Park Ranger (Interpretation)

National Park Service • Cherry County, NE

1d

About The Position

The Park Ranger (Interpretation) serves at Niobrara National Scenic River, interpreting park resources, connecting visitors with the park, supporting learning, and helping manage heritage resources. Park ranger-interpreters help visitors have meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experiences by introducing them to the park’s stories and values, supporting stewardship, and building public support for protecting resources for present and future generations. Duties are developmental when the position is filled below the full-performance level. The role is open at GS-05, GS-07, and GS-09 levels; promotion to the full-performance level is not guaranteed.

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 possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period.
• Qualifications must be met by the announcement closing date of November 17, 2026; current federal employees must also meet applicable time-in-grade requirements.
• For GS-05, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 involving assistance with interpretive talks, educational programs, guided tours, or visitor assistance in a park, museum, historic site, nature center, environmental education program, or similar setting; or four years of post-high-school education leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related coursework; or an allowed combination of education and experience.
• For GS-07, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 involving planning and presenting interpretive programs or researching and developing interpretive or educational content; or one academic year of related graduate education; or Superior Academic Achievement with a directly related bachelor's degree; or an allowed combination of education and experience.
• For GS-09, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 that includes at least two of the following: independently researching and developing interpretive programs or educational content; independently planning and presenting interpretive programs; or coaching or mentoring interpretive or similar staff. Alternatively, qualify with a related master's or equivalent graduate degree, two years of progressively higher-level related graduate education, an LL.B. or J.D. if related, or an allowed combination of education and experience.
• Resumes must provide hours worked per week for experience; education used to qualify must be supported by transcripts.
• Foreign education used to qualify must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education by a qualified credential-evaluation organization.

Responsibilities

• Present formal interpretive and educational programs, including walks, talks, tours, presentations, demonstrations, events, and virtual interactions, as well as informal visitor contacts.
• Encourage riverine stewardship and public support for preserving and protecting park resources.
• Lead the Junior Ranger Program.
• Plan and arrange visitor-service functions and assist with planning and logistics for special events.
• Communicate effectively and exercise diplomacy in internal and external relations.
• Develop interpretive content for social media.
• Develop and present formal educational programs for a variety of age groups.
• Coordinate cultural history projects involving topics such as ethnic history, local folklore, historic sites and buildings, demonstration projects, and park history.
• Develop training materials and programs and direct and train lower-graded rangers in using interpretive materials.
• Plan, design, develop, and improve interpretive materials, particularly digital content such as websites, social media, mobile technology, live broadcasts or distance programming, podcasts, and virtual tours.
• Prepare portions of interpretive planning and budgeting documents.
• Develop portions of cultural history resource management plans.
• Identify local cultural or historical sites and structures and recommend preservation, restoration, or maintenance needs.
• Monitor and critique interpretive activities conducted by lower-graded rangers and recommend individual or program improvements.
• Coordinate operation of a mobile visitor center and interpretive contact station.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance is provided.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on the position type.

What This Job Offers

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