Park Ranger (Recent Graduate)
What you'd do
Turn your passion for the outdoors into a career that makes a difference. Join the Bureau of Reclamation as a Park Ranger and help create safe, memorable recreation experiences while protecting public lands and natural resources. Engage with visitors, patrol parks by land and water, support conservation projects, and present educational programs in one of California's premier outdoor recreation areas. This vacancy is open to Recent Graduates only.
Major duties
This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid Pacific Region, New Melones Recreation Resources Branch, in Angels Camp. California. The major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Welcome visitors, answer questions, and provide information about recreation opportunities, park rules, natural resources, and safety. Patrol recreation areas by foot, vehicle, bicycle, or boat to promote visitor safety, protect natural resources, and report hazards or incidents. Assist during emergencies by providing first aid, supporting search and rescue efforts, directing traffic, and coordinating with emergency responders. Help maintain trails, recreation sites, visitor facilities, and natural areas by assisting with conservation, restoration, and other resource projects. Develop and present educational programs that teach visitors about local wildlife, history, recreation, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Staff the visitor center or entrance station, provide maps and brochures, answer questions, and help visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. Collect or monitor recreation fees, explain park regulations, encourage compliance, and complete reports and other required documentation. Work closely with park staff, volunteers, concession employees, and local partners to support daily park operations and visitor services.
What you need to qualify
To be eligible, you must meet both the Pathways Recent Graduate eligibility requirements and the qualification requirements for this position. You must have successfully completed a qualifying associate, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctoral, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years (or within six years for eligible veterans under 5 CFR 362.302). You must submit documentation verifying your eligibility. Recent Graduates may be eligible for noncompetitive conversion upon successful completion of the Pathways Program. See Additional Information. To qualify for this position at the GS-5 grade level, you must meet one of the following qualification requirements: Specialized Experience Requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience assisting with visitor services, recreation management, natural or cultural resource protection, or park operations. Examples of qualifying experience include: providing information to visitors or the public regarding facilities, programs, or regulations; patrolling recreation areas or public use facilities to monitor visitor activities and identify safety concerns; assisting with the protection and maintenance of natural or cultural resources; collecting recreation fees or maintaining visitor use records; preparing reports or documenting incidents; assisting with interpretive or educational programs; and supporting emergency response, first aid, or public safety activities. -OR- Education: Successfully completed a four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university that included 24 semester hours of related coursework in 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 submit copies of your transcripts with your application. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: To qualify based on a combination of education and experience, you must possess qualifying specialized experience and successfully complete education beyond the first 60 semester hours (or equivalent) of a bachelor's degree program that included related coursework. Only education beyond the second year of undergraduate study is creditable toward meeting the education requirement. 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 experience is credited the same as paid experience when it demonstrates the required competencies. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement, 08/13/2026. Physical Demands: The work requires frequent outdoor activity, including walking over uneven terrain, climbing, bending, lifting, and carrying equipment or materials weighing up to 50 pounds. Incumbents may patrol by foot, vehicle, bicycle, or boat and must be able to perform physically demanding work for extended periods, including during emergency response operations and in remote locations. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors in a variety of weather and environmental conditions, including extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, and other adverse conditions. The position requires working around water, on boats, and in rugged terrain with exposure to insects, poisonous plants, wildlife, and other natural hazards. Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and during emergency situations.
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