Park Ranger (Protection)- Law Enforcement Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Division of Visitor and Resource Protection as Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application minimum qualification questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment, including a panel resume review.

Requirements Continued...

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.

This probationary period is 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 or trial 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 or trial 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.

Prior to appointment, you 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 government physician.

You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.

National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (NREMT) Certification: Must currently possess -or- be able to obtain within one year-a National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/30/2026-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.

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.

Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify: National Park Service Type I Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type I National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by closing date of this announcement.

Must have a current, valid State Driver's License 01/30/2026.

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

You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record.

You must also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS).

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements, but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage.

If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system.

To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position.

To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause).

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions).

You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position.

- AND - Applicants must possess 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-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Examples of specialized experience for this position includes directing and supervising a law enforcement and resources protection program; interpreting regulations and policy directives related to law enforcement and natural resource protection that includes evaluating law enforcement program activities based on funding to determine objectives, amount and location of work, as well as the type of resources needed for the program; reviewing law enforcement case reports to ensure compliance with policy, mutual aid agreements, cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding; investigating criminal activity; and conducting investigations of applicable federal or state laws.

You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

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 serves as the park Law Enforcement Specialist (LES), supervises several subordinates, and is accountable to the Chief Ranger.

Conducts investigations and takes law enforcement actions on cases that represent the entire spectrum of CFR, Federal, and State laws.

Cases will be complex, of high magnitude, and frequently involve matters of a sensitive nature.

Serves as legal advisor and law enforcement technical expert to the law enforcement patrol staff, park managers, other NPS divisions, and local agencies.

Manages the park's physical and digital evidence programs.

Serves as division training officer by coordinating all required law enforcement training, scheduling goals and standards, selecting advanced instructorships, and ensuring year end requirements are met.

Analyzes law enforcement performance to determine training needs and develops programs for those training needs.

Serves as the park's primary liaison with 15 local, state, and Federal law enforcement agencies and with the office of the US Attorney's office, Office of the Solicitor and other state and local courts and District Attorney's offices.

Serves as incident commander or command staff for joint operations with other law enforcement agencies during emergency law enforcement incidents, demonstrations, and large scale special events.

Directs NPS Law Enforcement participating on joint task force special operations. This is a supervisory law enforcement position.

As a Commissioned Ranger, you will be responsible for performing law enforcement duties including detection, investigation, apprehension, and prosecution under applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted to insure the protection and safe use of National Park resources.

You will also educate, interpret, and inform visitors about resources, conservation, laws, and regulations.

Collateral duties may include field training, emergency medical services, special response, technical rescue, swift water rescue, and helicopter rescue.

You will be 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.

Prior to appointment, you 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 government physician.

You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit Promotion applicants who are in a current GS position or have held a GS position any time in the previous 52 weeks (one year) must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks (one year) at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service.

SF-50(s) that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application (e.g., Promotions, STEP Increases, etc.).

No award or general adjustment SF-50 will be accepted for determination of time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.