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Seasonal Park Guide

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Kenai Fjords National Park

Summary

NOTE: OPM has identified this position as eligible for an exception to the typical 1039-hour season. This exception allows up to 1560 hours which may extend the season(s) reflected in this announcement. See the Additional Information section for details.

The typical season for this position is May - August but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is May 2026.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/23/2026 to 03/02/2026
Salary
$17.57 to - $22.85 per hour

An additional 3% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary above. Pay is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 3
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Seward, AK
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1560 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AK-1537-KEFJ-26-12891368-LH
Control number
858484900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) local hiring authority (16 USC 3198). Any U.S. Citizen who has acquired special knowledge or expertise regarding the natural or cultural resources of Kenai Fjords National Park, by reason of having either lived or worked in or near the unit may apply. See Qualifications section for eligibility requirements.

Duties

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If selected you will work as a Park Guide, GS-0090-03 at Kenai Fjords National Park. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Serves as a Park Guide for Kenai Fjords National Park at the Visitor Center and the Exit Glacier Nature Center located in Seward, AK.
  • Provides local residents and visitors with centralized information about Kenai Fjords National Park and other public lands, resources, and recreational opportunities on the Kenai Peninsula and throughout Alaska.
  • Provides orientation, information and interpretation services to visitors and assists with cooperating association sales and services.
  • Presents talks using pre-established materials. This work involves giving talks, interpreting natural and historic features, answering questions, guiding tours, and providing miscellaneous services to visitors.
  • Orients hikers to conditions and equipment needs, staff's information counter at the visitor center serving as initial contact for visitors, provide information on a variety of routine questions. Provides information on park related activities, services, and park themes.


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.

  • 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.

  • 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 03/02/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.

-AND-

To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraphs.

Areas considered "near" Kenai Fjords National Park are the communities of Seward and Moose Pass extending north the Milepost 45 of the Seward Highway, as well as to the tribal villages with documented ties. These tribal villages include the Native Village of Nanwalek and the Native Village of Port Graham on the southwestern tip of the Kenai Peninsula as well as Seldovia Village Tribe. Also included is the Community of Homer, extending north on the Sterling Highway to mile post 165 and East End Road's end.

-ALSO-

The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies:

  1. Ability to communicate orally to diverse groups in a variety of settings.
  2. Ability to communicate effectively and provide excellent customer service.
  3. Skill in daily operation of a busy visitor center/information desk, sales outlet, bookstore, or similar facility to include providing frontline information and support services.
  4. Ability to deliver natural and cultural history interpretation through prescribed talks/demonstrations and provide guide services to various audiences

Education

There is no substitution of education for the required special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof as outlined in this announcement.

Additional information

NOTE: In support of Executive Order (EO) 14189 "Celebrating America's 250th Birthday" and EO 14314 "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks," the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved an exception to the 1039-hour time limitation for this position. This approval may extend the time limitation up to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment.

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.

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

This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status.

Government housing is not available.

All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.

Selectee may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries.

Physical Demands: The work ranges from moderately sedentary to moderately strenuous. Duties involve standing for prolonged periods, walking and occasional lifting of supplies.

Working Conditions: Work is performed indoors at the visitor center as well as in outdoor areas resulting in exposure to extreme temperatures, rain, snow, wind and direct sunlight.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents, responses to the questions in the assessment). If your application package does not clearly reflect having lived / worked within the area of consideration, does not clearly reflect special knowledge of the natural and/or cultural resources of the park or preserve, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

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.

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