Park Ranger (General) (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Mammoth Lakes, CA

21d • Onsite

About The Position

Park Rangers (General) protect and preserve park resources while ensuring visitor safety, assisting the public, and enforcing park regulations. The anticipated Summer entry-on-duty period for the Pacific West Region is March–July 2027, although timing may vary due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. This is a seasonal position, and employment may be terminated at any time because of funding fluctuations, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Some parks may authorize temporary seasonal employment of up to 1,560 hours; otherwise, temporary appointments may be limited to 1,039 hours. The position may be filled at the GS-5 or GS-7 grade level.

Duties include patrolling front-country and remote areas on foot and by motorized or non-motorized watercraft; protecting resources and visitors through education and compliance checks; explaining regulations and resource-preservation practices; and providing visitor orientation, emergency medical services, search and rescue, environmental protection, and resource-management data collection as needed. Rangers may also develop and deliver interpretive talks and tours, promote visitor safety and stewardship, and serve as an initial contact for accident reporting and emergency assistance.

At GS-5, the ranger also provides on-the-job training, mentoring, guidance, feedback, and assistance to team members. At GS-7, the ranger performs GS-5 duties and provides on-the-job training and assistance to team members. At North Cascade National Park, the ranger may obtain DOI Motorboat Operators Certification and operate 16–29-foot motorized watercraft to access the duty station, patrol, and conduct emergency operations. Vessels may be operated singlehandedly in varying weather and water conditions that can be hazardous.

The work may require on-call, evening, weekend, holiday, overtime, or shift work. Employees may need to wear a uniform, complete training, operate four-wheel-drive vehicles or other government vehicles, and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed; occupancy of government quarters may be required. A uniform allowance is provided. Physical work involves extended standing and walking, sometimes over rough surfaces or inclines while carrying backpacks, tools, or rescue equipment. The work environment includes recurring exposure to moderate discomforts such as high or low temperatures, confined spaces, and adverse weather.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 and meet one of the stated education, vocational training, school-authority preference, or student-employment conditions.
• For GS-5, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4, 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.
• For GS-7, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 that includes training or mentoring and overseeing lower-graded staff, one full academic year of related graduate education, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Provide a resume of no more than two single-sided pages that identifies duties, employment dates, and hours worked; only the resume submitted in the Resume document section is used for qualification and rating.
• Submit transcripts if qualifying based on education; official transcripts are required before starting work if selected and education was used to qualify.
• A valid driver's license is required when operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• Must be at least 18 years old to operate government vehicles.
• Some locations require specified emergency medical certifications, such as NEMT or higher, NEMR, BLS/CPR, WFR, WEMR, or WEMT; location-specific requirements are provided in the announcement questionnaire.
• Some locations require pre-employment drug testing.
• May be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
• May be required to complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• May be required to wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
• Must participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program if selected.

Nice To Haves

• At North Cascade National Park, the ranger may obtain DOI Motorboat Operators Certification.
• Qualifying experience may be paid or unpaid, including volunteer work.

Responsibilities

• Protect park resources and visitors through patrols, education, and compliance checks.
• Explain park regulations and the importance of resource preservation and protection.
• Conduct patrols on foot and by motorized or non-motorized watercraft in front-country and remote areas.
• Provide front-country and backcountry orientation, emergency medical services, search and rescue, environmental protection, and resource-management data collection as needed.
• Develop and deliver interpretive talks and tours as needed.
• Promote visitor safety and stewardship of park resources in interactions with the public.
• Serve as an initial contact for accident reporting and emergency assistance as needed.
• At GS-5, provide on-the-job training, mentoring, guidance, feedback, and assistance to team members.
• At GS-7, perform GS-5 duties and provide on-the-job training and assistance to team members.
• At North Cascade National Park, potentially operate motorized watercraft for access to the duty station, patrols, and emergency operations.

Benefits

• Uniform allowance is provided.
• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available, with eligibility depending on the position type and work schedule.
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level