Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation)
What you'd do
Interpretive Rangers develop and present educational programs including guided walks and presentations, and working with audiences in a variety of park settings. Likely Entry On Duty: July 2026 - January 2027 Applications must be submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the 07/06/2026 to be considered. For more park(s) information, select "Learn more about this agency" below:
Major duties
Park Ranger (Interpretation) Duties: Develop and present formal and informal audience and learner-centered interpretive experiences using interpretive skills, techniques, and tools delivered in-person and through interpretive media and technology. Conduct straightforward research, develop, and present interpretive programs on a variety of interpretive and educational themes. Enhance in-park experiences by developing and offering a wide variety of fully accessible nonpersonal services and interpretive media. Contribute engaging and quality content that harnesses the power of digital platforms and creates valuable, audience-centered interpretive experiences that are relevant to the message and audience and rooted in existing digital strategies. Review existing park policies, standards, methods, controls, and procedures. Plan, schedule, prepare and effectively conduct education programs; workshops, seminars, and conferences to promote the parks education program, to include distance learning. Plan, distribute, and monitor work assignments; evaluate work performance and provide feedback to others on their performance. Communicate effectively and apply interpersonal skills. Develop and maintain effective relationships with others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion and can involve extensive periods of standing and walking, in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines outdoors or in caves, and carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, or other loads. Work Environment: The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness (e.g. high or low temperatures, confined spaces or adverse weather conditions). Additionally, this position will collect and manage fees associated with the Big Cypress National Preserve's Off-Road Vehicle program.
What you need to qualify
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. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page 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. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. SELECTIVE FACTOR: Incumbents in these positions must be able to swim and self-rescue (re-enter a swamped canoe or kayak without assistance from others or by landing at a dock or beach) while canoeing and kayaking. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions. -AND - SELECTIVE FACTOR: Incumbents in these positions must be able to paddle canoes and/or kayaks up to and over 5 miles in a single trip and lead visitors on canoe and kayak trips. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions. -AND- SELECTIVE FACTOR: Incumbents in these positions have a mandatory requirement that applicants must be able to ride a bike on offroad terrain and perform bike maintenance. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to 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 specialized experience include, but are not limited to: park guide or tour leader; environmental educator or teacher; law enforcement or investigative work; archaeological 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. -OR- B. A 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related coursework (one year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours). -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: park guide or tour leader, work in a park, recreation or conservation area, environmental education, history and/or cultural resources education, and natural sciences education. Work will include independent research and presentation. -OR- B. You must possess one full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation (one year of full-time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. Note: This position includes money handling preference for optional consideration. Money handling requires a higher background check. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards. 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. ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.
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