Park Guide (Traffic Control) (Seasonal)

National Park Service•Kings Canyon National Park, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Park Guide (Traffic Control) works in the Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnerships at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and reports to the parks’ Transportation Specialist. The seasonal period is typically May through November, though it may vary due to weather, project needs, or funding. Typical entry on duty is April or May. The parks receive approximately 1.7 million visitors annually and have complex public-service and operational needs. The position monitors vehicle and pedestrian traffic, controls intersections, and directs vehicles—including buses and recreational vehicles—to appropriate parking. It also provides visitors with orientation, information about park activities, events, regulations, resources, facilities, routes, weather, and safety hazards. The Park Guide assists visitors with issues such as lost articles or parties, car trouble, and first aid within the limits of current certification; reports violations and visitor-use problems to a supervisor; makes appropriate on-the-spot corrections; and anticipates and communicates traffic and parking management issues. The work is primarily outdoors, usually on pavement, at elevations of approximately 1,300 to 8,000 feet. It involves exposure to variable and extreme weather, poor air quality, steep or uneven terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. The job requires prolonged standing or walking, sometimes without rest or relief, and may involve hiking on park trails, bending, lifting, and responding to emergencies. The position typically requires daily operation of a motor vehicle on steep mountainous roads. The employee works closely with Park Rangers and may have opportunities to provide interpretive programs depending on interest and ability. This is a seasonal federal position. A valid driver’s license is required, and the employee must wear a uniform; a uniform allowance is provided. Government housing is available, but travel, transportation, and relocation expenses are not paid. Employment may end due to funding, project needs, performance, or other considerations.

Requirements

Meet the GS-04 qualification requirements through one of the stated pathways: six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience; two years of qualifying post-high-school education, including at least 12 semester hours in relevant subjects; or a combination of qualifying education and experience.
For the experience pathway, general experience must include duties such as greeting the public, disseminating information, or providing directions; specialized experience must include oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups, or developing or revising such information for oral presentation.
For education-based qualification, provide transcripts showing the required coursework and credits.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Meet the applicable Selective Service registration requirement for males.
Be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 and meet one of the stated education or student-employment conditions.
Have a valid driver’s license and submit a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and certified driving records from all states where licenses have been held.
Pass the required background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
Participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.
Wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
Be able to lift 30 pounds.
Be able to perform duties involving prolonged standing or walking, occasional steep-incline climbing and descending, bending, repetitive lifting, and occasional hiking up to six miles with elevation gains up to 600 feet.
Be able to work outdoors in variable and extreme weather and terrain conditions, and concentrate and work at full effort for several hours, potentially without rest or relief.
May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
Submit a resume that clearly documents duties, employment dates, and hours worked per week to receive experience credit.

Responsibilities

Monitor vehicle and pedestrian traffic and control intersections to support safety and smooth traffic flow.
Monitor parking lots and direct vehicles, including buses and recreational vehicles, to appropriate parking stalls.
Answer visitor questions and provide information about park regulations, activities, cultural, historic, and natural resources, events, safety hazards, weather, routes, facilities, and prices.
Provide visitor assistance with lost articles, lost parties, vehicle trouble, and first aid within the limits of current certification.
Report public-use, recreation, and traffic violations, visitor-use problems, and problematic trends to the supervisor, including the extent of problems and names of witnesses or involved persons when possible.
Make on-the-spot corrections when appropriate.
Anticipate traffic and parking management problems and communicate suggestions to the immediate supervisor.
Operate a motor vehicle daily on steep mountainous roads as required.
Use a handheld radio and speak clearly.
Potentially provide interpretive talks, evening campfire programs, and guided walks, depending on interest and ability.