Park Ranger (Protection)

Full Job Description

This position serves as the Senior Law Enforcement Officer in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield located in Republic, Missouri.

As the manager of the Visitor and Resource Protection Division, the incumbent plans, develops, and directs programs related to the division functions, including supervision of subordinate(s).

This position is located at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, All qualifications must be met by the Entrance on Duty (EOD) of this announcement-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 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 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: Required to carry a firearm while performing duties and required to maintain firearm proficiency and be subject to the Lautenberg Amendment.

Prior law enforcement experience as gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position in the Federal government or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a mandatory prerequisite.

/ Selective factor for this position.

Law Enforcement Commission: This position requires applicants to possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to possess by Entrance on Duty (EOD) a valid Type I level National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission (or equivalent), which requires completing training from an accredited institution, which currently consists of over 650 class hours and lasts on average 17 weeks.

Valid State Driver's License: Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by Entrance on duty.

Applicants must possess at least one of 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/GL-09 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.

Specialized Experience includes three of the five items: Providing technical direction, planning, and implementing a visitor and facilities protection program, with emphasis on crime prevention and security of park facilities and grounds, poaching and other criminal activities.

Leading, planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating short- and long-range goals and objectives, operating plans and program requirements.

Conducting full range of law enforcement operations, including investigations, reporting, and patrols, averaging 40+ hours per week.

Performed investigations involving criminal acts and civil torts, including evidence collection, witness interviews, and case reporting.

Including surveillance using various technologies and methodologies.

Develops, coordinates activities and maintains effective relationships with local, state, and other federal law enforcement and public safety agencies and departments.

Educating and instructing various audiences regarding park significance and resources, including laws and regulations necessary to protect the park resources and visitor experience.

Examples of specialized experience could include: Park Guide or tour leader; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least three full years of graduate level study leading to a Doctorate, Ph.D., or equivalent degree at an accredited college or university in directly-related fields such as natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archaeology, anthropology, park and recreation management; law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, or sociology.

You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above.

To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 36 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent.

Then, take the number of months of experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

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. 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. Major Duties:

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 ensure 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 emergency medical services, special response, technical rescue, swift water rescue, and helicopter rescue.

As a Park Ranger you will lead daily operations and direct the completion of collateral duties related to training and leadership. You will supervise one GL-9 permanent 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.

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following.

Exercise the full range of administrative and technical supervision for supporting staff, including one permanent protection park ranger (GL-0025-05/07/09) including performance planning and appraisals, employee recognition, and employee counseling.

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.

Serve as the park's senior Law Enforcement (LE) Officer.

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.

Conduct and supervise the detection of criminal activity, investigation of criminal violations, and custodial arrests.

Responsible for ensuring the completion of comprehensive written reports Requirements. U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.

Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.

New employees of the Department of the Interior must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of net pay within 30 days of entrance on duty.

Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service).

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Selectee(s) 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. 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.

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.