Park Ranger (Protection) (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Crescent City, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Park Rangers (Protection) enforce federal laws, regulations, and policies to protect visitors and public-land resources and provide a safe visitor experience. Duties include patrolling front-country and backcountry locations; responding to emergencies using the Incident Command System; providing medical services; conducting search and rescue; and suppressing wildland and structural fires. Rangers support visitor stewardship and orientation, wilderness management, boundary enforcement, and protection of natural and cultural resources. They help prevent resource degradation and assist with preliminary investigations of felonies, crimes, park-rule and public-use violations, safety violations, and motor vehicle accidents, as well as crowd-control activities.

At the GS-07 level, the ranger independently conducts law-enforcement investigations into misdemeanor violations and, under the supervision of Type I commissioned personnel, investigates felony violations and fatalities. Positions are seasonal, with projected entry-on-duty dates of April 2027 at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Mount Rainier National Park, and Redwood National and State Parks, and May 2027 at Channel Islands National Park. Pay varies by location.

The position requires a National Park Service Type II law-enforcement commission or eligibility to obtain one, and passing the Physical Efficiency Battery before starting. The work involves strenuous field duties, outdoor exposure, law-enforcement and emergency-response hazards, and may include on-call, evening, weekend, holiday, overtime, or shift work. Government quarters may be required at some locations; housing may be available but is not guaranteed. A uniform is required.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must meet one of the stated law-enforcement commission or training pathways by the entrance-on-duty date: currently hold or have held an NPS Seasonal Level II or full Level I commission, or equivalent, within the past three years; have completed a Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program within the past three years but not yet received an NPS Seasonal Level II commission; or successfully complete an approved Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program by the entrance-on-duty date.
• Must certify in supporting documents that at least one qualifying law-enforcement commission or training criterion is met and include a commission number and expiration date or anticipated graduation date in the resume.
• Must possess or be able to obtain an NPS Type II Law Enforcement Commission.
• Must pass the Physical Efficiency Battery before entering the position; the agility run, bench press, and 1.5-mile run must meet the passing standard.
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination and drug test.
• Must be free of domestic violence convictions.
• Must meet Selective Service registration requirements if male.
• Must participate in direct deposit.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• May be required to operate a government or private motor vehicle and provide a valid state driver's license, affidavit, and certified driving records as requested.
• For the Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, California location, must be able to pass the Motorboat Operator Certification Course.
• To qualify at GS-05, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04; or a four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related coursework; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• GS-05 specialized experience must provide broad knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public-use management. Examples include assisting with law enforcement or investigations; natural or cultural resource management; forestry or fire management; emergency services; or park, conservation-area, visitor-information, or campground programs.
• To qualify at GS-07, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 involving law-enforcement duties protecting, conserving, using, or managing natural or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations, including application of law-enforcement authorities and procedures, apprehension, detention, and firearms experience; or one full academic year of related graduate education; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• For the EMT designation, must hold National Registry or state-issued EMT certification.
• Applicants substituting education for experience must submit transcripts; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
• Resume must state whether experience was full-time or part-time and hours worked per week for experience to be credited.

Responsibilities

• Enforce federal laws, regulations, and policies.
• Patrol front-country and backcountry sites.
• Respond to emergencies using the Incident Command System, including providing medical services, conducting search and rescue, and suppressing wildland and structural fires.
• Facilitate visitor stewardship and orientation, wilderness management, and boundary enforcement.
• Protect natural and cultural resources, including wildlife, plants, archaeological sites, and historic buildings, from degradation.
• Assist with preliminary investigations of felonies, crimes, park-rule and public-use violations, safety violations, and motor vehicle accidents.
• Perform crowd-control activities.
• At GS-07, independently investigate misdemeanor violations.
• At GS-07, investigate felony violations and fatalities under the supervision of Type I commissioned personnel.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Government housing may be available at some locations, but is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level