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Park Ranger (YCC Director) Seasonal

Department of the Interior
National Park Service

Summary

Salary: The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables may be found here

These positions may be filled for a seasonal period, up to 1039 hours, but can vary due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April 2027.

Open to the first 100 applicants
or until 10/13/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Overview

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Accepting applications
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
few vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$24.18 - $31.43 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 7
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules - Work schedule is dependent upon the position.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Temporary - Not to exceed 1039 or 1560 hours
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CAHQ-27-13066659-DE-KK
Control number
887553200

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Duties

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This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year. It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work. The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year.

Be a successful applicant. Watch this 5 minute video to learn how to create a federal resume.

Brief Description of Duties: Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Youth Education and Work Program Manager, incumbents direct and coordinate the daily operations of two-month long residential programs serving 62 youths (ages 15-18) through the Youth Conservation Corp (YCC). Oversee work crews assigned to projects and weekend recreational activities throughout Yellowstone. Train/lead staff and enrollees manage the YCC facility and coordinate other youth work program assignments. Responsible for the daily management, administration, and leadership of YCC staff responsible for accomplishing program goals and objectives. Provide resource training to enrollees using the Yellowstone YCC Leadership Curriculum. Responsible for the security, safety, and management of enrollees while on duty. Schedule, assign and assure duties are accomplished (i.e., work projects, time/attendance, performance, food preparation management, equipment/inventories, safety program, purchasing, fleet management, inter-divisional communications, etc.). Mentor and counsel teen enrollees, one-on-one or as a group.

Physical Demands: Physical exertion in the outdoors (wet, rough, uneven, rocky surfaces; climbing). Requires average agility and flexibility. A hard hat/helmet as prescribed by regulations. Projects are physical in nature, include backcountry trail maintenance, construction, campground restoration work, fence work, and a variety of research/resource management projects. Mountainous hiking/backpacking (approximately 10 miles a day) with often lifting/carrying equipment weighing more than 50 pounds.

Working Conditions: Indoor and outdoors work (temperatures/weather extremes). Incumbent must conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to injure self, enrollees, station personnel, or property. All work projects are completed with enrollee's safety in mind. Outdoor conditions may include temperature extremes from 0 - 100 degrees with low relative humidity. Snow depths may vary from 1-6 feet. Inclement weather may be expected during much of the year. Work is performed at altitudes of 5,500 feet to over 10,000 feet. The work environment is often one of high stress caused by long hours, heavy workloads, short deadline, and caring for minor children who are away from their parents in a multi-week overnight camp environment for the first time. Work is in bear country and other large-mammal habitats.

Area Information: Park headquarters is located in Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Elevation at Mammoth is 6,200 feet. Temperatures vary from an average of 70 degrees Fahrenheit in summer to sub-zero at times in winter. A school is available, with kindergarten through 12th grade, in Gardiner, Montana, five miles north of headquarters. Free bus transportation is provided for school children between Mammoth and Gardiner. Many community facilities such as stores, a drugstore, day care, motels, and restaurants are available in Gardiner. A medical clinic is available in Mammoth. All other services are available within 55 to 75 miles from Mammoth. For more information click here

Yellowstone National Park The YCC base camp/facility is located in Mammoth Hot Springs, headquarters of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Mammoth is a small community that includes a housing area, a small store, a post office, a medical clinic, a visitor center, and a hotel. The YCC facility consists of a dormitory and a dining facility that is used for meals and meetings for enrollees and YCC staff, who are required to reside there. Monday through Friday, work crews live in the dorm or camp in the frontcountry and/or backcountry campsites throughout Yellowstone National Park.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Direct Deposit participation required.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
  • Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
  • Some locations may require the non-sensitive Tier 1 (T1) background investigation to be or )will be elevated to include the childcare public trust requirement.
  • You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You 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

Qualifications:All qualifications must be met by 11:59 EST or when the 'applicant cut-off' is reached (which may be sooner than 10/13/2026).

To receive credit for experience, 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.

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.

1. OPM's QUALIFICATION STANDARDS FOR THE GS-0025-07: (Applicants may qualify based on experience and/or education).

EXPERIENCE: Must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level. Specialized 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. Examples of specialized experience include supervising volunteers, interns, and youth work groups and assisting with oversight of seasonal staff. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-5 grade level in the federal service.
OR,B. EDUCATION: Must possess one full year of graduate study in one of the following fields: natural resource management, natural sciences, marine biology/sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, wetlands ecology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. (One year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours). IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts or a complete list of college courses taken that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information as described previously, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).
OR,C. EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION: Must have an equivalent combination of experience and education. For example: Six months of specialized experience described in 2A above (50% of the experience requirement), plus one-half year (9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours) of directly related graduate level college study in an accredited institution as described in 2B above (50% of the qualifying education), totals 100% to qualify.

2. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SPF) - SCREEN-OUT FOR THE GS-0025-07 GRADE LEVEL: In addition to possessing the Qualification Standards, you must meet this SPF. All applicants must have experience with the responsibility and safety of minors while leading or directing residential outdoor youth programs. Must have directed and coordinated daily operations and activities for teenagers ranging from 15 to 18 years of age. (MANDATORY). If you do not meet this selective factor, you will be rated not qualified. You must document in your resume and support how you meet this requirement.

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.

Education

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Temporary Benefits: Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information, visit Leave Administration. Effective January 2015, employees on temporary appointments may be eligible for health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and, if eligible, will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. To be eligible for consideration, temporary employees working full-time or part-time must be on appointments expected to last at least 90 days, or be on an intermittent work schedule and expected to work 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.

The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

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), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. 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 the following 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 assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Stamina
  • Teaching Others

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

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. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

National Park Service

The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities. Click here to learn more about the Department of the Interior and its bureaus.

The mission of the National Park Service (NPS) is to preserve the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. You can make a difference by bringing your unique experience, background, and perspective to our work. Click here to learn more about the National Park Service.

Agency contact information

DOI Seasonal Temp Team
Email
seasonaltempteam@ios.doi.gov
Address
Seasonal Staffing Office-Intermountain Region
12795 West Alameda Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80228
US

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