Field Unit Local (FUL) Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Department of Interior; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Valles Caldera National Preserve is seeking a Field Unit Local (FUL) Park Ranger (Interpretation) to plan and deliver interpretive programs for diverse visitors. The role requires developing education programs, coordinating schedules, and engaging with local communities.

At GS-5/7/9 levels, the ranger will craft experiences that promote conservation and understanding of park resources, while reflecting a strong commitment to public outreach and safety.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4 level or higher; include hours per week.
• Education: bachelor's degree or equivalent in natural resource management or related field; transcripts required.
• Graduate education or combination of education and experience may meet qualifications; transcripts required.
• For GS-7: one full year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5; include hours per week.
• SA A (Superior Academic Achievement) criteria may apply with transcripts.
• Graduate education: two full academic years may meet GS-9 qualification; transcripts required.

Responsibilities

• Create education or interpretive programs aligned with park themes.
• Deliver education and interpretation programs to diverse audiences.
• Coordinate or manage program schedules and logistics.
• Participate in community events and outreach activities.
• Develop and lead training for staff and volunteers.
• Provide virtual interpretation programs when needed.

Skills

Interpretation programs

Education program delivery

Program scheduling

Community events participation

Hours per week documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural resources or related field

Job description

You will serve as a Field Unit Local (FUL) Park Ranger (Interpretation) for Valles Caldera National Preserve.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/12/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.

To receive credit for experience, 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.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position at the GS-5 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE

I possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-4 grade 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 that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: creating education or interpretive programs; delivering programs to an audience; scheduling programs; or participating in community events. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION

A bachelor's degree or equivalent degree at an accredited college or university related to the occupation such as natural resource management, natural sciences, ecology, biology, geology, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, social sciences, museum sciences, geography, English or other languages, behavioral sciences, sociology, education, or communication. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

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

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE

I possess at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). 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 that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: creating education programs; creating interpretive programs based on park themes; delivering education and interpretation programs; coordinating programs; providing virtual programs; developing training courses; or participating in community events. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (S.A.A.)

Must meet the criteria for the S.A.A., as evidenced by one of the three following methods: 1) in the upper third of graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; 2) have a GPA 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in my major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; or 3) a member in one of the national scholastic honor societies. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

EDUCATION

Successful completion of at least one full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation such as natural resource management, natural sciences, ecology, biology, geology, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, social sciences, museum sciences, geography, English or other languages, behavioral sciences, sociology, education, or communication (one year of full-time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). You must include transcripts.

-OR-

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

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE

I possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level of the federal government. Specialized experience is experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Experience that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: creating education programs that align with state or national teaching standards; creating interpretive programs based on park themes; delivering education to school groups in a variety of settings; delivering interpretation programs to a variety of audiences; coordinating or managing programs; providing virtual programs; developing and leading training programs; working with teacher to develop curricula; tracking program and visitor statistics; developing strategic plans; and organizing community events. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION

Successful completion of at least two full academic years of graduate education related to the occupation, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, such as natural resource management, natural sciences, ecology, biology, geology, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, social sciences, museum sciences, geography, English or other languages, behavioral sciences, sociology, education, or communication (two years of graduate education is defined as 36 semester hours). You must include transcripts.

-OR-

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

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. You must include transcripts.