FUL-Park Ranger (I) (Seasonal)
What you'd do
This position is located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Thomas Edison National Historical Park, with a duty location of West Orange, New Jersey. Anticipated Entry on Duty: July 2026 with a NTE of January 2027.
Major duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Conducts basic research of topics for the purpose of providing interpretive programs, both orally and/or in writing. Presents a variety of formal and informal programs including orientation talks, history education programs, conducted walks, demonstrations, and hands-on activity programs. Informs visitors about park facilities and resources. Duties are performed at on or off-site at locations designated by the park, e.g. visitor centers and facilities within the park, other parks and historical sites, etc. Learns Park resources by reviewing published maps, Park research materials, and other documents previously prepared by park rangers and other professionals and by talking with park staff. Provides assistance in connection with one-time or annual celebrations related to the programs and themes of the park and assists in planning, setup, and operations for special events. Operates a variety of audiovisual and other equipment used in connection with interpretive material and programs, e.g., projectors, video equipment, sound systems, electronic tablets, monitors, etc. As assigned, performs occasional supporting roles in Park emergency response operations. As assigned, staffs fee collection stations for visitor use and educates visitors regarding the requirements for visiting restricted areas of the park. As assigned, performs various administrative duties, e.g., scheduling, gathering routine information for reports, compilation of statistical data, etc.
What you need to qualify
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 07/13/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, 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. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 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. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, history research and interpretation, 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. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related course work (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. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled). You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of experience requirement), and 6 months of graduate education as described above (50% of education requirement). The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. 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. 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. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.