Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection)

Full Job Description

Serves as a law enforcement commissioned ranger responsible for performing law enforcement duties including detection, investigation, apprehension, detention, and prosecution under provisions of applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted to insure the protection and safe use of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA) resources.

Requirements continued... You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.

You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record.

You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

Must possess or be able to successfully obtain and maintain Wildland Fire Fighter certification (S130/S190).

Provide a copy of your Red Card with your application if you currently possess this certification.

The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.

Probationary Period.

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

This Probationary 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/07/2026-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.

Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify: Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type I National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by entrance on duty.

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

Required to carry firearm while performing duties and required to maintain firearm proficiency and be subject to the Lautenberg Amendment.

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.

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: Performing law enforcement or investigative duties for the protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas.

Apply law enforcement authorities and procedures to protect visitors and resources. Serve as a first-line supervisor of as designated primary law enforcement positions.

Direct a complex field patrol operation.

Lead a multi-faceted program involving resource protection and visitor management activities which includes search and rescue, law enforcement, emergency medical services, wildland fire and physical security.

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:

Direct, Lead and Supervise daily operation of primary law enforcement rangers.

Conduct and Leads Criminal Investigations Direct lead, and supervise daily operations of primary law enforcement, physical security, and emergency services (SAR/EMS/Fire) programs in planning, directing work, training, and collaboration Exhibit sound leadership by monitoring status and progress of work according to the organizations mission.

Instruct employees in specific task and job techniques while giving on-the-job training to employees.

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.

This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS).

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements, but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage.

If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system.

To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position.

To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause).

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions).

You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position.

Area Information: Cuyahoga Valley National Park encompasses 33,000 acres along the banks of the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron in northeast Ohio.

The park's mission is to preserve and protect the historic, scenic, natural, and recreational values of the Cuyahoga River Valley for public use and enjoyment.

The Park is dominated by deciduous forest but also supports meadows, wetlands, streams, and agriculture. Summers are moderately warm with average temperatures in the 70's.

Winters are moderately cold with average temperatures in the 20's and 30's. Heavy snowfall is common during winter months.

Excellent recreational and educational opportunities are available in the area, including hiking and biking trails, numerous restaurants and theaters, nearby shopping, and a variety of universities and colleges.