Park Ranger (Mountaineering)(Seasonal)

National Park Service • Marblemount, WA

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The National Park Service is recruiting temporary seasonal Park Rangers (Mountaineering) in the Pacific West Region. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April, with the anticipated start date in April 2027; actual dates and appointment length depend on funding, weather, project needs, visitation, and work availability. Appointments are not to exceed 1,039 hours in a service year.

At the GS-05 level, rangers patrol climbing approaches, technical climbing routes, trails, and rugged off-trail areas on foot in varied weather. They make visitor education and safety contacts, particularly with mountaineering parties, and provide initial response and team support for search-and-rescue and other wilderness emergencies. Duties also include campsite maintenance, trail work, wilderness-management tasks, and maintenance of composting toilets in climbing areas. Backcountry patrols last from one to ten days per pay period, averaging three to six days. Other work includes staffing a wilderness information center, maintaining search-and-rescue and gear caches, training, and office projects.

At the GS-07 level, the role is a team-leader mountaineering ranger position. The ranger leads climbing and mountaineering patrols; provides leadership and guidance to employees and volunteer partners during search-and-rescue operations; and assists the supervisor with mentoring new rangers. The ranger may coordinate volunteers, Student Conservation Association employees, interns, and community work crews on park projects, and may train volunteers, interns, and employees.

The position requires technical mountaineering experience, current National Registry Emergency Medical Technician certification or higher by the first day of work, and the applicable GS-level experience, education, or combination of both. Work involves strenuous climbing and cross-country travel in rugged terrain, carrying loads up to 50 pounds, and exposure to adverse weather and potentially hazardous situations. A uniform is required, and a uniform allowance will be provided. Government housing may be available; travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must meet the Selective Service registration requirement for males.
• Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Must receive a negative pre-employment drug test and is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• Must have a valid driver's license and submit the required motor vehicle operator's license and driving records from all states where the applicant has held a license.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
• Must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• Must be at least 18 years old, or meet one of the stated eligibility conditions for applicants who are at least 16 years old.
• Must document experience ascending peaks on Grade IV, Class 5.6 routes, navigating glaciered terrain, and leading climbs on glaciered terrain up to 9,000 feet in elevation.
• Must possess current National Registry Emergency Medical Technician certification or a higher-level certification by the first day of work; certification or course-enrollment documentation must be included in application materials.
• For GS-05, must qualify through at least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04, four years of qualifying undergraduate education with at least 24 semester hours in related subjects, or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
• For GS-07, must qualify through at least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05, one year of qualifying graduate education, or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
• Applicants claiming education must provide legible transcripts; applicants claiming experience must document duties, employment dates, and hours worked per week.
• Must be able to perform regular technical climbing and cross-country travel, including strenuous climbing, hiking, and lifting heavy objects or loads up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to work in rugged, uneven, steep, rough, or slippery terrain and in adverse weather and potentially hazardous conditions.

Responsibilities

• Patrol climbing approaches, technical climbing routes, trails, and rugged off-trail areas on foot in a wide range of weather conditions.
• Make visitor education and safety contacts, especially with mountaineering parties.
• Provide initial response and serve on teams for search-and-rescue and other emergency responses in wilderness and technical terrain.
• Perform campsite maintenance, trail work, wilderness-management tasks, and maintenance of composting toilets in climbing areas.
• Conduct backcountry patrols, typically averaging three to six days per pay period.
• Staff a wilderness information center and maintain search-and-rescue and gear caches.
• Conduct training and office project work.
• At GS-07, lead climbing and mountaineering patrols and provide leadership and guidance to employees and volunteer partners during search-and-rescue operations.
• Assist the supervisor in leading and mentoring new rangers.
• As assigned, direct and coordinate volunteers, Student Conservation Association employees, interns, and community work crews working on park projects; train volunteers, interns, and employees.

Benefits

• Uniform allowance.
• Government housing may be available.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed