Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Full Job Description

These positions are temporary seasonals not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. This is an open continuous announcement with an established initial cut-off date of January 26, 2026.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the initial cut-off date. Please see "Next Steps" for additional information.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/06/2026-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.

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).

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park related work.

This experience includes activities such as working as a Park Guide or tour leader; environmental educator or teacher; 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 worked per week.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field.

Related fields of study include 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, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.

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), in excess of the first 60 semester hours earned towards your degree, and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent).

Then take the number of months of full time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent in order to meet this description.

You must include transcripts, and you must also include hours worked per week.

-OR- 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).

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.

This experience includes activities such as working as a park ranger, park guide, park tour leader, or closely related position to interpret resources to convey national significance; connect visitors to personal relevance; facilitate shared learning; support specific learning objectives to meet educator and community needs; inform the public for compliance and safety; support management of natural and cultural resources representative of national heritage; and enhance mutual understanding for individual and social benefit.

Also, qualifying experience on the resume should also include independent interpretive research and presentation. You must include the number of hours worked per week.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of one full academic year of progressively higher-level graduate education related to the occupation that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary to do the work of the position.

This major study for this education is typically 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 closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.

Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled.

You must include a copy of your 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 and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent.

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

They must equal 100% to qualify using this option. You must include the number of hours worked per week and a copy of your 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. Major Duties:

These positions involve a variety of responsibilities aimed at connecting visitors to the park's resources and stories.

They are responsible for promoting visitor safety and stewardship of park resources.

The role requires a deep understanding of the park's history, natural, and cultural resources, and the ability to engage visitors in meaningful educational experiences.

Park Ranger (Interpretation), GS-0025-05, duties may include: Develop interpretive programs, conduct basic research of topics using records, documents, books, files, and interviews with people who have personal knowledge.

Present onsite programs to a wide variety of audiences. Programs may include guided walks, demonstrations, PowerPoint presentations, etc.

Staff the Information Desk at visitor centers serving as contact for visitors entering the buildings.

Greeting visitors and provide information on a variety of subjects including local and regional attractions. Answer telephones and provide area information, take messages, etc.

Park Ranger (Interpretation), GS-0025-07, duties may include the above plus: Research, prepare and present a variety of original interpretive programs, including digital illustrated programs, guided walks, public address commentaries, talks, and children's programs.

Assist supervisors with scheduling and training co-workers and volunteers. Handle visitor information requests, sell publications and educational materials, and complete assigned projects.

Provides on-the-job training, mentoring and assistance to team members by providing coaching, guidance, feedback, and direction to accomplish projects and daily operations.

Additional location-specific information: Positions in Anchorage, Brooks Camp (Lake and Peninsula County), Denali Park, and Fairbanks may sell Park Passes and collect and account for money.

Positions with fee collection and/or government money handling duties require a higher background check than the non-fee positions.

Bartlett Cove: Park rangers perform ladder transfers from a vessel to a cruise ship and from a cruise ship to a vessel.

The rangers must be physically and mentally able to safely climb rope ladders 15 feet in height during transfer from one vessel to another while both boats are in motion in exposed water.

Brooks Camp: Please apply under Lake and Peninsula County for vacancies at Katmai National Park and Preserve's Brooks Camp. Kennecott: Please apply under McCarthy for vacancies at Wrangell-St.

Elias National Park and Preserve's Kennecott duty station. Port Alsworth: Positions may have contact with youth and minors which require a higher background check.

Skagway: Positions may require passports for essential travel to Canada and an official passport is required for this position. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a valid U.S.

passport and passport card.

Skagway: Rangers may provide emergency medical treatment to visitors and employees, assist in maintaining the first aid equipment and supplies used in the park, and may also perform emergency transport or arrange for such transportation.

This position requires the selectee to either be a National or Alaska registered emergency medical responder (EMR).

Applicants for Skagway positions must include a copy of their certificate showing the level and expiration date, or, list your medical certification AND expiration date in your resume, or the level AND date you anticipate completing your course for certification.

Proof of certification will be required before entrance on duty. If you do not include this information in your application, you will be rated ineligible.

Anticipated season dates: Anchorage: May through September Bartlett Cove: April through September Brooks Camp (apply under Lake and Peninsula County): May through October Copper Center: May through September Denali Park: April through September Fairbanks: May through October Kennecott (apply under McCarthy): May through September Kotzebue: April through September Nome: May through October Port Alsworth: May through September Seward: May through September Sitka: April through October Skagway: April through October Government housing: Will be available in Brooks Camp (Lake and Peninsula County), Copper Center, Kennecott (McCarthy), Nome, and Port Alsworth.

May be available in Bartlett Cove, Denali Park, Kotzebue, Seward, Sitka, and Skagway. Is not available in Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Hourly Rate Pay Range by Grade: GS-05 steps 1 to 10: $22.07 to $28.69 per hour + COLA GS-07 steps 1 to 10: $27.34 to $35.54 per hour + COLA An additional cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the pay for these duty stations: 1.49% COLA for Anchorage and Fairbanks and 3% COLA for all other locations.

Pay is subject to review and adjustment. Selectees may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries. Please visit find a park for additional park information.

See the Education section for additional information.