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Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection) (Chief Ranger)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Katmai National Park and Preserve

Summary

This position is located in Katmai National Park and Preserve, in the Protection Division.

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement. The first cut-off date is 11:59 pm (est), April 28th, 2026.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/08/2026 to 10/06/2026
Salary
$104,013 - $135,219 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Katmai National Park and Preserve
King Salmon, AK
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AK-1537-KATM-26-12926050IMP
Control number
864351000

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Duties

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MAJOR DUTY STATEMENTS:

  • Supervise and mentor field law enforcement staff, both permanent and seasonal
  • Detect, investigate, apprehend, and prosecute under applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted to ensure the protection and safe use of national park resources
  • Educate, interpret, and inform visitors about resources, conservation, laws, and regulations
  • Provide training in law enforcement disciplines, both formal and informal
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

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.

Telework: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Occupancy: Government housing is available

Katmai National Park and Preserve lies on the Alaska Peninsula 290 miles southwest of Anchorage, there is no connection to the road system. Katmai is known for recent volcanism, large freshwater lakes, pristine drainages, wilderness coastline and biodiversity, including abundant salmon runs and the highest density of protected brown bears in the world. The park is accessible largely by bush planes and boats only. Aniakchak National Monument and Alagnak Wild and Scenic River are also managed by Katmai.

King Salmon (park headquarters) is a small community with basic amenities (about 150 residents). There is a small convenience store and a couple of restaurants. The town has seasonal lodges and there is a small clinic for minor medical treatment located in Naknek (15 miles away); major medical and dental facilities are available in Anchorage, AK. The cost of living in King Salmon is considered high due to its remoteness and the cost of bringing goods in. Daily commercial flights connect Anchorage with King Salmon, there is no connection to the road system. The area is remote with limited social amenities. Accessing a map on Google Earth is recommended for a detailed look at the area. Government housing may be available.

Katmai is a truly magical place that will give you the "real" Alaska experience. Katmai has 4.7 million acres of wilderness, 500 miles of coastline, endless opportunities for boating and the largest concentration of Brown Bears in the world. www.nps.gov/katm

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
  • Subject to pre-employment physical and drug testing.
  • Must possess a Type I or higher 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.
  • Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
  • 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 submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • 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, overtime and shift work.
  • Occupancy of government quarters may be available.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 15 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
  • The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/06/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of 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.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:

  • Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type I or higher National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
  • Secondary Law Enforcement Position: This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position.
- AND -Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must possess 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/GL-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. (1) Managing or leading law enforcement and resource protection program; (2) Evaluating law enforcement program activities based on funding to determining objectives, amount and location of work, as well as type of resources needed for the program; (3) Interpreting regulations and policy directives related to law enforcement and natural resource protection; (4) Reviewing law enforcement case reports to ensure compliance with policy, mutual aid agreements, cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding; AND/OR (5) Investigating criminal activity, conducting investigations of applicable Federal or state laws, and performing training / instructor responsibilities. You must include hours per week worked. Examples of specialized experience could include: Park Guide or tour leader; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological 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; or other similar work. You must include hours per worked per week.
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.

Continuation of Requirements:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Firearm Proficiency: Selectee(s) will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.
  • Physical Fitness: 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 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.
  • Physical Efficiency Battery: If applicable, prior to appointment, the people selected for these positions 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 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.
  • Probationary/Trial Period: If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.

Law Enforcement Commission: This position requires applicants to possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to possess by closing date of this announcement a valid Type I or higher level National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission (or equivalent), which requires completing training from an accredited institution, which currently consists of over 650 class hours and lasts on average 17 weeks. Please visit the Association of National Park Rangers' Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program (SLETP) for additional information on approved training courses and equivalency for commissioning.

Secondary Positions: This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position.

Additional information

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.


Physical Demands: A variety of physical demands occur in this position. Work includes long periods
standing, hiking and climbing in uneven, steep, rough, slippery and rugged terrain. Strenuous exertion is frequently required in law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue and emergency medical situations. Lifting or carrying equipment weighing over 50 pounds, such as search and rescue equipment is required. The work may require the
pursuit and physical apprehension of dangerous suspects. Incumbent is required to work outside in all types of weather conditions. There may be many days of primarily sedentary work in an office, but the incumbent may be required at very short notice to participate in strenuous physical activity. There is a physical; mental and emotional high-stress component to the incumbent's work assignments. This position comes under the scope and requirements of the park's Health and Fitness program. Physical requirements for law enforcement and emergency services as specified in RM-57 must be met on a regular basis and incumbent must keep self drug free.

Working Conditions: The majority of the time is spent in an office environment. However, field inspections, evaluations, consultations and emergency situations frequently involve outdoor work. Incumbent may be subjected to extreme arctic weather including cold (to -40 F), snow, high winds, high altitudes, blizzards, rain and dust. The work may be performed at various hours of the day and night for prolonged periods of time during emergency situations. The incumbent is frequently exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations in law enforcement and emergency operations requiring adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions. Long periods of surveillance work may be required in cramped or unpleasant locations and under stressful conditions. Shift work is
often required. Travel often occurs in government aircraft, including small fixed wing and helicopters or in various forms of float and motor-powered vessels, which may affect the employee's private life insurance policies. Exposure to Law enforcement and other dangerous persons, animals, substances and potential exposure to infectious diseases are standard expectations of daily work. Incumbent may be subject to hazards such as intense concentrations of insects, bears, and other dangerous or noxious pests.

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.

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 who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Leadership
  • Criminal Law
  • Resource Protection
  • Computer Skills
  • Oral Communication
  • Teaching Others

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 successful completion of additional assessments, including a panel resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

National Park Service

Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Agency contact information

Brian Mutai
Email
brian_mutai@ios.doi.gov
Address
Katmai National Park and Preserve
PO Box 7
King Salmon, AK 99613
US

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