Park Ranger (Interpretation)

National Park Service; Keystone (SD); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

National Park Service in Keystone, South Dakota seeks a Park Ranger (Interpretation) to lead interpretive programs, coordinate events, and act as Visitor Center lead. The person will research topics and present natural and cultural stories to diverse visitors.

You will staff information desks, provide roving interpretation, produce interpretive media, and mentor staff and volunteers. On-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering interpretive programs to diverse audiences.
• Ability to coordinate events and manage schedules.

Responsibilities

• Lead interpretive programs and coordinate special events.
• Act as Visitor Center lead and staff information desk.
• Develop and present natural and cultural history topics.
• Produce interpretive media and roving interpretation.
• Mentor staff and volunteers in interpretive principles.

Skills

Interpretive programs

Public speaking

Event coordination

Mentoring staff

Job description

Open: August 17, 2026 — Closes: August 31, 2026

Summary

You will serve as a Park Ranger (Interpretation). You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Major Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Assist in coordinating and overseeing special events, including the culture bearer program. Serve as the Visitor Center lead, produce biweekly schedule, train staff on building SOPs. Independently research, develop, and conduct formal and informal interpretive programs on a wide variety of natural and cultural history topics. Conduct informal interpretation, including staffing information desk, and providing roving interpretation. Produce interpretive media, including site bulletins, website, social media, displays. Coach, mentor, and audit NPS staff and interpretive volunteers using 21st Century Interpretive Principles. The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.