Park Ranger (River Patrol)

Full Job Description

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Taos, New Mexico.

Information about Taos and the surrounding area can be found here: www.taoschamber.com/ We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Note: These are not Law Enforcement positions.

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires special qualifications that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element.

Those who do not provide evidence that they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified: Experience in rowing a raft in whitewater rapids rated on the International Scale from Class III to V Experience in swimming in swift water to perform rescues.

Experience in rafting to remote recreation sites; and/or operating an oar powered raft in Class III to V waters.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Minimum Qualification: Specialized Experience: For the GS-05 you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-04 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Explaining regulations to park visitors; providing information and advice on park activities and resources; collecting fees; issuing reservations and permits; conducting guided tour programs or environmental education programs; maintaining recreation facilities or trails, monitoring special recreation permits; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; or management assistant or program specialist work involving policy related to conservation or management of parks, or other similar work.

-OR- Education: Successful completion of at least a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree or higher from a accredited college or university with 24 semester hours of related work in 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 related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources that has provided the knowledge ans skills necessary for successful job performance in this position.

-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education.

Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

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. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: The work is performed mostly outdoors in rugged terrain; to include very steep, wet, muddy, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces.

The position requires physical exertion such as, but not limited to, driving over unpaved roads, walking over rough terrain or inclines, standing for long periods of time bending, crouching and stooping, digging, hiking, lifting, biking, stretching, reaching, or similar activities.

Work may involve early morning hours, night hours, or daytime hours and may require working holidays. It can require carrying heavy backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, or other loads.

Work Environment: Most work will be performed outdoors, in all types of weather conditions, terrain, and elevations.

Work may take place in an extremely remote environment and may require primitive camping and living skills for upwards of two weeks in duration. Indoor duties are performed in a normal office setting.

Major Duties:

• Swims in swift water to perform rescues.
• Rafts to remote recreation sites; and/or operate an oar powered raft in Class III to V waters.
• Responds to emergency situations, including swift river rescue and administering first aid.
• Performs river patrols, road, traffic, trail and recreation site patrols. Raft to remote recreation sites, row a raft or swim in whitewater rapids and perform rescues.
• Installs and maintains various types of signage on public lands, such as off-road vehicle, wilderness, portal, boundary, directional road and trail, and interpretive signing.
• Assists staff with Wilderness, Wild and Scenic River, Wilderness Study Area and dispersed recreation site management.
• Conducts inventories and ordering of supplies for office or visitor information purposes. Performs routine facility maintenance and/or repair.