Supervisor Park Ranger (Protection)

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Visitor and Resource Protection (VRP) programs area and is dedicated to safeguarding natural and cultural resources while ensuring the safety and enjoyment of park visitors.

The mission is achieved through effective resource protection, enforcement of laws and regulations, incident prevention, and collaboration with other agencies to create a balanced approach to conservation and public safety.

Requirements Continued...

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period -OR- 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period -OR- trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/11/2026-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.

Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify: Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type II (seasonal) or higher National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by closing date 03/11/2026.

More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement.

Maximum Entry Age (MEA): This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position.

Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.

Valid State Driver's License: Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by closing date 03/11/2026.

- AND - Applicants 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/GL-09 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, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Examples of specialized experience could include: 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; or other similar work.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least three full years of graduate level study leading to a Doctorate, Ph.D., or equivalent degree at an accredited college or university in directly-related fields such as 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, or sociology.

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 earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 36 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent.

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

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:

Directly supervises a staff of subordinate employees to include Park Rangers (Protection).

Plans, monitors, executes, and evaluates the parks law enforcement program relating to the protection of park resources.

Performs the full range of supervisory duties including recruitment, hiring, writing position descriptions, setting performance standards, scheduling, providing direction, evaluating performance, maintaining employee development plans, counseling, and recommending for awards.

The incumbent is responsible for establishing schedules for all law enforcement personnel at Independence National Historical Park.

Incumbent will review preliminary case reports and receive briefings for ongoing investigations to provide technical guidance and advice.

Personally, performs visitor and resource protection activities including detection, investigation, detention, and prosecution under provisions of applicable laws, rules, and regulations to ensure the protection and safe use of NPS resources through land and marine based operations.

As a Supervisory Park Ranger you will lead daily operations and direct the completion of collateral duties related to training and leadership.

You will supervise GL-9 permanent and seasonal law enforcement rangers as well as non-commissioned staff and park volunteers.

You will conduct and supervise the detection of criminal activity, investigation of criminal violations, and custodial arrests.

You may prepare and execute warrants, interview witnesses, and detain suspects. You will ensure the completion of comprehensive written reports.

You will conduct and/or supervise gathering of law enforcement, security, and intelligence information relating to the park, its facilities, events, mission, or visitors.

You will set work goals and ensure all employees receive required training in a timely manner; identify operational requirements and make recommendations to your supervisor regarding programming, budgeting, training, administration, and evaluation of operations; and schedule patrols to maximize visitor contact with special consideration to problem areas.

You will supervise and lead complex law enforcement, all hazard, emergency medical, and search and rescue operations as well as provide emergency medical services to park visitors and residents.

In addition, you will participate in all aspects of employee supervision including performance planning and appraisals, employee recognition, and employee counseling.

Physical Demands: Strenuous exertion is frequently required in law enforcement, search and rescue, medical and related emergency activities.

Lifting or carrying equipment weighing over 50 pounds, such as emergency equipment, or search and rescue equipment is required.

There is a physical, mental and emotional high-stress component to much of the incumbent's work assignment.

Position is required to meet and continuously maintain the physical/medical standards as set forth in the requirements of D.O. #57.

Duties involve performing physically rigorous assignments, oftentimes in isolated outdoor environments, frequently while exposed to severe weather conditions.

Dangerous persons must be physically confronted, subdued, and apprehended many of whom are known to carry weapons. Prisoners must be kept under physical restraint during transport and processing.

Criminal investigations often must be carried out without regard to fixed work schedules, days off, or opportunities for proper rest or nutrition.

Duties require manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints.

Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order for incumbent to perform the duties satisfactorily.

Sufficiently good vision in both eyes, with or without glasses, is required to perform the duties satisfactorily.

Near vision, corrected with glasses, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters.

Hearing without aid, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000 and 3000 Hz levels.

Physical fitness requirements must be met prior to and on a continuing basis during employment. There is a high-stress component to much of the incumbent's work assignments.

Working Conditions: The work is performed at various hours of the day and night and for prolonged periods during emergency situations.

The incumbent is frequently exposed to high-risk and potentially dangerous situations in law enforcement and emergency situations requiring use of a wide range of personal protective gear, adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions.