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PARK RANGER (RIVER PATROL)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
BLM, OR

Summary

This position is in Oregon/Washington State Office, Baker City, Deschutes, or Grants Pass Field Offices. For information on locations please see Additional Information Section.

This is a temporary seasonal appointment, defined as employment in a position performing annually recurring work lasting less than six months per year, not to exceed 1,560 hours per service year.

Note: These are not Law Enforcement positions.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/12/2026 to 02/23/2026
Salary
$40,736 to - $65,599 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Baker City, OR
Deschutes County, OR
Grants Pass, OR
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - This is a temporary appointment. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 hours in a service year. Hours may be extended up to 1560 hours dependent on the agency's authority.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None - These positions have no promotion potential. To be considered for a higher grade, you must apply for the higher grade.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
OR-TEMP-26-0558847-RDO
Control number
857650800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

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Duties

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  • Park Rangers (River Patrol) support the Bureau's recreation program. They work with the public to provide information, conduct permit compliance and safety inspections, and conduct river patrols.
  • Patrol and inspect river user's watercraft ensuring compliance with rules and regulations.
  • Park rangers conduct safety inspections and records visitor related incidents.
  • Meet with visitors and provides information about points of interest in the area, historical and natural features and local wildlife.
  • Respond to emergency situations, including swift water rescue and administering first aid.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
  • You must pass a pre-employment physical.
  • Some locations may require that you possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

SELECTIVE FACTORS:
This position requires skill and expertise to safely and securely row a 15-16 foot oar framed raft in whitewater rapids rated on the International Scale up to Class IV. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. Your resume must show how you qualify for this Selective Factor.

This position requires knowledge and experience of whitewater rescue techniques to include swift water swimming, recognition of swift water hazards, knowledge of shallow and deep water crossings, and rescue problems. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. Your resume must show how you qualify for this Selective Factor.

This position requires skill and expertise safely navigating in whitewater rapids rated on the International Scale up to Class IV. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. Your resume must show how you qualify for this Selective Factor.

GS-5: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4 level. Examples of specialized experience may include Examples of specialized experience may include explaining regulations to park visitors; providing information and advice on park activities and resources; collecting fees; issuing reservations and permits; conducting guided tour programs; maintaining recreation facilities or trails; monitoring special recreation permits. Your experience must include navigating through Class III-V whitewater rapids;

-OR-

Successful completion of a full four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, which included 24 semester hours of related course work. No more than 6 semester hours in math is creditable;

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

GS-6: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 level. Examples of specialized experience may include explaining regulations to park visitors; providing information and advice on park activities and resources; collecting fees; issuing reservations and permits; developing and conducting guided tour programs; maintaining recreation facilities or trails; monitoring special recreation permits; conducting potable water tests in compliance with appropriate state laws; or assisting with supervision of seasonal recreation technicians. Your experience must include navigating through Class III-V whitewater rapids.

-OR-

Successful completion of one full academic year (45 quarter or 30 semester hours) of graduate education related to the occupation (i.e. related course work) or superior academic achievement., which included 24 semester hours of related course work. No more than 6 semester hours in math is creditable;

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

GS-7: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to work experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level. Examples of specialized experience may include experience as park guide or tour leader; archaeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; planning day to day operation of a recreation area providing such facilities as camping, water sports, picnic areas, or coordinating routine activities with maintenance personnel; advising visitors concerning safety, fire prevention, and proper and authorized uses of recreational facilities. Your experience must include navigating through Class III-V whitewater rapids.

-OR-

Successful completion of one full academic year (45 quarter or 30 semester hours) of graduate education related to the occupation (i.e. related course work) or superior academic achievement., which included 24 semester hours of related course work. No more than 6 semester hours in math is creditable;

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: The work is performed mostly outdoors in rugged terrain; to include very steep, wet, muddy, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces. The position requires physical exertion such as, but not limited to, driving over unpaved roads, walking over rough terrain or inclines, standing for long periods of time, bending, crouching and stooping, digging, hiking, lifting, biking, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. Work may involve early morning hours, night hours, or daytime hours and may require working on holidays. It can require carrying heavy backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, or other loads.

Work Environment: Most work will be performed out of doors, in all types of weather conditions, terrain, and elevations. Work may take place in an extremely remote environment and may require primitive camping and living skills for upwards of two weeks in duration. Indoor duties are performed in a normal office setting.

Education

Applicants may qualify for these positions based on experience, education, or an equivalent combination as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement.

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-6 and 7.

Additional information

Location information:
Baker City, OR | Official Website
Deschutes County, Oregon - Wikipedia
Grants Pass, Oregon - Wikipedia

This is a temporary seasonal appointment, defined as employment in a position performing annually recurring work lasting less than six months per year, not to exceed 1,560 hours per service year.

  • The service year is a 12-month period beginning on the employee's initial DOI appointment date. Employees may hold more than one appointment within the same service year, provided the appointments are to different positions.
Training Hours:
  • For initial appointments, employees may receive additional training hours that do not count toward the 1,560-hour limit during the first 120 days following appointment.
  • For subsequent appointments, employees may receive up to 80 hours (two weeks) of training per year following reappointment, without regard to the service-year limitation.
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 02/19/2008 must be registered for Selective Service

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

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 up to 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.

If selected from this announcement you may be rehired for identical positions without further competition based on work needs, funding, or any other condition of employment.

If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)?. The Act allows certain individuals, who have or had time-limited appointments at land management agencies, to compete for any permanent position in the competitive service under "internal" merit promotion procedures. For more information, see the section under Eligibility, which starts with Question #15 (Q15. Who is eligible for appointment under these provisions?).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Public Planning
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Technical Competence


You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Please be sure that you state your qualifying education, training and/or experience in your resume.

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