Park Ranger (Protection) (Seasonal)

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.
• Additional duties for GS-7: 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-07/22/2026-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.
• Specialties EMT or FR/EMR Note: All applications will be reviewed for Park Ranger (Protection) without Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Emergency Medical Responder/ (FR/EMR) certifications.
• However, EMT or FR/EMR are additional specialties applicants can be considered for.
• Some parks on this announcement require Park Ranger (Protection) to be certified as an EMT or EMR/FR.
• To be referred for the EMT or EMR/FR designation, you must meet the following Selective Placement Factors in addition to the Park Ranger (Protection) qualification standards: For Emergency Medical Technician designation - Applicants must be certified by the National Registry OR by a State EMS organization in order to be referred for the EMT designation.
• For Emergency Medical Responder/First Responder designation - Applicants must be certified by the National Registry OR by a State EMS organization in order to be referred for the EMR/FR designation.
• 3.
• Specialized Experience and/or Education: To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the federal service.
• Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.
• Experience must have been performing work that provided broad knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management.
• Examples of qualifying specialized experience include but are not limited to the following: Assisting with law enforcement or investigative work; Assisting resource management related to natural and cultural resources (museum technician, archeological technician, etc.); Assisting forestry and/or fire management (wildland and/or structural); Assisted in emergency services (emergency medical, search and rescue, emergency dispatch); Assisting in the management, information dissemination, or the carrying out of programs in a park (park guide or tour leader), conservation reserve or similar area (entrance station, backcountry office, volunteer, visitor information desk, campground ranger).
• -OR- B.
• A 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related course work (one year of full time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours).
• - OR- C.
• Equivalent combination of experience and 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.

Benefits

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