Park Ranger (Protection)

Full Job Description

This announcement is for the Visitor and Resource Protection (VRP), with multiple duty locations and positions available (location negotiable).

To see available parks/duty locations, please see the Duties section. This is a temporary promotion/detail not-to-exceed 1 year, and can be extended up to 5 years.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/02/2026-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 2-page resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying 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 2-page 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.

Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection), GS-0025-11: 1.

Selective Placement Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify: Mandatory Minimum Age Requirement: This position has a mandatory requirement that applicants must be 21 years of age or older.

Mandatory Law Enforcement Commission: Applicants must meet one of the following criteria by the close date of the announcement to be considered for these positions: Currently hold, or have previously held (within the past three years), a National Park Service full (Level I) law enforcement commission, or equivalent within the past three years.

You MUST certify in your supporting documents the possession of at least one of the above criteria. Include your commission number with expiration date within your resume.

Primary Law Enforcement Experience: This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS).

Applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position.

Candidates must currently be a credentialed Field Training Officer for the NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program.

Applicants must have attended a NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) Training Officer Course.

The two NPS-approved courses of instruction are the NPS FTEP Training Course and the DHS FLETC FTEP Training Officer Course.

Candidates must have completed one of the two courses by the close date of the announcement in order to qualify as a Field Training Officer.

Applicants are not required to submit proof of FTO during the application process - this will be verified by Human Resources during the application review. 2.

Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications by the close of the announcement: To qualify for the GS-11 level: A.

Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 (or GL-09) 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 at this level requires substantial prior primary law enforcement experience which includes investigating, apprehending or detaining criminals or criminal suspects.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- B.

Education: Successful completion of three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, or a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree at an accredited college or university, in a field of major study that is directly related to the work of the position such as: natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, 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.

Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled.

-OR- C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

Temporary Promotion Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates applying for a temporary promotion, must meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade qualification requirements.

Detail Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates must meet qualification requirements, however, candidates are not required to meet the time-in-grade qualification requirements of this position.

Details also apply to current employees who hold the full performance level of the position (GS-11) or higher grade level on a permanent basis.

While on detail, the employee continues to hold their official position from which detailed and keeps the same status and grade.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated The probationary and trial periods are an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. Major Duties:

This position requires substantial prior primary law enforcement experience either inside or outside the Federal government (e.g.

investigating, apprehending, or detaining criminals or criminal suspects).

Park Ranger (Protection) - Standard & Field Training Officer Duties: Serves as a Field Training Officer, providing expert guidance and training on law enforcement procedures as a law enforcement instructor.

Conduct technical training and education programs including development of law enforcement training curriculum as a certified law enforcement instructor.

Provide evaluation of student performance for both team and individual training settings to determine behavior anchor points and acquired skills/abilities.

Develop law enforcement training curriculum using advanced principles and techniques to include lesson plan development, research, curriculum review, development, and revision; develop training materials utilizing different approaches and methods to instruct in classroom settings and practical exercises.

Maintain working relationships with key stakeholders to complete joint training projects or to share best practices; develop and deliver presentations to students and management officials.

Location Negotiable - Available parks and duty locations (not all locations will be filling positions): Big Cypress NP - Ochopee FL Biscayne NP - Homestead FL Blue Ridge Parkway - Laurel Springs MC, Blowing Rock NC, Spruce Pine NC, Asheville NC, Waynesville NC, Floyd VA, Vinton VA, Big Island VA, Bedford VA, & Montebello VA Buffalo NR - Harrison AR Canaveral NS - Titusville FL & New Smyrna FL Cape Hatteras NS - Buxton NC, Nags Head NC, & Ocracoke NC Chickasaw NRA - Sulphur OK Colonial NHP - Yorktown VA, Jamestown VA Cumberland Gap NHP - Middlesboro KY Cuyahoga Valley NP - Brecksville OH, Peninsula OH Delaware Water Gap NRA - Bushkill PA Everglades NP - Homestead FL, Everglades City FL, Key Largo FL, & Flamingo FL Gateway Arch NP - Saint Louis MO Gateway Sandy Hook - Highlands, NJ Glen Canyon NRA - Page Wahweap AZ, Bullfrog UT Golden Gate NRA - San Francisco CA, Sausalito CA Grand Canyon NP - Grand Canyon AZ, North Rim AZ Grand Teton NP - Moose WY, Colter Bay WY Great Smoky Mountain NP - Townsend TN, Gatlinburg TN, & Cherokee NC Gulf Islands NS - Gulf Breeze FL, Ocean Springs MS Hot Springs NP - Hot Springs AR Independence NHP - Philadelphia PA Joshua Tree NP - Twentynine Palms CA Lake Mead NRA -Boulder City NV, Callville Bay NV, Searchlight NV, Clark County NV, Temple Bar AZ, Willow Beach AZ, Bullhead City AZ Mammoth Cave NP - Mammoth Cave KY Mount Rushmore NP - Keystone SD Natchez Trace Parkway - Franklin TN, Hohenwald TN, Cherokee AL, Tupelo MS, Mantee MS, Ridgeland MS, & Port Gibson MS New River Gorge NP - Glen Jean WV, Beaver WV, & Lansing WV Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Van Buren MO, Eminence MO Rocky Mountain NP - Estes Park CO Sequoia and King's Canyon NP - Kings Canyon National Park CA, Three Rivers CA, & Sequoia National Park CA Valley Forge NHP - King of Prussia PA Yellowstone NP - Yellowstone NP, WY Yosemite NP - Yosemite CA Zion NP - Springdale UT