Park Ranger (PSAR) (Seasonal)

National Park Service•Cherokee, NC

About The Position

Park Rangers in Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR) perform park ranger duties focused on preventing search-and-rescue incidents in park units and providing emergency medical services as needed. The anticipated entry-on-duty period is April through October 2027. The position may be filled as a temporary seasonal appointment, potentially not to exceed 1,560 hours depending on the park and program; employment may end due to funding, project needs, performance, or other considerations. The role involves patrolling park areas, educating visitors about safety and resource protection, delivering PSAR programs, and participating in search-and-rescue operations and their review. Employees may work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, or shifts, and may need to complete training and operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle. A current EMT or higher certification and passing physical fitness testing are required by entrance on duty. The work combines sedentary tasks with physically demanding patrol and incident-response duties. It may involve extended standing, walking, hiking, riding, rowing, and carrying items over 50 pounds over long distances. Work can expose employees to extreme temperatures, rough terrain, wildlife, pests, insects, and potentially dangerous incident operations; protective gear may be required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
Males must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Must participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.
Must pass a pre-employment physical and receive a negative pre-employment drug test; the position is also subject to random illegal-drug testing.
Must have a valid driver's license and submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and driving record; certified records from all states where licenses have been held may be required at the applicant's expense.
Must wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
Must possess a current EMT or higher certification by entrance on duty and pass Physical Fitness Testing.
Must be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 and meet one of the stated education, vocational training, school-authority, or student-employment conditions.
For GS-05 qualification, must have at least one year of qualifying specialized experience comparable to GS-04, a qualifying bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related coursework, or an eligible combination of education and experience.
Qualifying specialized experience may include relevant park, visitor education, EMS/SAR, safe vehicle operation, hiking or rescue in adverse conditions, safety, inventory, equipment maintenance, or related work; hours per week must be included on the resume.
Applicants using education to qualify must submit transcripts; education must be from an accredited institution or appropriately evaluated foreign institution.
Resume must not exceed two single-sided pages and must document relevant duties, employment dates, and hours worked per week.

Responsibilities

Conduct scheduled and special-purpose PSAR patrols in areas such as backcountry and wilderness areas, trails, campgrounds, parking lots, shorelines, rivers, docks, roads, and concessions.
Determine patrol routes and prepare for patrols based on the needs, topography, and requirements of each area.
Lead trips when accompanied by staff, cooperators, groups, or stakeholders.
Provide visitors with safety information and education, obtain their cooperation, and facilitate safe use of park resources.
Identify and report visitor or resource problems and potential violations of regulations concerning protected or public lands.
Provide administrative, operational, and logistical support for PSAR-related educational activities.
Develop and present formal and informal PSAR educational programs or media, in person and through educational media and technology.
Research PSAR topics and use the findings to develop and deliver educational experiences aligned with PSAR goals and objectives.
Serve on a Search and Rescue team during responses that may involve trail response, ground or hasty searches, helicopter evacuations, river rescues, body recoveries, or litter carries.
Participate in operational assessments and prepare contingencies for future search-and-rescue incidents.
Participate in post-operational analysis and After-Action Reviews to improve park operations and prevent SAR events.
Operate vehicles and equipment safely, maintain supplies and equipment, and participate in SAR/EMS training as needed.