Lead Usher (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Vienna, VA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

This seasonal position is located in the Seasonal Staffing Office–National Capital Region, Division of House Management, at Wolf Trap National Park. The Lead Usher assists in managing services for theater patrons and manages an usher staff. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April through December, though timing may vary because of weather, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry-on-duty date is April 2026. The position is normally part-time at 32 hours per week, but the schedule may change among part-time, full-time, and on-call as workload dictates. The appointment may be temporary seasonal and may be not-to-exceed 1,560 hours, depending on the park and program.

The Lead Usher communicates the Park’s mission, vision, and values to the team; explains customer-service expectations, employee roles, schedules, and constraints; and instructs staff on theater protocol, problem-solving, and the chain of command. The role leads employees and volunteers by providing feedback, distributing and balancing work, adjusting assignments to meet priorities, and ensuring timely completion of front-of-house operational tasks. The incumbent also organizes team-building and task-related training, develops annual training curricula for paid and volunteer ushers, presents training sessions, and recruits guest speakers.

The position requires wearing a uniform and complying with National Park Service uniform standards; a uniform allowance is provided. Work takes place outdoors in variable weather, including at night. The incumbent must stand for lengthy periods, may need to lift, bend, and climb stairs, and must work assigned performances, including nights, weekends, and lengthy day work. The role may involve high volumes of public contact, emergency responses, and unruly or confrontational patrons, which can cause mental stress and physical fatigue.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
• Must be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 and meet one of the stated education, vocational-training, school-authority, or student-employment conditions.
• Must be able to work outdoors in variable weather at night and stand for long periods.
• Must work assigned performances, which include night work, weekends, and lengthy day work; on-call, holiday, overtime, and shift work may also be required.
• To qualify at GS-05, must have at least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04, including clerical assignments and problem-solving, leadership and assisting with staff services, identifying needed skills, formulating theater guidelines, and developing working relationships for planned events; or four years of education above high school; or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• Applicants relying on education in place of experience or as part of a combination must submit transcripts.
• Resumes must specify full-time or part-time work and the number of hours worked per week for experience to be credited.

Responsibilities

• Communicate the Park’s mission, vision, and values to the team.
• Explain employees’ roles, customer-service expectations, schedules, and constraints.
• Instruct team members in theater protocol, problem-solving methods, and the chain of command for evaluating issues and determining solutions.
• Lead employees and volunteers by providing feedback and distributing and balancing workload and tasks to meet front-of-house operational requirements.
• Adjust assignments according to established priorities to ensure timely completion of team tasks and meaningful public interaction by each employee.
• Organize team-building and teamwork training, and provide or arrange administrative or technical training needed to accomplish individual and team tasks.
• Develop curriculum and content for the three-day annual training program for paid ushers and one-day training programs for volunteer ushers.
• Present usher training sessions and recruit speakers to supplement training.
• Assist in managing services for theater patrons and manage an usher staff.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance is provided.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a range of benefits; specific eligibility depends on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed