 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, overtime and shift work.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • Fee Collection duties apply to Denali Park Headquarters duty station. If selected for this position, you will be required to receive a higher level background investigation for Fee Collection.
  • At GLBA - Bartlett Cove duty station - you will be required to perform ladder transfers from a transfer vessel to a cruise ship. You must be physically and mentally able to climb rope ladders 15 feet in height during transfer from one vessel to another while both boats are in motion in exposed waters.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/24/2023-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 total number of hours worked per week. If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience must include: developing and leading interpretive or interpretive education programs; and assisting with the coordination and planning efforts for interpretive or interpretive education programs. You must include the number of hours worked per week within your resume.

-OR-

EDUCATION: You must have 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or a master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following fields: 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 or 27 quarter hours). You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You must have an equivalent combination of such education and experience. To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours in excess of 18 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 100% to qualify using this option. You must include the number of hours worked per week within your resume and submit a copy of your 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.

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

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 1039 hours, 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.

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.

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), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. 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:
  • Education and Training
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Interpretation
  • Leadership
  • Teaching Others
  • Writing


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

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