Park Ranger (Protection)

What You'd Actually Do

Key Duties

• Park Ranger (Protection) Standard Duties: Enforce federal laws, regulations and policies.
• Patrol front country and backcountry sites.
• Emergency response (utilizing Incident Command System) including medical services, search and rescue, and wildland/structural fire suppression.
• Facilitate visitor stewardship and orientation; wilderness management; boundary enforcement; protection of natural and cultural resources (e.g.
• wildlife, plants, archaeological sites, historic buildings).
• Proactively protects park resources from all forms of degradation.
• Assist with preliminary investigations of felonies, crimes and violations of park rules, public use, safety requirements, and motor vehicle accidents.
• Crowd control activities.
• Proactively protects park resources from all forms of degradation.
• The incumbent will independently conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor violations.
• Under the supervision of a Type I commissioned personnel, investigate felony violations and fatalities.

Qualifications

• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/23/2026-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.
• 1.
• Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection): A.
• Mandatory Minimum Age Requirement: This position has a mandatory requirement that applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
• B.
• Mandatory Law Enforcement Commission: Applicants must meet one of the following criteria by the entrance-on-duty (EOD) date to be considered for these positions: Currently hold, or have previously held (within the past three years), a National Park Service Seasonal (Level II) or full (Level I) law enforcement commission, or equivalent within the past three years.
• Successful completion a Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program during the last three years, but have not yet received a National Park Service Seasonal (Level II) Law Enforcement Commission.
• Will successfully complete a Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program by the entrance on duty date from one of the approved participating academies found at https://www.anpr.org/career/prlea.
• NOTE: This is not regular police officer training.
• You MUST certify in your supporting documents the possession of at least one of the above criteria.
• Include your commission number with expiration date, or your anticipated graduation date from an approved NPS Seasonal Law Enforcement Academy within your resume.
• C.
• Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB): Applicants are required to pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) prior to entering law enforcement positions.
• The duties of this position require arduous physical exertion involving walking, running, lifting, standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather.
• The Physical Efficiency Battery (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 the upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures the flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures the body fat.
• Prior to appointment, applicants will be tested in all five components, but only the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run will be measured for a passing score in the 25th percentile (age and gender adjusted) of these components.
• These procedures will ensure that law enforcement officers are capable of performing strenuous physical training and law enforcement duties.
• Applicants shall be disqualified for appointment if they fail to meet any physical requirements.
• Probationary or seasonal employment is subject to termination for failure to meet the 25th percentile in each of the identified components being measured.
• 2.
• Specialized Experience and/or Education: To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the federal service.
• Specialized experience must have been performing law enforcement duties for the protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations, which involved the application of law enforcement authorities and procedures to protect visitors and resources.
• Law enforcement duties include apprehending, detaining, and firearm experience.
• -OR- B.
• You must possess one full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation (one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours).
• -OR- C.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education.
• 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.

Benefits

Standard federal benefits including FEHB, FERS pension, TSP with matching, annual and sick leave.