Park Ranger (I)

Summary

These positions are located in Big Cypress National Preserve, in the Education and Interpretation Division.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Big Cypress National Preserve is Oct - April, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: Oct 6, 2024

Open to the first 100 applicants or until 07/11/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Learn more about this agency

Help

Duties

Any inquiries please email Lisa Andrews at Lisa_Andrews@nps.gov

Environmental Education:

October through April ranger's main duty is working in the preserve's curriculum based environmental education program with 6th grade science students from the local school district. Rangers safely manage large groups of students from diverse cultural backgrounds and a variety of learning abilities in the 5-hour field trip in the preserve. Rangers assist students with experiments and data collection in three habitats as they use scientific equipment including radio-telemetry, dip nets, water quality tests, soil samples, plant and animal identification and weather monitoring. The hike is very physically demanding while walking through swamps in knee to thigh deep water, heat, humidity, mosquitoes, uneven footing, heavy lifting and long periods of standing. Rangers present short interpretive talks, safety briefings and are responsible for time and group management during the field trip. They clean, repair, stock, inventory and maintain all supplies and equipment, trail and EE center and operate preserve radios when necessary. Rangers present the pre-site power-point program and review logistics with teachers in the classroom before each field trip. Rangers assist in the facilitation of a variety of teacher workshops including Project Wild. Rangers revise and develop a variety of age-appropriate teaching materials including lesson plans, activities, videos and web pages that correlate to school curriculum, State and National Science Standards. Rangers work closely with volunteers, interns, seasonal and permanent employees.

Outreach Duties:

Rangers research, develop and present a variety of original, thematic interpretive programs to special interest and school groups of all ages in the preserve and in nearby communities. Programs include wet walks in the swamp, canoe/kayak and bike trips, boardwalk tours, power point presentations, Dark Sky programs, classroom and auditorium talks. These programs can be very strenuous and involve long hours of walking on uneven terrain, standing, sitting or riding off-road in a harsh environment. Heavy lifting is required. Experience with paddling, water safety, bike maintenance backcountry navigation and astronomy is necessary. Participate in and facilitate a variety of on and off-site festivals and special events partnering with environmental agencies, visitor bureaus, Astronomy Societies, etc. Create a variety of interpretive media including exhibits, posters, articles, information sheets and program flyers. Assist in training new employees, interns and volunteers. Judge regional science fairs.

Handle information requests, perform monthly GOV maintenance, identify and report safety issues.

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Must have the ability to converse fluently in Spanish Language (in addition to English) that allows you to communicate information verbally to visitors on the spot.
• Must have the ability to swim and rescue oneself and ability to perform canoe and kayak self-rescue (rescue oneself and re-enter a canoe and kayak without help from others, or use of land or a dock), and be able to direct trip participants with rescue techniques.
• Must have the ability to paddle canoes and kayaks in water subject to windy conditions, challenging maneuverability, changing water levels, underwater obstacles and tidal currents, and carry unwieldy items, and lift heavy loads.
• Must have the ability to ride mountain bikes on off-road terrain with obstacles for long periods of time and to perform routine bike maintenance-repair flat tire, tighten break lines and adjust bikes to fit participants safely and comfortably-in the field and without support.
  
  
  

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/11/2024-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.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: In addition to standard interpretation qualifications listed below the applicant must have the following:

• Must have the ability to converse fluently in Spanish Language (in addition to English) that allows you to communicate information verbally to visitors on the spot (PLEASE SHOW ON YOUR RESUME THAT YOU HAVE THIS ABILITY OR YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER CONSIDERATION)
• Must have the ability to swim and rescue oneself and ability to perform canoe and kayak self-rescue (rescue oneself and re-enter a canoe and kayak without help from others, or use of land or a dock), and be able to direct trip participants with rescue techniques. (PLEASE SHOW ON YOUR RESUME THAT YOU HAVE THIS ABILITY OR YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER CONSIDERATION)
• Must have the ability to paddle canoes and kayaks in water subject to windy conditions, challenging maneuverability, changing water levels, underwater obstacles and tidal currents, and carry unwieldy items, and lift heavy loads. (PLEASE SHOW ON YOUR RESUME THAT YOU HAVE THIS ABILITY OR YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER CONSIDERATION)
• Must have the ability to ride mountain bikes on off-road terrain with obstacles for long periods of time and to perform routine bike maintenance-repair flat tire, tighten break lines and adjust bikes to fit participants safely and comfortably-in the field and without support. (PLEASE SHOW ON YOUR RESUME THAT YOU HAVE THIS ABILITY OR YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER CONSIDERATION)
  
  
  

Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

- AND -

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 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-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Park Guide or tour leader; environmental educator or teacher; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field. (Related fields of study include natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archaeology, 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). You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take education percentage. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. 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.

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.

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.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Physical Demands: The work involves extensive periods of standing and walking, in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines, carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, etc.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness, e.g., high or low temperatures, confined spaces or adverse weather conditions.

Read more

• Help 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  
  

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Big Cypress National Preserve

33100 TAMIAMI TRAIL E

OCHOPEE, FL 34141

US