Park Ranger (General)

Summary These positions are located in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, in the Resource and Visitor Protection Division. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for National Parks of Eastern North Carolina is April - October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty:April 06, 2025. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment DUTIES CONT. Provides answers to recurring and non-recurring visitor questions concerning specific park areas (in person, via telephone, or by responding to written requests for information). Explains the area's recreational opportunities, including NPS interpretive services, concession-operated facilities and services, and campground availability; distributes maps, brochures, and other printed material; provides directions and routes of travel through the park; and informs visitors of potential safety hazards. Provides assistance in connection with one-time or annual celebrations related to programs and themes of the park and assists in the operations of special events. 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to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle.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. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. Occupancy of government quarters maybe available. 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. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/03/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. 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 of qualified specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS- 0025-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of 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-0025-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: 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 but are not limited to: preparing and presenting recurring interpretive programs and conducting basic research for such programs; performing the routine operations of a visitor facility and/or information desk; reviewing existing park policies, standards, methods, controls, and procedures; operating a variety of audiovisual and other equipment. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study of 24 semester hours of course work in a related field, (Related fields of study include natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archaeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.) IMPORTANT - PLEASE 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). You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described in A above (50% of the experience requirement), and 3 years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified in B above (50% of the related coursework required). 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 AREA INFORMATION: The Outer Banks are comprised by several towns including Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Buxton, and Ocracoke. The area is a beach destination and the beaches, and Albemarle, and Pamlico sounds provide exceptional recreational opportunities, such as fishing, surfing, boating, and many other water-sports. There are several highly rated elementary, middle, and high schools and numerous extracurricular activities available for children. These towns all have homes for sale or rent and are within reasonable driving distance. The Outer Banks has many modern conveniences, such as grocery stores, retail shopping, banks, a hospital, and many restaurants. The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce (www.outerbankschamber.com) and the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau (www.outerbanks.org) websites can provide additional community information. 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. Wright Brothers National Memorial (www.nps.gov/wrbr): Wright Brother National Memorial is located in Kill Devil Hills, NC. It commemorates the location of the first flight by the Wright Brothers in December of 1903. This park hosts several special events including National Aviation Day and The Outer Banks Marathon. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/fora): Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is located just outside the town of Manteo, NC on the North end of Roanoke Island. The Outer Banks Group Headquarters is located within Fort Raleigh NHS. The park was designated as a national historic site to preserve the site of the First English Settlement in the new world. This site also preserves the cultural heritage of the Native Americans, European Americans and African Americans who have lived on Roanoke Island. The Lost Colony play is the longest running symphonic outdoor drama in the country and it runs during the summer months in the park. 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 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 1040 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 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 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 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM. Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion and can involve extensive periods of standing and walking, in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines outdoors or in caves, and carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, or other loads. Some employees may engage in firefighting, search and rescue, and other strenuous activities; these employees may be required to lift or carry equipment weighing more than 50 pounds over long distances. Employees who participate in all-risk operations will be required to meet fitness requirements on a continuing basis. Working Conditions: The work can include moderate risks or discomforts that require safety precautions (e.g., exposure to extreme temperatures, climates, rough terrain, wild animals, pests, and/or insects). The incumbent may be required to use protective clothing or gear, such as masks, boots, gloves, etc. Some employees may be engaged in all-risk operations and be exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations which require a range of safety and other precautions. Read more Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.