Seasonal Education Technician

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of these positions are to contribute directly to the park education and outreach program by presenting curriculum-based education programs in the park, virtually, and in schools, assisting with teacher workshops and staff training sessions, assisting in the development of curriculum-based materials, presenting special request programs in the park or for community outreach events, presenting special emphasis children's programs such as Junior Ranger and youth camps.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/21/2026-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 or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least three years of progressively responsible general experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service and that demonstrated an administrative, professional, or technical ability to analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in courses directly related to the position such as education, teaching, or training and development.

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

Example, eighteen months of the general experience (50% of the experience requirement) and 60 semester hours of college that included directly related courses as listed above (50% of the education requirement).

Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 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-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) that includes: planning, development and presentation of environmental and curriculum-based education programs for kindergarten through high school students following established themes, learning objectives, curriculum requirements, and guidelines and utilizing teaching methods appropriate to each grade level; development and implementation of internet-based distance learning education programs such as webcasts and virtual field trips, videos, and student activities; research, develop, and present a variety of place-based, educational programs on natural resource and/or cultural resource topics for diverse audiences.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester hours) of graduate level education; OR I have superior academic achievement in an undergraduate degree.

Major study must have been in courses directly related to the position such as education, teaching, or training and development. You must include transcripts.

-OR- COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

Example, six months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement) and 9 semester hours in related courses (50% of the education requirement) as described above.

Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

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.

CTAP/ICTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection.

Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP.

This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible.

If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.

Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001). Major Duties:

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period.

Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in this announcement.

The first cut-off date for referral is 11:59 pm (EST), February 11, 2026.

Present environmental and curriculum-based education programs for kindergarten through high school students following established themes, learning objectives, curriculum requirements, and guidelines, utilizing teaching methods appropriate to each grade level.

Lead learning activities that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving that connect students with the park resources.

Conducts basic research and assists in the writing, review, and evaluation of education program learning objectives, lesson plans, and resource materials.

Assist with the presentation of training workshops for formal and non-formal educators, and park staff.

Create program props, worksheets, handouts, other audio/visual aids, and computer-generated presentations to enhance education and interpretive programs.

Present special emphasis or seasonal children's programs such as Junior Rangers, summer school, and youth service-learning camps.

Assist with day-to day operation of the education program including answering phones, record keeping, internal communications, correspondences, and materials maintenance and storage.

Research, develop, and present resource-based interpretive programs for the public during peak visitation periods or if staff shortages occur.

Contact with park visitors through informal roving assignments and at visitor centers and responds to visitor questions, emergencies, or other needs by phone, email, or in person.

In addition to above duties, GS-07 positions will also: Assist with the development and implementation of internet-based distance learning education programs including webcasts and interactive, multimedia virtual field trips, videos, and student activities.

Prepare and lead sessions at training workshops.

Develop and present in-park and offsite special request programs for groups from kindergarten to adult audiences, including, community outreach programs and events.

Serve as mentor for student interns and other team members Positions are TEMPORARY seasonal not to exceed 1560 hours of work in a service year.

Positions may be filled at either the GS-05 level or the GS-07 level. POSITION LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia, approximately 90 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.

The park consists of approximately 197,000 acres of land, including 80,000 acres designated as wilderness.

Home to over 300 species of animals including black bears, white-tailed deer, owls, eagles, peregrine falcons, snakes, and Shenandoah salamanders as well as over 1,400 species of plants, Shenandoah National Park provides a variety of ecosystems along the mountain range.

The Park offers biking, scenic driving along the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive, rock climbing, over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, horse trails, and some of the best night skies in this part of Virginia.

Annual visitation is around 1.3 million, which has direct and extensive economic impact on the surrounding area (eight counties and nine municipalities).

The Park hosts multiple special events and festivals throughout the year and draws more visitation in the fall to view the changing leaves.

The park's natural, cultural and recreational resources are of vital interest to local and regional businesses, political leaders, conservation and outdoor recreation organizations, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Luray offers basic amenities such as stores and restaurants. Larger cities within two hours include Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Winchester, Culpeper and the Washington D.C. area.