Park Ranger Protection
What you'd do
This position serves primarily as a commissioned Law Enforcement Ranger responsible for overseeing visitor and resource protection operations at Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, managing field activities at the Port Alsworth Ranger Station, and serving as the park's Wilderness Coordinator. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) rate of 1.49% is authorized.
Major duties
This position reports directly to the Chief Ranger and provides oversight and leadership to up to 3 employees, and volunteers. MAJOR DUTIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITTED TO THE FOLLOWING: Serves as a senior uniformed, commissioned law enforcement officer performing duties for the protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in the park. Patrols include using various transportation methods in the wilderness such as small watercraftsand ski patrols. Participates in emergency incidents which include search and rescue operations, wildland and/structural fire, special law enforcement operations, and other major emergencies. Provides supervision and leadership for up to three subordinates conducting law enforcement operations on federal lands. Serves as a Wilderness Coordinator and subject matter expert providing guidance to managers for work anticipated to occur within eligible or designated wilderness areas, ensuring compliance with legal and policy requirements of wilderness management. Participates as a member of theAlaska Region's Backcountry and Wilderness Advisory Group tracking issues and policy changes, updating local procedures to reflect changing regulations, law, and negotiated management agreements with local and regional groups, tribes, and federal/state agency staffs. Serves as the point of contact with community officials, the public, and interest groups regarding matters that impact the protection of visitors or natural resources, including protection of subsistence resources. Serves as a Resource Educator, interpreting resources to visitors about the significance of resource protection and conservation by explaining necessary laws and regulations to provide safe and non-resource impacting visitation experiences. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The position is required to meet and continuously maintain the physical/medical standards set forth in the requirements established by DO/RM#57. The work may require physical exertion such as regular and recurring long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, rocky surfaces; mountainous terrain; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching or similar activity; carrying of equipment weighing 50 pounds or more; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as fire packs and rescue gear; long periods of activity requiring upper body strength and endurance such as rowing oar and paddle propelled watercraft for multiple days. The work may require specific, but common, physical characteristics and abilities of such as above average agility and dexterity. Duties involve performing physically rigorous assignments, oftentimes in isolated outdoor environments, frequently while exposed to severe weather conditions. There is a physical, mental, and emotionally high stress component to the work assignments. The position requires 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 occasionally must be carried out without regard to fixed work schedules, days off, or opportunities for proper rest or nutrition. WORKING CONDITIONS: The work environment is field work with some office work in the summer and the opposite in the winter. Field work of the incumbent regularly includes long periods of standing, hiking and/or climbing, in many cases on uneven steep, rough, slippery, and/or rugged terrain. Strenuous exertion is frequently required in law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, and medical related emergency activities. Lifting or carrying equipment over 50 pounds such as firefighting or search and rescue equipment is required. In some situations, heavy packs may have to be carried long distances over uneven, unimproved surfaces, or snow-covered terrain. The duties involve performing physically rigorous work in an isolated outdoor environment while exposed to severe weather conditions. Work may involve periodic exposure to high risks or discomforts such as low temperatures, high winds, adverse or extreme weather conditions, ocean water, falling limbs or trees, exposure to heights, and similar situations. Incumbent may require special safety precautions, i.e., working around boats, aircraft, off road vehicles, moving parts, or machines, persons with contagious diseases or irritant chemicals, blood borne pathogens, dangerous animals, and substances, etc. Incumbent may be required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, coats, boots, gloves, helmets, or shields. The work is performed at various hours of the day, and night and for prolonged periods. TELEWORK: The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
What you need to qualify
REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED: Must not have reached your 37th birthday prior to the first day of employment. Exception to mandatory age requirement: Applicants who have 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 if an applicant is a qualified veteran and is preference eligible, in which case the mandatory entry age is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. 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 - 07/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized 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 periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. 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. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s), you will be rated not qualified. MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: 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. TYPE 1 LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION: Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years) a valid Type 1 NPS Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by 07/30/2026. More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement. DRIVER'S LICENSE: Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 07/30/2026. AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: EXPERIENCE: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 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 COMBINATION: Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. (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.
Before you apply
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