Park Ranger (Seasonal)

Full Job Description

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for National Capital Parks-East is April-January but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Anticipated Entry on Duty: End of April Open to the first 150 applicants or until 03/23/2026 whichever comes first.

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

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time).

If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you 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-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes activities such as: managing picnic areas in a county, state or federal park, giving oral presentations of historical or scientific nature to groups, customer service as in a concession-operated facility, restaurant, or small museum environment.

You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four years of education above high school. You must include transcripts.

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

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.

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 include, but are not limited to, the following: Monitors and reports on the condition of the resources of the park.

Observes and identifies resource problems or potential problems that can be corrected or mitigated by immediate attention.

Provides visitors with information on permit applications, requirement and terms. Upon identification of permit violations, reports violation to the supervisor.

Provides a variety of logistical support for routine park operations.

Provides informal impromptu interpretive patio talks or walks of a single theme, develops digital media posts and tracks and records the number of visitor contacts.

Provides public orientation and explanations of current park events, and informs visitors of potential safety hazards.

The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans.

Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources.

Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks.

They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery.

Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park.

They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives.

By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources.

National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration.

The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.