Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Full Job Description

NOTE: OPM has identified this position as eligible for an exception to the typical 1039-hour season.

This exception allows up to 1560 hours which may extend the season(s) reflected in this announcement. See the Additional Information section for details.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 02/20/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required.

Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.

-AND- To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration.

The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraphs.

Areas considered "near" the Talkeetna and Trapper Creek duty stations include: Big Lake, Cantwell, Chase, Chulitna, Curry, Denali Park, Farm Loop, Ferry, Healy, Kantishna, Knik, Lake Minchumina, Meadow Lakes, McKinley Village, Nenana, Nikolai, Palmer, Petersville, Sunshine, Talkeetna, Tanana, Telida, Trapper Creek, Wasilla, and Willow.

Areas considered "near" the Denali Park duty station include: Anderson, Cantwell, Chulitna, Clear, Curry, Denali Park, Ferry, Healy, Kantishna, Lake Minchumina, McKinley Village, Nenana, Nikolai, Petersville, Talkeetna, Tanana, Telida, and Trapper Creek.

If your application package reflects having lived or worked in one of the areas above that does not correspond with the specific duty station, you will be rated ineligible.

For example, if applying to the Denali Park duty station, if your application package reflects only having lived or worked in Wasilla, AK, this town is not within the area considered "near" the Denali Park duty station, therefore, you would be rated ineligible.

-ALSO- The following are the competencies identified for this position.

Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies.

Ability to effectively communicate verbally to diverse groups in a variety of settings. Ability to effectively communicate in writing.

Ability to research, develop, and present for diverse audiences a variety of formal, structured, and impromptu thematic interpretive programs such as talks, guided walks, and off-site programs.

Skill in employing varied interpretive techniques to foster opportunities for audiences to form emotional and/or intellectual connections.

Ability to provide professional customer service and make sound decisions in busy visitor facilities and/or stressful situations.

Skill in the daily operation of a busy visitor center/information desk to include providing frontline information and support services.

Skill in operating computers and various computer programs to manage and complete complex or detail-oriented tasks and/or projects. Major Duties:

The typical season for this position is April - September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is April 2026.

Positions duty stationed at Denali Park offer two work schedules listed below.

Regardless of the duty station applying for, you will be prompted to indicate the work schedule you wish to be considered for.

If you select part-time, but only apply to Talkeetna and Trapper Creek duty stations, you will only be considered for a full-time position at those duty stations.

When prompted you may select one work schedule or both. Full-time (this work schedule is available for Denali Park, Talkeetna and Trapper Creek duty stations).

Part-time (25 hours per week) (this work schedule is available for the Denali Park duty station only).

If selected, you will work as a Park Ranger (Interpretation), GS-0025-07, for Denali National Park and Preserve.

The duties for this position include interpretation, visitor services, operations, and resource protection.

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Interpretation: Researches, develops, and presents a variety of formal interpretive programs which may include conducted activities, campground programs, museum programs, illustrated programs, demonstrations, and short talks.

Programs demonstrate a clear grasp of the principles of interpretation.

Prepares written program outlines, which thoroughly document interpretive elements according to Interpretive Development Program standards.

Visitor Services: Performs visitor center front desk support by responding to visitor inquiries, making sales, and collecting fees. Provides customer service and informal interpretation.

May maintain brochure inventories, bulletin boards, and audio-visual equipment. May perform front desk support by answering phones, responding to visitor inquiries, making sales, etc.

May complete a variety of supportive functions such as statistical recording, program flyer development, and prop and audio-visual maintenance/inventory.

At Denali Park, AK duty station, boards buses to provide short visitor welcome messages, recording road use data, and providing visitor orientation at the Savage River Check Station.

When needed, the selectee provides first aid to visitors, employees, and others.

Operations: Uses effective teamwork and communication skills to work with peers in such a way as to promote respect, confidence, collaboration, and professionalism.

Communicates effectively with other divisions and park partners. Competent with PC compatible equipment and software such as PowerPoint, MS Word, scanners, printers, etc.

Resource Protection: Conducts on-foot roving patrols to provide informal interpretation and to protect natural and cultural resources.

Advises visitors of park regulations and explains the importance of them to encourage visitor support for protection of the resources and/or the safety of visitors.

Effectively manages human/wildlife interactions, providing safety and education to visitors. 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.

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