Park Ranger (Protection)

Full Job Description

This position is located in Catoctin Mountain Park, in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. This is a temporary promotion/detail not to exceed 1 year and can be extended up to 4 years.

This temporary promotion/detail may be made permanent without further competition. Open to the first 50 applicants or 02/24/2026 whichever comes first.

All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Requirements Continued... 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. 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.

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 physician.

Required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.

Required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. Occupancy of government quarters may be required.

Government housing may be available. Required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. May be required to travel overnight away from home.

May be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. You will be required to lift 50 pounds or more.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/24/2026-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 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.

Those that do not will receive no further consideration: Type I Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years), a FLERT issued Land Management Police Training (LMPT), full Type I Law Enforcement Commission or equivalent; or be qualified to receive a Type I Commission upon appointment.

This will be based upon having completed approved NPS training as outlined by policy including Natural Resource Police Training (NRPT), Land Management Police Training Program (LMPT), US Park Police Integrated (USPPI), Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP), BIA Basic Police Officer Training Program (BIA-BPOTP), or Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP).

This is required by the closing date of the announcement.

Previous Law Enforcement Experience: Prior law enforcement experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement officer position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE for incumbents of these positions.

(Experience must be documented in your Resume.) Firearm Proficiency: You will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and required to maintain firearm proficiency.

You must be willing to carry a firearm to perform your duties and able to maintain firearm proficiency.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: 4.

Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications by the close of the announcement: 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.

This experience includes activities such as 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; providing law enforcement or investigative services which include apprehending, detaining, detection, and prosecution of individuals; applying knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies, and areas of jurisdiction when serving as a person with law enforcement authority; responding to accidents, emergencies, and/or natural disaster; using precautionary methods and techniques while patrolling to mitigate any crimes or violations of the law.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree related to the occupation. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

You must include your resume with hours worked per week annotated, as well as transcripts. NOTE: To Qualify based on a combination of education and experience, you must total to 100% when combined.

Calculate your education and experience percentages by determining what percentage of the required amounts you possess.

Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify. For example, 3 months of experience would be 25% of the required 12 months.

45 semester hours of graduate education out of the required 54, would meet 50% of the 18 semester hours beyond what's required of the GS-09 grade level.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week.

Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

Experience listed as full-time will be credited at 40 hours per week.

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.

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:

The major duties of the Park Ranger (Protection) GS-11 position include, but are not limited to, the following: Detection, investigation, apprehension, and prosecution under applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted to insure the protection and safe use of National Park resources and visitors.

Assist with supervising volunteers and employees of a lower grade. Communication Skills, prepare briefings and trainings as well as lead teams in person. Develop written manuals and communications.

Draft operational plans, such as standard operating procedures, technical documents, reports, memoranda, and project proposals.

Monitor the activities of special permit holders to ensure they are operating as authorized and in compliance with the terms and conditions of their permits.

As a Park Ranger you will lead daily operations and direct the completion of collateral duties related to training and leadership.

You will supervise GL-9 permanent and seasonal law enforcement rangers as well as non-commissioned staff and park volunteers.

You will conduct and supervise the detection of criminal activity, investigation of criminal violations, and custodial arrests.

You may prepare and execute warrants, interview witnesses, and detain suspects. You will ensure the completion of comprehensive written reports.

You will conduct and/or supervise gathering of law enforcement, security, and intelligence information relating to the park, its facilities, events, mission, or visitors.

You will set work goals and ensure all employees receive required training in a timely manner; identify operational requirements and make recommendations to your supervisor regarding programming, budgeting, training, administration, and evaluation of operations; and schedule patrols to maximize visitor contact with special consideration to problem areas.

You will supervise and lead complex law enforcement, all hazard, emergency medical, and search and rescue operations as well as provide emergency medical services to park visitors and residents.

In addition, you will participate in all aspects of employee supervision including performance planning and appraisals, employee recognition, and employee counseling.