Park Ranger (PSAR) (Temporary)

National Park Service • Oneida, TN

11d • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Park Ranger in Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR) located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Southeast Region, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Oneida, Tennessee. This is a temporary position expected to last one year, but may be extended up to a maximum of two years based on agency needs and potential funding.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must possess and maintain a Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or higher-level certification, through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, or the equivalent through a State Emergency Medical Service Organization with the ability to obtain a National Registry Certification.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards.
• You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.
• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/12/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
• To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
• Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.
• For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
• Driver's License - must possess a current, valid state issued driver's license which has not been suspended or revoked.
• Emergency Medical Technician Certification - Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or higher-level certification, through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, or the equivalent through a State Emergency Medical Service Organization with the ability to obtain a National Registry Certification.
• At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).
• Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Park Ranger (Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR)) position.
• Experience may have been technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work.
• Examples of qualifying specialized experience include but are not limited to the following: park guide or tour leader; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations.
• Additionally, experience must include: planning, coordinating, and conducting search and rescue (SAR) and preventative search and rescue (PSAR) operations in remote or high-risk environments; responding to emergency incidents involving lost, injured, or overdue visitors; assessing risk, terrain, weather, and visitor behavior to prevent incidents; coordinating multi-agency responses with local, state, tribal and federal partners; operating emergency communication systems and tracking resources; preparing incident documentation and after-action reports; and providing visitor education and outreach focused on safety, risk management and resource protection.
• You must include hours per week worked.
• You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience.
• Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable.
• A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted.
• Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position.
• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
• To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Nice To Haves

• Successful completion of at least 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree related to the occupation.
• Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled.
• To combine experience and education, first take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Then take the number of semester hours, or equivalent, earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 36 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
• You must include hours per week and transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct substantial analysis regarding PSAR related educational strategies and program offerings
• Educate, interpret, and inform visitors about resources, conservation, laws, and regulations
• Provide operational supervision over small to complex search and resource incidents utilizing the Incident Command System
• Provide administrative, operational, and logistic support to PSAR related outreach activities

Benefits

• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree