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Park Ranger (Protection) - Law Enforcement Specialist

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Joshua Tree National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Joshua Tree National Park, in the Division of Visitor and Resource Protection.

Pay rate varies by duty location:
Twentynine Palms - $103,316 - 134,317
San Diego - $101,234 - $131,610

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/02/2025 to 07/16/2025
Salary
$101,234 to - $134,317 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
San Diego, CA
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
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
No
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
PW-1547-JOTR-25-12757144-ST
Control number
839948600

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Duties

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This position is shared by Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR), Cabrillo National Monument (CABR), Mojave National Preserve (MOJA), and Castel Mountains National Monument (CAMO).

  • Serves as the Incident Commander or command staff for joint operations with other law enforcement agencies during emergency law enforcement Incidents, demonstrations, and large-scale special events.
  • Directs NPS rangers participating on Joint task force special operations for Illegal drug cultivation, theft, vandalism, and other crimes.
  • Performs a full range of law enforcement duties as a federal officer including detection, investigation, apprehension, detention, and prosecution under provision of applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted to ensure the protection and safe use of park resources.
  • Ensures all mandatory requirements are met yearly by the Law Enforcement Ranger staff.
  • Coordinates all ranger trainings, including scheduling, setting training goals and standards, selecting Instructors, executing training, and documenting training.
  • Processes FOIA requests.
  • Provides emergency medical services to sick and Injured individuals within JOTR, MOJA, and CAMO in compliance with federal and state law and policies of the National Park Service.
  • Serves on Incident command staff during major disasters.
  • Reviews and coordinates all tort claims for the park. Collects tort documentation, Interviews claimants, and drafts recommendation for disposition.
This is a non-supervisory law enforcement position in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. As a Commissioned Ranger, you will be responsible for performing law enforcement duties including detection, investigation, apprehension, and prosecution under applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted to insure the protection and safe use of National Park resources. You will also educate, interpret, and inform visitors about resources, conservation, laws, and regulations. Collateral duties may include field training, emergency medical services, special response, technical rescue, swift water rescue, and helicopter rescue.

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.

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.

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.

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

For more information about Joshua Tree National Park, please visit: Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Selectee(s) will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/16/2025-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 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized 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.

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:

  • Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type I National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by entry on duty.
  • Must currently possess or be able to obtain a National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification by entrance on duty.
  • Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 07/16/2025. 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.
  • 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.
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-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.
  • Examples of specialized experience for this position includes directing and supervising a law enforcement and resources protection program; interpreting regulations and policy directives related to law enforcement and natural resource protection that includes evaluating law enforcement program activities based on funding to determine objectives, amount and location of work, as well as the type of resources needed for the program; reviewing law enforcement case reports to ensure compliance with policy, mutual aid agreements, cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding; investigating criminal activity; and conducting investigations of applicable federal or state laws. You must include hours per week worked on your resume.
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

There is no substitute of education for experience at the grade level of this announcement.

Additional information

For additional information about this position, please contact:
Jeffrey Filosa, Chief Ranger, Joshua Tree National Park
Jeffrey_Filosa@nps.gov

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: The majority of the work is performed in an office setting, requiring long hours of concentration on reading, operation of computers, and other desk work. The Ranger may be required to drive long distances for Investigations, training, special operations, and meetings. Field work may require hiking, climbing, cross-country travel, and riding in helicopters. This position comes under the scope and requirements of the park's Health and Fitness Program and the Incumbent must meet and maintain the physical/medical standards as set forth in the requirements as specified In NPS-57.

Working Conditions: The majority of the work Is performed in an office environment. The LES office Is located at the JOTR Headquarters facility in 29 Palms, CA. There Is limited noise from events and traffic. Some duties will require travel throughout the Park and expose the Incumbent to temperatures ranging from 30 to over 120 degrees and at elevations varying from sea level to 5,000 feet. The steep terrain includes rocky trails, hazardous cliffs, and possible exposure to toxic plants

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

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information

How you will be evaluated

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

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 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), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Administration and Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Leadership
  • Learning
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Written Communication


To Preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12757144

You MUST 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, you MUST submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

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