Park Ranger (Interpretation)
What you'd do
These positions are located in the Pacific West Regional Office, Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12, within the Southeast Idaho National Parks Group. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. See Duties section for more information. Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.
Major duties
Multiple positions in multiple duty locations will be filled through this announcement: Craters of the Moon National Monument, Arco, ID - GS-05/07/09, 2 positions available, Career Seasonal, non-pay expected for one position will be appx. 3 months (6 pay periods) Nov to Feb, Driver's License required. One position will be in non-pay status for one pay period / 2 weeks in December. Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, Hagerman, ID - GS-05/07/09, 2 positions available, Career Seasonal, non-pay expected for appx. 3 months (6 pay periods) Nov to Feb, Driver's License required. Minidoka National Historic Site, Jerome, ID - GS-05/07/09, Career Seasonal, non-pay expected for appx. 3 months (6 pay periods) Nov to Feb, Driver's License required. Major duties may include, but are not limited to: Develop and present a wide variety of formal and informal audience learner-centered interpretive experiences using a variety of fully developed interpretive skills, techniques and tools delivered in-person and through interpretive media and technology. Guide the learning of others through formal and informal methods in visitor operations and interpretive/educational programming, while creating a positive work environment. Build on traditional relationships and work towards identifying and establishing new partnerships. Coordinate, develop and/or lead digital strategies and efforts to implement and sustain exiting/new media platforms. Manage the day-to-day operation of a visitor facility and/or information desk. Coordinate the volunteer and youth programs. Assist with planning and installation of on-site and virtual exhibits. Provide logistical and operational support for seasonal employees, youth service-learners, youth inclusion work crews, and volunteers. Aid in the management, administrative functions, and lead responsibilities of a seasonal shuttle system. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
What you need to qualify
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/17/2026-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. To qualify at the GS-05, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: park guide or tour leader, 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. EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study which includes 24 semester hours of related course work. Major study may include 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. Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only progressive education in excess of the first 2 years (60 semester hours or equivalent) is creditable when combining. You must include transcripts. To qualify at the GS-07, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (Note: One grade interval work such as guide, clerk, assistant or technician work in a single grade occupational series at the GS-05 level does NOT qualify for this position, however GS-06 level may). This experience can be obtained in either the public or private sectors. This experience MUST include: (1) developing and presenting independently researched programs; (2) developing material for nonpersonal services and interpretive media; (3) coordinating the operation of a visitor facility and/or information desk; (4) assisting in coordinating special projects. You must include hours per week worked. EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate-level education in a related field appropriate to the position, 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. Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and graduate education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only graduate level education is creditable when combining. You must include transcripts. Superior Academic Achievement: Successfully completion of a bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the duties of this position AND meet one of the following Superior Academic Achievement provisions: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision , such as College of Liberal Arts or School of Business Administration, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average: earn a grade-point average of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum. Note: grade-point averages will be rounded to the one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9, and 3.45 = 3.5; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: elected membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. You must provide transcripts. To qualify at the GS-09, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one 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). This experience MUST include: (1) coordinating, evaluating or directing interpretive programs; (2) assisting with developing long-range program plans; (3) developing educational programs; (4) coaching/mentoring interpretive, or similar, staff. You must include hours per week worked. EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education OR a master's/equivalent graduate degree related to the occupation, 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. Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and graduate education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only progressive graduate education beyond the first year is credible when combining. You must include transcripts.
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.