Supervisory Park Ranger (Interpretation)
What you'd do
This position serves as a full-performance Supervisory Park Ranger (Interpretation) at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The purpose of interpretation is to enrich people's lives through meaningful experiences and enjoyable recreation; preserve and protect natural and Cultural resources through broad collaboration and shared stewardship; and inspire social and environmental consciousness to build community and sustain the health of the planet.
Major duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Develop and present a wide variety of formal and informal audience and learner-centered interpretive experiences using a variety of fully developed interpretive skills, techniques, and tools delivered in-person and through interpretive media and technology. Conduct site or topic-based research on different scientific and/or historical subjects and critically evaluate many different sources for their relevance, validity, and bias. Supervise and train seasonal employees, interns, and volunteers by establishing priorities and preparing schedules for the performance of assigned work, managing performance, addressing personnel issues, and supporting employee development and training. Connect with all types of audiences through digital content (e.g., the web, social media, mobile technology, live broadcast or distance programming, podcasts, virtual tours) to introduce, inform, engage, and strengthen relationships between the public and their national parks. Plan, design, develop, and improve interpretive materials such as signs, waysides, publications, exhibits, audio, video, and other digital content. Actively communicates and collaborates with the designated public affairs officer on all activities. Applies accepted industry styles and forms to draft responses for media inquiries, press releases, and other forms of informational writing. 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 approximately 11.5 months in pay status, and you will be in a non-pay status .5 month/1 pay period (ranging from late-December to early January) depending on weather and workload priorities. Physical Demands: The work requires standing, walking over uneven terrain, conducting outdoor programs, carrying equipment and interpretive materials, and occasionally moderate physical exertion. Working Environment: work occurs indoors and outdoors with exposure to varying weather conditions, insects, rough terrain, and occasional hazards associated with visitor activities or emergency incidents. PPE may be required. Area Information: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on the south shore of Lake Superior between the communities of Munising (population 2,500). The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on the south shore of Lake Superior between the communities of Munising (population 2,500). The duty station for this position is Munising. Amenities in Munising include basic shopping, medical facilities, and K-12 schools. Basic shopping and medical facilities are available in Munising. Summers are generally warm and pleasant. The winter season may extend from October to May and is often characterized by cold temperatures and seasonal snowfall in excess of 140 inches. The area is rich in outdoor sporting activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, biking, camping, and skiing. Additional information can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/PIRO
What you need to qualify
Requirements Continued - As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one (1) year supervisory probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. 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-08/11/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements. In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's Federal General Schedule Qualification Standards. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully 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 qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: 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- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two (2) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education OR master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the occupation. Examples of related education include but are not limited to; park and recreation management, 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- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience) and 18 graduate level semester hours (50% of the education), would qualify an applicant for this position. You must include transcripts. 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. 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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