Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.

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Selected candidates will attend training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia. Completion of Ranger Specific Basic Training (RSBT) and Land Management Police Training (LMPT) is required. Completion of the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) is also mandatory. FTEP may or may not occur at the candidate's employing park. Training occurs on-site at FLETC and students are housed in dormitories or hotels at no cost to the trainee. Students are employed and paid by their park while attending training. See the "Additional Information" section for more information.

Park Ranger (Protection) Standard Duties:

• Enforce Federal laws, regulations and policies; patrol front country and backcountry sites.
• Emergency response (utilizing Incident Command System) including medical services, search and rescue, and wildland/structural fire suppression.
• Facilitate visitor stewardship and orientation; wilderness management; boundary enforcement; protection of natural and cultural
• resources (e.g. wildlife, plants, archaeological sites, and historic buildings).
• Assist with preliminary investigations of felonies, crimes, and violations of park rules, public use, safety requirements, and motor vehicle accidents.
• Crowd control activities; proactively protects park resources from all forms of degradation.
• Independently conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor violations.
• Under the supervision of a Type I commissioned personnel, investigate felony violations and fatalities.

Additional duties for GL-9:

• The incumbent will independently conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor, felony violations and fatalities.
• The incumbent will provide specialized knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Other Position Requirement Information:

• Prior to selection or appointment, you MUST be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile. Learn more about the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) here.
  • You can look up required scores for your age and gender for PEB here.
  • Learn more about the Medical Standards Program here.
  • Learn more about FLETC Physical Performance Requirements (PPRs) here.
• If selected, you will initially report to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) located in Glynco, Georgia. You will be required to successfully complete law enforcement basic training which is approximately 17 weeks in duration. Upon FLETC basic training completion, you will be detailed to a designated park for 9 weeks to complete required FTEP on-the-job training. You will be officially assigned to your permanent duty location once FLETC training is successfully completed.
• To learn about Ranger-Specific Basic Training and Land Management Police Training go to this Reference
• Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Government housing may be available.
• 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.
• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position and recommendation by the supervisor.
• 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 4.01% with the exception of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, which is 2.48%.
  • COLA pay in Hawaii is 9.75% with the exception of Hawaii island, which is 3.94%.
  • COLA pay for Puerto Rico is 2.99% COLA pay for US Virgin Islands is 12.45%
  • Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Subject to a pre-employment medical exam and drug test; Must pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB).
• Must successfully complete agency-sponsored training to obtain an NPS Type I Law Enforcement Commission.
• New employees of the Department of the Interior must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of net pay within 30 days of entrance on duty.
• Selectee(s) will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.
• Selectee(s) must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• 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.
• Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.
• 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 wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
• Must not have reached your 37th birthday prior to employment.
• Exception to mandatory age requirement: Applicants who have prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57 OR if an applicant is a qualified veteran and is preference eligible, in which case the mandatory entry age is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/15/2023-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 or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.

In addition to the standard Park Ranger (Protection) qualifications listed below, If you would like to be considered for this option, the applicant must be conversationally fluent in at least one of the following languages, and support within your resume. You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional language in your application.

• Spanish

Some parks on this announcement may require Park Ranger (Protection) to be certified in Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) duties will be less than 20% of the time. If you would like to be considered for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) you must provide your certification in your supporting documents at the time of application. (Note: You will still be considered for this position without EMT certifications. These are additional designations applicants can be considered for by parks that require it). You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional certifications in your application.

Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection):
1. Selective Placement Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:

• This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.
• Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 11/15/2023.

2. Applicants must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

GL-07 level:
A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors), performing work that provided specific knowledge of resource protection, public use management, and/or law enforcement. This experience could have been gained through professional law enforcement, armed or unarmed security, correctional officer, and/or probation/parole officer as part of a local, state, or federal organization, or similar work. NOTE: Private security experience is not qualifying. OR
B. Education: You must possess one full academic year of graduate education directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). OR
C. Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): SAA is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade-point average, or 3) honor society membership. Specific requirements are: 1) Class Standing: Upper third of graduating class based on completed courses; 2a) Grade Point Average: 3.0 or higher as recorded on official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education; 2b) based on courses completed during the final full 2 years of curriculum; or 2c) 3.5 or higher based on average of courses completed in the specific major field of study; or 3) Honor Society Membership: Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society listed in the Association of College Honor Societies, Booklet of Information, and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision). OR
D. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

GL-09 level:
A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must be gained in a professional law enforcement officer position(s) which included: planning and carrying out investigations, planning and making arrests, serving court orders, using firearms, and dealing with people in a persuasive, tactful, and resourceful manner. This experience should have provided knowledge of the law and court precedents as they relate to such matters as search and seizure, making arrests, and using firearms. OR
B. Education: You must possess 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). OR
C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

Specialized Experience - MUST include hours per week worked in your resume.

If qualifying with related education, see Education section.

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.

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 two 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.
• 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.

Only the Best Qualified category of applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Attention to Detail
• Criminal Law
• Customer Service
• First Response
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Public Safety and Security
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Writing

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.