Park Ranger (Protection)

Location Negotiable after Selection: For more information on NPS law enforcement and to view available locations, see "Find Positions and Locations": Become a Law Enforcement Ranger For position and park related questions, please contact: [email protected] or visit: LE Recruitment page and find a park . Open to the first 350 applicants or 11/17/2026 whichever comes first.

All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Park Ranger (Protection) Duties: Enforce Federal laws, regulations and policies; patrol front country and backcountry sites. Emergency response (Incident Command System) including medical services, search and rescue, and wildland/structural fire suppression. Facilitate visitor stewardship and orientation; wilderness management; boundary enforcement; protection of natural and cultural resources Assist with preliminary investigations of felonies, crimes, and violations of park rules, public use, safety requirements, and motor vehicle accidents.

Crowd control activities; proactively protects park resources from all forms of degradation. Conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor violations. Under the supervision of a Type I commissioned personnel, investigate felony violations and fatalities. Additional duties for GL-7: Independently conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor violations.

Under the supervision of a Type I commissioned personnel, investigate felony violations and fatalities. Additional duties for GL-9: Conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor, felony violations and fatalities. Provide specialized knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Other Position Requirements: Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. Required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards.

A uniform allowance will be provided. Occupancy of government quarters may be required. Government housing may be available. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. May be required to travel overnight away from home. Required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. Bargaining Union eligibility is dependent upon the location. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as permanent appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis.

You will work for approximately 6-9+ months, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year. Non pay status is dependent on the location of the position being hired. NOTE: Not all available positions are career-seasonal positions; both full-time (all year employment) and career-seasonal positions are available.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) : The salary annotated on this announcement does not include the cost-of-living allowance, nor locality pay. Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances to calculate locality pay. OPM Salaries and Wages (Special Rates L001-L059) to calculate locality pay. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year 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 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 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-11/17/2026-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.

In addition to the standard Park Ranger (Protection) qualifications listed below, if you would like to be considered for this option, the applicant must be conversationally fluent in at least one of the following languages, and support within your resume. You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional language in your application.

Spanish Some parks may require Park Ranger (Protection) to be certified in Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) duties will be less than 20% of the time. If you would like to be considered for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) you must provide your certification in your supporting documents at the time of application.

You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional certifications in your application. Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection):

1. 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. 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. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 11/17/2026. AND
2. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: GL-05 level: A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors), performing work that provided broad knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management. Examples where this experience could have been gained include serving as a park guide or tour leader; assisting with law enforcement or investigative work; assisting with emergency response; assisting with archaeological or historical preservation work; assisting with forestry or fire and/or management; or similar operations. -OR- B.

Education

A 4- year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of course work directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours). -OR- C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

GL-07 level: A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing law enforcement work as a sworn officer with a Federal, state, tribal and/or local agency, OR the military, that included oversight and assistance of a senior law enforcement officer.

-OR- B.

Education

You must possess one full academic year of graduate education directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- C. Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grad-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.

0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 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.

Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society. -OR- D. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. GL-09 level: A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as independently performing law enforcement work as a sworn officer with a Federal, state, tribal and/or local agency, OR the military. -OR- B.

Education

You must possess 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION: Law Enforcement Academy and Field Training & Evaluation Program (FTEP) Information

• If selected , you will be required to successfully complete the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Land Management Police Training (LMPT) or those with a prior basic law enforcement academy and prior sworn law enforcement experience may be eligible attend the 5-week NPS Basic Academy Bridge Training Program (BABTP). Completion of FTEP is also mandatory. FTEP may or may not occur at the candidate's employing park. Housing and per diem are provided. You will be officially assigned to your permanent duty location once FLETC training is successfully completed. Failure of basic training or FTEP may result in termination of employment. Volunteer Experience : Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri. Corps) 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.

Related Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- 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 submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience.

Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.

S.

Education

programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification This position is also open to the public under announcement LE-27-DE-13102143-MR-SD1. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.