Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of this position is 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 Open to the first 100 applicants or until 01/20/2026 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-01/20/2026-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-09 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-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes activities such as: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities 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.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: park guide or tour leader, 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.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree majoring 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.

One year of full-time graduate study is defined as 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours in a college or university. You must include transcripts.

-OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

To combine education and experience, first take Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

For example: 6 months of specialized experience as described above (50% of experience requirement), and 1.5 years (27 semester hours) of graduate level college study in a directly related field of study as described above (50% of the education requirement).

The percentages must total at least 100. 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. Major Duties:

Oversee the day-to-day operations of the park's interpretive programming.

Supervise and train seasonal staff, volunteers, and interns by setting priorities, preparing schedules, assigning and reviewing work, managing performance, resolving personnel issues, and supporting training and professional development.

Provide mentoring, training, and guidance to seasonals in program and skill development, particularly in the design and delivery of interpretive programs.

Develop and present a wide variety of formal and informal audience-centered interpretive experiences using both in-person and digital platforms.

Engage the public through structured programs, informal interactions, and digital content to foster meaningful connections with national parks.

Schedule and plan community engagement events and outreach programs, both on- and off-site. Maintain inventory of supplies and makes recommendations for the purchase of program materials and equipment.

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.