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FUL-Visitor Services Assistant (Seasonal)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service

Summary

Serve as representative to answer questions and offer guidance. Monitor sites and maintain relations with park partners and concessions while on roving patrols throughout National Parks.

Likely Entry On Duty: April - July 2026.

Open to the first 50 applicants.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the 04/04/2026 to be considered.

For more park(s) information, select "Learn more about this agency" below:

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/30/2026 to 04/04/2026
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$19.52 - $25.37 per hour

Salary does not include locality pay. For specific wage information, reference the OPM Salaries and Wages link in the Additional Information section.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Joshua Tree National Park
Twentynine Palms, CA
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 - Not to Exceed: 1560 Hours
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules - Work schedule is dependent upon the position.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
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
SSO-1545-PWR-26-12923622-DE
Control number
862933100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority and is open to U.S. citizens and nationals who meet all eligibility requirements, including permanent and exclusive residency within the defined vicinity of the field unit as described in this announcement. Under this authority, veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking procedures do not apply.

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Duties

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Visitor Services Assistant Standard Duties:

  • Provide visitor services including patrol, roving, fixed post assignments and public programs.
  • Participate in day-to-day operation of a seasonal contact station.
  • Site monitoring, and resource protection.
  • Operates two-way radio equipment.
  • Responds verbally to visitor inquiries, offering information and guidance.
  • Public can include individuals who are distressed, confused, frustrated, difficult or even hostile.
  • Monitors special use permits and maintains good relations with partner organizations, concessions and stakeholders.
  • Educates customers regarding rules, regulations, and safety concerns to ensure visitor safety and resource preservation.
  • Direct visitors and the public with problems, questions, or complaints to appropriate resources.
  • Assists in medical or other emergencies up to level of training.
Additional duties for GS-05:
  • Provide informal interpretation and public orientation to a park or recreation area e.g. current events, resource management or environmental projects, and overview of areas natural, cultural, and/or historical resources.
  • Provide information to the public using information or materials on management policies and legislative updates on issues affecting the natural, historical, and/or cultural preservation of the area.
  • Operate general computer software programs such as word processing, spreadsheet, or database e.g. Excel, Access, Word, or similar operating systems.
  • Gather information from reporting parties concerning accidents/incidents within the area to notify appropriate personnel.
  • Assess a situation to determine the appropriate response in accordance with policy guidelines.

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 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 again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required 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 will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, 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.
  • Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
  • Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
    • Use find a park to contact specific parks for more information on government housing.
  • You may 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/04/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2-page 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. 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.


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 qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 level, you must possess one of the following:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. Specialized experience includes providing information or assistance to the public in a business or recreation setting; instructing groups of people or individuals; compiling and analyzing information to report; greeting the public, disseminating information, providing directions, fee collection, and using software programs such as, word processing, spreadsheet, or database (e.g. Excel, Access, Word, or similar operating systems).
-OR-
B.
Four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university.
-OR-
C.
Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.

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.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

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

This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions.

Field Unit Local Hiring for this position is limited to individuals who maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within one of the following counties: (1) San Bernardino, California or (2) Riverside, California.

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.

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 1560 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 1560 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1560 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 1560 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1560 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Physical Demands: The work involves extensive periods of standing and walking, and in some cases, over rough surfaces or inclines carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, etc.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness (e.g. high or low temperatures, confined spaces or adverse weather conditions).Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather from snow, wind, and rain to sun and heat. Work involves standing for long periods of time, walking over rough and uneven terrain and living in close quarters with co-workers.

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.

Applicants will be evaluated based on how well they meet the qualification requirements for the position.

Upon receipt of a completed application package, the Servicing Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages. Resumes longer than two pages will not be reviewed. Applicants may submit only one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine qualifications and eligibility. If more than one resume is submitted, only the most recent submission will be reviewed.

This position is being filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. The Servicing Human Resources Office will determine whether applicants meet the qualification and eligibility requirements described in this announcement. Applicants who meet these requirements may be referred to the selecting official on a certificate of eligibles for consideration.

Applicants must certify that they maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within the defined vicinity of the field unit(s) listed in this announcement. Residency eligibility will be verified during the hiring process.

If your resume is incomplete or does not demonstrate that you meet the qualification requirements or specialized experience described in this announcement, you may be determined ineligible or not qualified for further consideration.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations.

National Park Service

Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Agency contact information

Seasonal Staffing Office
Email
seasonal_staffing_office@nps.gov
Address
Seasonal Staffing Office-Pacific West Region
333 Bush Street - Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94104
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at National Park Service, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/index.htm

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