Park Ranger.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Springville (TN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in the United States is seeking a role focused on developing and managing visitor services partnerships, administering the volunteer program, and creating educational and interpretive programs to engage the public with wildlife resources.

You will also oversee hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and photography services and related plans. The position includes maintaining refuge websites and social media to inform the public about activities and closures,

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.
• Unusual tour of duty required which includes some Saturday work and may become every Saturday.
• Some overnight travel will be required.
• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/28/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
• Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

Responsibilities

• Develops, manages and implements visitor services partnerships
• Administers volunteer program
• Develops and implements environmental education and interpretive programs
• Develops, manages and maintains high quality visitor services program including hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and photography
• Develops variety of step down plans such as hunt and fish plans, environmental education and interpretive plan, and sign plan
• Maintains web site and social media sites to keep public informed about refuge activities and closures
• Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Job description

Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Develops, manages and implements visitor services partnerships
• Administers volunteer program
• Develops and implements environmental education and interpretive programs
• Develops, manages and maintains high quality visitor services program including hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and photography
• Develops variety of step down plans such as hunt and fish plans, environmental education and interpretive plan, and sign plan
• Maintains web site and social media sites to keep public informed about refuge activities and closures

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• 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
• 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.
• Unusual tour of duty required which includes some Saturday work and may become every Saturday.
• Some overnight travel will be required.

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 probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/28/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized 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 periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level:

Experience

To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Experience may include: assisting with the management of recreation opportunities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and photography; developing and presenting environmental education/interpretive programs; participating in biological field work or recreation which develops knowledge of wildlife biology and management; and assisting with the development of interpretive materials, such as brochures, social media posts, and flyers.

-OR-

Education

Successful completion of at least 1 full academic year of graduate level education related to the duties of this position. Examples of this type of study include 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.

-OR-

Combination

of education and experience as listed above. A combination of specialized experience as described in response A above and education as described in response B above. (Determine the percentage of qualifying specialized experience you possess and determine the percentage of qualifying education you possess. Add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100% in order to qualify based on a combination of experience and education). This experience is described in my resume/application and I will submit copies of my college transcripts.

-OR-

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA)

Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to the one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society.

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

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:

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Some overnight travel will be required.

Relocation expenses will be paid: Relocation contract for home sale will not be paid

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit:

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,

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The work is typically located at a Refuge or Refuge Complex office. The incumbent will travel for on-site visits requiring some physical exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven or rocky terrain; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, or similar activities. The work requires average agility and dexterity.

The job is mainly indoors with some travel outside to field stations. The office environment will have adequate heating and lighting. The incumbent may experience slight discomfort in the field with varying weather conditions.

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) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). 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.

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.