Summary Guiding and directing the division and assisting with coordination, execution, management, and planning of the park's visitor services, interpretive and education programming and consistent with current National Park Service standards and policies, which is conducted in the park and through outreach activities. Coordinates the development and implementation of park's Long Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP), and develops annual work plans consistent with the LRIP and other park planning documents. Responsibilities The major duties of this position consist of the essential functions of responsibility for the Supervisory Park Ranger - Interpretation (Branch Chief of Interpretation, and Education. The incumbent is responsible for carrying out a variety of functions in the areas of interpretation - education and visitor services, including short and long-range planning and program research, and apply an in-depth knowledge of park's complex resources; stays abreast of important research findings related to the park's cultural and natural resources. The incumbent in this position will prepare long-range plans for park operations through comprehensive interpretation plans make recommendations to the Superintendent concerning the integration of branch priorities, ensure on the job safety and health of all employees supervised, develop and coordinate outreach programs and orientation or professionals and school groups, recommend promotions, reassignments, and other personnel changes, develops performance standards and evaluate the performance of staff members, keep employees informed of management policies and goals, oversee administrative and budgetary programs for the branch, initiate and participate in the administrative processes necessary to obtain resources, and assists in park-wide budget formulation and programming, and serve as a liaison with park partners. Serves as park Public Information Officer and oversees the SUP/CUA program. Physical Demands: The position may require periods of strenuous physical activity inducing periods of standing, walking, climbing, and lifting of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Must possess the ability to hike trails in steep, rugged terrain. Working Conditions: Most of the work is performed indoors in an office setting. Auditing programs of subordinates may involve participation in hikes in steep terrain. The park has remote units up to a half-hour away from park's headquarters, complicating the coordination of logistical and program support. The work of the division is often subject to storm weather, adding to both the difficulty and necessity of providing indoor resource education and visitor information to the public, as well as creating hazardous hiking conditions for visitors and employees. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments and must be met by the closing date of this announcement. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to our first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to 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 discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/21/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include coordinating, managing, or directing interpretive programs; developing educational programs; managing interpretive staff. managing a cultural resources program, museum collection, or leading an interpretive operation that includes an education component. Has developed interpretive plans and experience in the development of interpretive media including brochures, exhibits and video. Has coached others in the presentation of interpretive programs based on solid research. Is skilled in brainstorming innovation in interpretation. Uses technology to advance program opportunities. Is skilled in problem solving and organizing the self and the work of others in a highly efficient manner. Is familiar and has used culture and natural resource management documents and participated in the development of such. Has overseen the development of historic research, or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a PhD or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited educational institution concentrated graduate education with major field of study in natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement, police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources, or course work in other appropriate fields that clearly provided me with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position of Park Ranger. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. 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. Education 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. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. 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. A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.