Educational Technician

U.S. Department of the Interior; Astoria (OR); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Educational Technician at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, part of the National Park Service, delivers curriculum-based programs to K-12 students in the park and local schools. You will present talks, guided walks, and hands-on activities aligned with interpretive themes.

You will develop educational content, assist with teacher workshops, support field trip orientations, and engage in community outreach.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Background investigation and favorable adjudication required.
• Valid driver's license; uniform worn and uniform allowance provided.
• Ability to carry up to 50 lbs; probationary period may apply.

Responsibilities

• Create curriculum-based educational programs and activities.
• Develop and present programs for diverse age groups.
• Assist in developing student lesson plans, guides, and teacher workshops.
• Participate in youth and family programs and outreach, including social media posts and press submissions.
• Support the park's historic weapons program through training and public demonstrations.
• Maintain traveling trunks and digital loan reservation system; perform office duties.

Skills

Customer Service

Flexibility

Integrity/Honesty

Interpersonal Skills

Reading Comprehension

Reasoning

Self-Management

Teamwork

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Educational Technician at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park with National Park Service. This position serves as an Educational Technician for the Visitor Services Division, which oversees Interpretation and Education, and is based at the park visitor center for Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. This position is responsible for presenting curriculum-based educational opportunities to K-12 students both in the park and offsite in schools around the region.

Major Duties

• Create curriculum-based educational program relevant to the park's interpretive themes to include guided talks/walks, activities, and demonstrations.
• Develop and present educational programs using appropriate techniques for age group, topic, and a diverse audience
• Assists in the research and development of curriculum-based activities and support materials such as student lesson plans and guides, teacher workshops, pre-post visit activities and field trip orientations.
• Participates in special youth and family programs and other community outreach activities as needed, including creation of park social media posts, partner newsletter and press release submissions, and participation in interpretive planning during off education season.
• Participation in park's historic weapons program, including attending training requiring travel outside the park and attaining historic weapons status through certification; firing historic weapons for public education and interpretation programs and assisting the historic weapons supervisor.
• Maintains traveling trunk and digital loan reservation system for school groups and assists Education Coordinator with field trip reservation system. Performs general office tasks and duties as assigned, including writing letters and documents, completing NPS forms and keeping with email and voice mail for program.

Education

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. Must be able to carry up to 50 lbs regularly. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is 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; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probation your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. 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. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Teamwork In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required. All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP). To be considered under CTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Other Information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.

Physical Demands: The work varies from sedentary to strenuous and takes place in a variety of settings, both indoors and outdoors. The position requires the ability to walk or stand for extended periods of time, hiking in rough, steep terrain, sometimes over rainy conditions and in extreme wet weather. The work requires operation of a government vehicle to access a variety of locations to provide programs both within and outside the park.

Work Environment: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors during all types of weather. Outdoor work can involve exposure to hot often windy conditions in summer and rain and cold winds in winter. Indoor work is carried out in an office setting. The work demands direct contact with students and visitors of all ages.