Position jobs in United States

This position requires substantial prior primary law enforcement experience either inside or outside the Federal government (e.g. investigating, apprehending, or detaining criminals or criminal suspects).

Park Ranger (Protection) - Standard & Field Training Officer Duties :

• Serves as a Field Training Officer, providing expert guidance and training on law enforcement procedures as a law enforcement instructor.
• Conduct technical training and education programs including development of law enforcement training curriculum as a certified law enforcement instructor.
• Provide evaluation of student performance for both team and individual training settings to determine behavior anchor points and acquired skills/abilities.
• Develop law enforcement training curriculum using advanced principles and techniques to include lesson plan development, research, curriculum review, development, and revision; develop training materials utilizing different approaches and methods to instruct in classroom settings and practical exercises.
• Maintain working relationships with key stakeholders to complete joint training projects or to share best practices; develop and deliver presentations to students and management officials.

• Big Cypress NP - Ochopee FL
• Biscayne NP - Homestead FL
• Blue Ridge Parkway - Laurel Springs MC, Blowing Rock NC, Spruce Pine NC, Asheville NC, Waynesville NC, Floyd VA, Vinton VA, Big Island VA, Bedford VA, & Montebello VA
• Buffalo NR - Harrison AR
• Canaveral NS - Titusville FL & New Smyrna FL
• Cape Hatteras NS - Buxton NC, Nags Head NC, & Ocracoke NC
• Chickasaw NRA - Sulphur OK
• Colonial NHP - Yorktown VA, Jamestown VA
• Cumberland Gap NHP - Middlesboro KY
• Cuyahoga Valley NP - Brecksville OH, Peninsula OH
• Delaware Water Gap NRA - Bushkill PA
• Everglades NP - Homestead FL, Everglades City FL, Key Largo FL, & Flamingo FL
• Gateway Arch NP - Saint Louis MO
• Gateway Sandy Hook - Highlands, NJ
• Glen Canyon NRA - Page Wahweap AZ, Bullfrog UT
• Golden Gate NRA - San Francisco CA, Sausalito CA
• Grand Canyon NP - Grand Canyon AZ, North Rim AZ
• Grand Teton NP - Moose WY, Colter Bay WY
• Great Smoky Mountain NP - Townsend TN, Gatlinburg TN, & Cherokee NC
• Gulf Islands NS - Gulf Breeze FL, Ocean Springs MS
• Hot Springs NP - Hot Springs AR
• Independence NHP - Philadelphia PA
• Joshua Tree NP - Twentynine Palms CA
• Lake Mead NRA -Boulder City NV, Callville Bay NV, Searchlight NV, Clark County NV, Temple Bar AZ, Willow Beach AZ, Bullhead City AZ
• Mammoth Cave NP - Mammoth Cave KY
• Mount Rushmore NP - Keystone SD
• Natchez Trace Parkway - Franklin TN, Hohenwald TN, Cherokee AL, Tupelo MS, Mantee MS, Ridgeland MS, & Port Gibson MS
• New River Gorge NP - Glen Jean WV, Beaver WV, & Lansing WV
• Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Van Buren MO, Eminence MO
• Rocky Mountain NP - Estes Park CO
• Sequoia and King's Canyon NP - Kings Canyon National Park CA, Three Rivers CA, & Sequoia National Park CA
• Valley Forge NHP - King of Prussia PA
• Yellowstone NP - Yellowstone NP, WY
• Yosemite NP - Yosemite CA
• Zion NP - Springdale UT

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Subject to pre-employment physical and drug testing.
• Must possess the NPS Type I Law Enforcement Commission.
• Must currently be a credentialed Field Training Officer for the NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program.
• Temporary Promotion - 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). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• Will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.
• Must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• Must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. Required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.
• Required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.
• Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Government housing may be available.
• Required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• May be required to travel overnight away from home.
• May be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Applicants must be at least 21 years old.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/02/2026-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 2-page 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 2-page 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.

Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection), GS-0025-11 :

1. Selective Placement Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:

• Mandatory Minimum Age Requirement: This position has a mandatory requirement that applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
• Mandatory Law Enforcement Commission: Applicants must meet one of the following criteria by the close date of the announcement to be considered for these positions:
  • Currently hold, or have previously held (within the past three years), a National Park Service full (Level I) law enforcement commission, or equivalent within the past three years.
  • You MUST certify in your supporting documents the possession of at least one of the above criteria . In c lude your commission number with expiration date within your resume.
• Primary Law Enforcement Experience: This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position.
• Candidates must currently be a credentialed Field Training Officer for the NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program. Applicants must have attended a NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) Training Officer Course. The two NPS-approved courses of instruction are the NPS FTEP Training Course and the DHS FLETC FTEP Training Officer Course. Candidates must have completed one of the two courses by the close date of the announcement in order to qualify as a Field Training Officer.
  • Applicants are not required to submit proof of FTO during the application process - this will be verified by Human Resources during the application review.

2. Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications by the close of the announcement:

To qualify for the GS-11 level:

A. Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 (or GL-09) level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Experience at this level requires substantial prior primary law enforcement experience which includes investigating, apprehending or detaining criminals or criminal suspects. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-
B. Education: Successful completion of three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, or a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree at an accredited college or university, in a field of major study that is directly related to the work of the position such as: 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. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled.

-OR-
C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

Temporary Promotion Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates applying for a temporary promotion, must meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade qualification requirements.

Detail Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates must meet qualification requirements, however, candidates are not required to meet the time-in-grade qualification requirements of this position. Details also apply to current employees who hold the full performance level of the position (GS-11) or higher grade level on a permanent basis. While on detail, the employee continues to hold their official position from which detailed and keeps the same status and grade.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated

The probationary and trial periods are an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that your appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary period, such appointments are terminated.
• Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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

Related Graduate Education: Major study -- 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. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled. '

You must provide transcripts if you are claiming you meet the qualifications based on education.

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an 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 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

This temporary promotion may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, and/or other considerations.

Please visit for additional park information.

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

Physical Demands: Strenuous exertion is frequently required in law enforcement, search and rescue, medical and related emergency activities. Lifting or carrying equipment weighing over 50 pounds, such as emergency equipment, or search and rescue equipment is required. There is a physical, mental and emotional high-stress component to much of the incumbents work assignment. Position is required to meet and continuously maintain the physical/medical standards as set forth in the requirements of D.O. #57.

Working Conditions: The work is performed at various hours of the day and night and for prolonged periods during emergency situations. The incumbent is frequently exposed to high-risk and potentially dangerous situations in law enforcement and emergency situations requiring use of a wide range of personal protective gear, adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) : The salary annotated on this announcement does not include the cost-of-living allowance, nor locality pay.
to calculate locality pay.
to calculate locality pay.

This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements, but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld (this requirement does not apply to this position, as it is NOT applicable to temporary promotions and/or details), AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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. .

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Performance Appraisal - Required for ALL Applicants: All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If submitting a performance appraisal not dated within the last 18 months, a statement as to why it is the most recent must be submitted. If no performance appraisal is available, applicants must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).

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. .

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.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/02/2026.

1. 2-Page Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect either full-time or 40 hours per week. If a part-time work schedule is reflected, the hours must be annotated to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. Merit Promotion Eligibility Documentation such as:
   • Agency (NPS) employees must submit a copy of their latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" that reflects career or career-conditional tenure showing position title, series, grade and tenure (please do not submit an Award SF-50 as it does not provide the needed information) and, if different, an SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held or you may not be considered under this merit promotion process. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50's.
   • If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess the one-year time-in-grade, as required by this announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade, such as a Within Grade Increase.
   • Agency (NPS) employees must also submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed if hours worked per week are not included on your resume.
   • Veterans Preference Documentation (e.g. DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter as appropriate)
   • Performance Appraisals and Awards - Required for ALL applicants:
     • All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor or, if one is unavailable, a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
     • It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package
4. Documentation that you meet Selective Factors. Failure to submit the required Selective Factor documents will result in loss of consideration.
5. Documentation that you meet the National Park Service full (Level I) law enforcement commission requirement. Failure to submit the required law enforcement commission documents will result in loss of consideration.
6. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
7. Documentation for consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.