Park Ranger Interpretation

National Park Service•Mosca, CO

5h•Onsite

About The Position

Serve as a Park Ranger Interpretation with the National Park Service at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The position develops and improves interpretive materials and programs, oversees interpretive operations at the Visitor Center and other public venues, and provides visitor information and services. The incumbent directly supervises seasonal employees, park interns, and Interpretation and Visitor Services volunteers, and coordinates the park’s Volunteer Program. The position may involve on-call work, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work; overnight travel away from home up to three nights per month may be required. Work is suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. The role requires operating a government or private motor vehicle for official duties, holding a valid driver’s license, and wearing a National Park Service uniform. A uniform allowance will be provided. The work may require standing and walking for extended periods, including over rough terrain or inclines, and carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, or other loads. Work conditions may include exposure to extreme temperatures, rough terrain, wild animals, pests, and insects, and may require protective clothing or gear. Some employees may participate in strenuous or all-risk operations. To qualify at the GS-09 level, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of experience and education. Qualifying experience may include park guiding, law enforcement or investigative work, preservation research, forestry or fire management, or program work related to park protection and management. Applicants must document hours worked; education used to qualify must be supported by transcripts.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
Participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.
Meet applicable federal time-in-grade requirements.
Hold a valid driver’s license and submit a Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and driving record, including certified records from all states where the applicant has held a license.
Wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
May be required to travel overnight away from home up to three nights per month.
Obtain a government charge card for travel and, if required, complete training and obtain or maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
For GS-09, have at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to GS-07, or qualifying graduate education, or an acceptable combination of experience and education.
Applicants relying on experience must provide hours worked per week; current federal employees may need to submit a non-award SF-50 to document work schedule.
Applicants relying on education must submit transcripts; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
Meet any continuing fitness requirements if participating in all-risk operations.

Responsibilities

Manage the development of interpretive materials by subordinate staff for use in a variety of venues.
Evaluate the need for new or revised park publications; draft brochure text, design layouts, analyze funding sources, and stay within the prescribed budget.
Plan, design, develop, and improve interpretive materials, including signs, waysides, publications, exhibits, and audio, video, and other digital content.
Develop and present formal and informal audience- and learner-centered interpretive experiences.
Oversee the planning and development of interpretive programming, coordinating with the Chief of Interpretation and local partners as appropriate.
Oversee interpretive operations at the Visitor Center and other public venues.
Engage in and monitor visitor services provided by seasonal employees, park interns, and Interpretation and Visitor Services volunteers.
Respond to electronic, telephone, and written inquiries from the public.
Orient, educate, and inform visitors about access and opportunities to participate in and contribute to memorable experiences.
Directly supervise seasonal employees, park interns, and Interpretation and Visitor Services volunteers; perform planning, scheduling, evaluation, and operational supervisory functions.
Be responsible for the on-the-job safety and health of supervised employees and volunteers.
Coordinate the Park’s Volunteer Program.