Supervisory Park Ranger (I)
What you'd do
This position is located in Joshua Tree National Park, in the Division of Interpretation, Resource Education and Volunteers. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work from approximately 25 pay periods annually, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year.
Major duties
The major duties of the Park Ranger position include, but are not limited to: Develops and presents interpretive and educational programs (e.g., talks, tours, demonstrations, curriculum-based programs) that facilitate visitor understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of park natural, cultural, and historical resources. Ranger will be able to research independently, provide training and execute any original program on park resources. Conducts research on park themes and resources using primary and secondary sources to ensure accuracy and relevance in interpretive products, programs, and visitor information services. Understands where to access source materials and apply cohesively. Mentors newer staff on where to access solid research information. Provides visitor services that support resource protection, including offering safety information, explaining rules and regulations, and promoting compliance to ensure safe use and enjoyment of the park. Offers comprehensive orientation information to help visitors plan safe visits. Attuned to weather changes specifically in summer months where temperatures can exceed 120 degrees. Develops, maintains, and delivers informational and interpretive media, such as exhibits, written materials, digital content, and visual aids that support park communication and learning objectives. Comments substantially on draft exhibit text to ensure and help direct information toward areas of primary concern. Works with different park teams to ensure messaging is accurate and updated. Collaborates with park divisions, partners, and community organizations to support interpretive programming, outreach efforts, and resource education initiatives. Is the secondary liaison to the cooperating association, helping plan forward facing visitor offerings. Works with park partners such as local astronomical societies to plan large scale public events. Supervises Operations Branch, including overseeing all staff and visitor center functions that are the public-facing arm of the Division. This includes managing the seasonal hiring function, balancing the schedule, and originating projects that help fund the same. Develops and manages projects that support division and park goals and provide funding to maintain operations.
What you need to qualify
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. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 2 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/06/2026-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-11 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-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Experience at this level must include all of the following: 1) Coordinating, managing, scheduling, and directing interpretive programming, in-person and in visitor center functions, at programs and community events, and through digital offerings; 2) Leading others who are doing the same work; 3) Overseeing financial aspects of division staffing and program management; and 3) Managing logistics, budgets, and human resources to ensure efficient and effective organizational operations. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a directly-related field such as 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. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours in excess of 36 semester hours by 18, or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. They must equal at least 100% to qualify using this option. Note: You must include a copy of your academic transcripts with your application if qualifying on education and you must include hours per week worked on your resume. 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.
Before you apply
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