Park Guide (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Garfield, AR

1d

About The Position

Park Guides greet visitors and educate and inform them about natural, cultural, or historical resources in National Parks. The seasonal appointment is anticipated to run from March through September 2027. Duties may vary by park and grade level. At GS-4, work may include staffing visitor-center information counters, answering visitor questions, delivering limited and repetitive pre-established talks, orienting hikers to conditions and equipment needs, leading small groups of up to 20 people on short walks, and, at some locations, issuing backcountry camping permits and providing related information. At GS-5, guides may apply broad subject-matter knowledge of the park, lead groups of up to 50 people on longer walks or programs, provide a wider range of visitor services, explain current park events, and warn visitors about safety hazards.

The position may require wearing a uniform, participating in on-call, evening, weekend, holiday, overtime, or shift work, and completing training. Depending on the park, the employee may operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle, a government or private motor vehicle, and a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. Government quarters may be required; housing may be available but is not guaranteed. Employment may be terminated due to funding, project needs, performance, or other considerations. The appointment may be temporary seasonal, not to exceed 1,560 hours rather than 1,039 hours depending on the park and program.

Work takes place both indoors in visitor centers and outdoors, with exposure to extreme temperatures, rain, snow, wind, and direct sunlight. Physical demands include prolonged standing, walking up to six miles daily, climbing and descending steep inclines, bending, and repeatedly lifting moderately heavy items. High volumes of personal contacts, occasional emergency responses, and repetitive interpretive programs may cause mental stress and physical fatigue.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet the Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• Must participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.
• Must be at least 18 years old, or meet the stated eligibility conditions for applicants who are at least 16 years old.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards if required.
• Must complete required training and operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle if required.
• A valid driver's license is required if operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties; operators of government vehicles must be at least 18.
• Must complete required training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority if required.
• For GS-4, qualify through the specified combination of general and specialized experience, two years of post-high-school study including at least 12 semester hours in relevant subjects, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• For GS-5, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4, four years of post-high-school study leading to a bachelor's degree with occupation-related courses, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Specialized experience must involve presenting historical, scientific, or program information orally to groups, or developing or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation.
• Submit a resume no longer than two single-sided pages; it must document duties, employment dates, and hours worked. Only the resume submitted in the designated Resume section will be used for qualification and rating purposes.
• Applicants qualifying based on education must submit legible transcripts; official transcripts are required before starting if selected and education was used to qualify.
• Applicants relying on foreign education must provide an evaluation establishing its U.S. equivalency or applicable course credit.
• All qualifications must be met by the announcement closing date of October 26, 2026.
• Must submit the application by 11:59 EST on October 26, 2026, to be considered.

Nice To Haves

• Money-handling experience is a preference for optional consideration and requires a higher-level background check.
• Qualifying experience may include paid or unpaid work, including volunteer experience.

Responsibilities

• Staff an information counter in a visitor center.
• Answer visitor questions on a variety of subjects.
• Present limited, repetitive, pre-established talks, including film introductions, map talks, and static exhibit interpretation.
• Orient hikers to current conditions and equipment needs.
• Lead small parties of up to 20 people on short walks.
• At some park locations, issue backcountry camping permits and provide backcountry camping information.
• At GS-5, deliver programs requiring broad subject-matter knowledge of the park.
• At GS-5, guide groups of up to 50 people on longer walks or programs.
• At GS-5, provide a wide range of services to park visitors.
• At GS-5, explain current park events and warn visitors about safety hazards.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; eligibility depends on the position type and whether the position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

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