SEASONAL Park Guide (Traffic Control)

Department Of The Interior•Sequoia National Park, CA

32d•$19 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

These positions are located at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in the Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnerships, and are supervised by the parks' Transportation Specialist. These parks receive significant visitation (~1.7 million annually) and administratively are among the most complex units of the National Park Service. These parks include some 550 permanent and temporary federal employees as well as over 1,000 volunteers who provide a wide range of public service and support operations which are similar to operations more typically found in a municipal city. These are five major divisions, each of which is further subdivided into functional branches. Duties: Monitors vehicular traffic levels against pedestrian traffic and controls intersections with regards to safety and smooth flow of vehicles. Monitors parking lots, directing vehicles including buses and recreational vehicles to appropriate parking stalls. Answers a variety of visitor questions. Explains regulations to park visitors and provides information and advice on park activities and cultural, historic, and/or natural resources history and location. Provides public orientation and explanations of current park events and informs visitors of potential safety hazards. Provides a wide range of services to visitors, including assistance with lost articles, lost parties, car trouble, and first aid (within parameters of current certification); and provides information about weather conditions, highway routes, park and concessioner facilities, and prices. Reports to supervisor public use/recreation/traffic violations or individual visitor use problems or problematic trends, describes extent of problem and makes on the spot corrections whenever appropriate, reports names of witnesses and/or involved persons when possible. Anticipates traffic/parking management problems and suggestions to immediate supervisor. Physical Demands: The work demands long periods of standing in a fixed stations or walking-sometimes in extreme weather conditions. Occasional climbing and descending steep inclines, bending, and lifting moderately heavy items in a repetitive motion are required. Occasionally, light to moderate hiking is required on developed and primitive park trails, up to six miles in length and elevation gains of up to 600 feet. Mental stress and physical fatigue occur due to high volume of personal contacts, occasional emergency responses, and repetitive nature of interpretive programs. Intense concentration is required during stressful situations and working at full effort for several hours at a time. May be required to perform these duties for long periods without rest or relief. Incumbent must be able to speak clearly and use a handheld radio. Work typically requires the daily operation of a motor vehicle on steep mountainous roads. Working Conditions: The outdoor work will be performed at elevations from approximately 1,300 feet to 8,000 feet resulting in exposure to rain, snow, wind and direct sunlight. Traffic Control work will be performed primarily on blacktop and pavement. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions, steep and uneven terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months - generally May to October. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information: http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm. The person(s) in this position work(s) closely with staff in the 0025 - Park Ranger series. There may be opportunities for the person(s) in this position to provide interpretive programming (such as interpretive talks, evening campfire programs, and guided walks), to the public, depending on interest and ability. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks represent an extraordinary continuum of ecosystems (96% designated wilderness) arrayed along the greatest vertical relief (1,370 to 14,505 feet elevation) of any protected area in the lower 48 states. They are the highest, most rugged reaches of the Sierra Nevada Mountains (including Mount Whitney at 14,500 feet elevation) and feature the world's largest trees - Giant Sequoias. Sequoia National Park is the nation's second oldest national park (established September 25, 1890) and encompasses 404,863 acres. Kings Canyon was established on March 4, 1940 and encompasses 458,847 acres. Both parks provide a wealth of recreational opportunities via 835 miles of trails, wild and scenic rivers, alpine lakes, and caves, along with a full range of overnight lodging prospects to choose from that include 14 campgrounds. For area information visit: https://www.nps.gov/seki/getinvolved/workwithus.htm.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
Must be able to lift 30 pounds.
Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.
Applicants 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.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/10/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.
To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement.
EXPERIENCE: At least six months of general experience AND six months specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-03 grade level in the Federal service, performing progressively responsible clerical, office or other work which has given the ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of a Park Guide (Traffic Control). General experience includes greeting the public, disseminating information, and providing directions. Specialized experience includes oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups. You must include hours per week worked.
EDUCATION: Successful completion of two years of education above high school (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours) that included at least 12 semester hours of coursework such as such as American history, science, and/or public speaking. This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university. (You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating number of credit hours in order to qualify based on education).
Successful COMBINATION of a percent of education and a percent of experience that equals 100%. You must submit transcripts and hours worked per week.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Responsibilities

Monitors vehicular traffic levels against pedestrian traffic and controls intersections with regards to safety and smooth flow of vehicles.
Monitors parking lots, directing vehicles including buses and recreational vehicles to appropriate parking stalls.
Answers a variety of visitor questions.
Explains regulations to park visitors and provides information and advice on park activities and cultural, historic, and/or natural resources history and location.
Provides public orientation and explanations of current park events and informs visitors of potential safety hazards.
Provides a wide range of services to visitors, including assistance with lost articles, lost parties, car trouble, and first aid (within parameters of current certification); and provides information about weather conditions, highway routes, park and concessioner facilities, and prices.
Reports to supervisor public use/recreation/traffic violations or individual visitor use problems or problematic trends, describes extent of problem and makes on the spot corrections whenever appropriate, reports names of witnesses and/or involved persons when possible. Anticipates traffic/parking management problems and suggestions to immediate supervisor.

Benefits

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.
Government Housing is available.
A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

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