Park Guide (Seasonal)

Department of Interior; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of the Interior's National Park Service seeks a Park Guide at GS-04/05 level with ICTAP/CTAP priority eligibility. Location is negotiable across parks; duties center on informing visitors and interpreting park resources to diverse audiences.

Qualifications require a year of combined general and specialized experience or equivalent education in history, science, or public speaking. There is a background check for money handling; this federal vacancy is open to eligible surplus and

Qualifications

• Six months general experience plus six months specialized experience totaling one year.
• Two years of study above high school with related subjects.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education to meet qualification standards.
• Note: Money handling requires a higher background check.
• Qualifying experience may be obtained in private or public sectors.

Skills

Oral presentation

Public speaking

People communication

Education

Two years of college study (60 semester hours) including related subjects

Four years of college study (120 semester hours) leading to bachelor's degree

Job description

This announcement is for the Park Guide, to clear ICTAP/CTAP priority lists. It is only open to current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the ICTAP/CTAP.

National Park Service-wide (location negotiable). To see available parks and duty locations, please visit Find Your Park.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/12/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-04 level, you must possess one of the following

1. Six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience for a total of one year of experience.

   General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

   Examples of general experience include, but are not limited to: selling merchandise, collecting and accounting for fees or other monies, greeting visitors, disseminating information, providing directions, or other work which required dealing with people on a recurring basis and that indicates the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of this position.

   Specialized experience is experience that involved oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups.

   Examples of specialized experience could include park guide or tour leader, naturalist, environmental educator or teacher, or other similar work.

2. Successfully completed two years of study above high school (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours) which included at least 12 semester hours in subjects such as American History, science and/or public speaking.

3. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 level, you must possess one of the following

1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level.

   Specialized Experience is experience that involved oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups.

   Examples of specialized experience could include park guide or tour leader, naturalist, environmental educator or teacher, or other similar work.

2. Successfully completed four years of study above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, such as American History, science, public speaking, parks and recreation, education or communications.

3. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.

Note: Money handling requires a higher background check.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: General Schedule Qualification Standards (opm.gov).

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.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).