Clarification from the agency

We are accepting applications from US Citizens and CTAP/ICTAP: U.S. Citizens, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).

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The major responsibility of this position is to lead the operation of a district visitor center.
Some of the duties, you will perform include, but not limited to:

• Leading and directing the work of paid seasonal and volunteer staff; developing schedules and assigning tasks and projects; and providing coaching and mentoring for staff on interpretive products, including programs and interpretive writing. May also lead park social media efforts.
• Researching, preparing, and presenting effective, competent, and original interpretive products.
• Collecting and accounting for fees and teaching staff fee collection procedures.
• Operation of small vessel watercraft may be required based on duty station.
• Other responsibilities include informing visitors about park facilities and resources; contacting visitors in a variety of settings using different techniques; processing backcountry permits; helping visitors plan trips; and promoting resource protection through park rules, regulations, and Leave No Trace Principles. Occasionally you may have responsibilities in visitor management related services such as dispatching, managing small programs, maintenance, medical treatment to current level of training, and participating in emergency response for accidents and incidents.

Isle Royale National Park is a large, remote and isolated island in northwestern Lake Superior, approximately 70 miles north of the park's administrative headquarters in Houghton, Michigan. The island positions are duty stationed on Isle Royale. The incumbent will occupy government housing for which they will pay rent each pay period. Isle Royale is federally designated wilderness with no roads, few telephones, no reliable cell phone coverage, limited amenities, and limited opportunity to return to the mainland. Limited internet access is provided for employees at housing locations. Groceries and other supplies are delivered weekly or biweekly depending on the work site. To protect Isle Royale's fauna from disease, pets are prohibited.

Clarification on Applicant Limits: Open to the first 50 applicants or until 01/12/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59pm (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

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, 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.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• 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.
• Incidental Driving: You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and every year thereafter (or more frequently if need exists), you will be required to submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license AND to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You may be required to 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 discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
• Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Government Housing: Housing is available.
• Motorboat Operation/Instructor Certification Course: Applicant must be able to obtain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) or Motorboat Operator Instructor Certification Course (MOICC) or equivalent after entrance on duty date.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/12/2026-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.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position performs money handling duties, and prior experience is required. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.
- AND -
To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must also possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications 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 is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Experience developing and implementing interpretative programs; managing or leading interpretative programs; coordinating and participating in interpretative/education programs and planning efforts or similar operational work. You must include start/end dates and hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two full years of progressive graduate study leading to a master's or equivalent degree in a field of study in a related field such as in 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, or course work in other appropriate fields. (Two years of graduate education is 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours). You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above; total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only directly related graduate education in excess of the first year is creditable when combining. You must include transcripts. You must include start/end dates and hours per week worked.

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.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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:

• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Interpretation
• Money Handling
• Oral Communication
• Teaching Others
• Technology Application

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.