Park Ranger (Protection), Law Enforcement Specialist
What you'd do
You will serve as a Park Ranger (Protection), Law Enforcement Specialist, Law Enforcement Specialist and responsible for performing duties in the law enforcement program; serves as a legal and technical resource to park managers and others across the park as well as to/with workgroups outside the park. This is a temporary promotion and/or detail not-to-exceed 1 year and can be extended up to 5 years. This temporary promotion/detail may be made permanent without further competition
Major duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Detect and Investigate violations of federal criminal laws. Enforce all applicable laws and regulations protecting and ensuring the safe use of National Park resources. Manage complex criminal investigations, prosecutions, court proceedings, records management, law enforcement training and certification, quality assurance, and training of field personnel. Serve as the technical legal and law enforcement adviser for field law enforcement operations. Serve as the court liaison between the park and both the local court systems and U.S. Federal Courts.
What you need to qualify
Requirements Continued... 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 - 08/24/2026-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. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years) a valid Type I National Park Service Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by 08/24/2026. More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement. This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). In addition to the qualifying experience and/or education described above, applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 08/24/2026. -AND- Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: To qualify for the GS-11: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GL-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-09 grade level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience includes activities such as: performing law enforcement duties for the protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations, which involved the application of law enforcement authorities and procedures to protect visitors and resources; providing law enforcement or investigative services which include apprehending, detaining, detection, and prosecution of individuals; applying knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies, and areas of jurisdiction when serving as a person with law enforcement authority; responding to accidents, emergencies, and/or natural disaster; using precautionary methods and techniques while patrolling to mitigate any crimes or violations of the law. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field related to the occupation 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, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. 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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