Park Ranger (Interpretation) - FUL

U.S. National Park Service; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. National Park Service seeks a Park Ranger (Interpretation) for Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

The role sits in the Division of Interpretation and Education and includes supervisory duties at the GS-09 level, with a mandatory probationary period and careful assessment of performance and public interest alignment. Qualifications require either 1 year of specialized experience at GS-04 level with hours per week, or a combination of education and experience plus transcripts, or

Qualifications

• At least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04; includes park guidance, law enforcement, or preservation work with hours per week specified.
• Bachelor's degree with 24 related semester hours or combination of education and experience to meet 100% of the minimum.

Skills

Hours per week

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

You will serve as a Park Ranger (Interpretation).
This position is located at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, in the Division of Interpretation and Education.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
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;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary 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 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.
At the GS-09, this is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/10/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.

To qualify at the GS-05, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement:

• EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: park guide or tour leader, law enforcement or investigative work, archaeological or historical preservation research work, forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area, management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations, or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked.
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study which includes 24 semester hours of related course work. Major study may 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. You must include transcripts.
• Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only progressive education in excess of the first 2 years (60 semester hours or equivalent) is creditable when combining. You must include transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-07, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement:

• EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (Note: One grade interval work such as guide, clerk, assistant or technician work in a single grade occupational series at the GS-05 level does NOT qualify for this position, however GS-06 level may). This experience can be obtained in either the public or private sectors. This experience MUST include: (1) developing and presenting independently researched programs; (2) developing material for nonpersonal services and interpretive media; (3) coordinating the operation of a visitor facility and/or information desk; (4) assisting in coordinating special projects. You must include hours per week worked.
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate-level education in a related field appropriate to the position as shown above. You must include transcripts.
• Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and graduate education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only graduate level education is creditable when combining. You must include transcripts.
• Superior Academic Achievement: Successfully completion of a bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the duties of this position AND meet one of the following Superior Academic Achievement provisions: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision , such as College of Liberal Arts or School of Business Administration, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average: earn a grade-point average of (a) 3.0 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 of the curriculum. Note: grade-point averages will be rounded to the one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9, and 3.45 = 3.5; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: elected membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. Freshman scholastic honor societies cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. You must provide transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-09, you must possess ONE of the following by close of the announcement:

• EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience includes: 1). Performing work that demonstrates specific knowledge of interpretive principles. 2). Create, develop, and design formal and informal interpretive curriculum using a variety of fully developed skills, techniques, and tools. 3). Develop interpretive curriculum, structured programs, tours, presentations, demonstrations, events, and virtual interactions. Conduct research on different scientific and /or historical subjects. 4). Develop or design interpretive material, provide non-personal services and interpretive media (e.g., signs, waysides, publications, exhibits, audio, video and other digital content). 5). Engage public with formal structured interpretive programs (e.g., walks, talks, tours, presentations, demonstrations, events, and virtual interactions). 6). Lead others, provide oversight, resource education, mentorship, training, and coaching. This experience could have been gained serving as a Park Ranger directly conducting interpretive work, Park Interpretive Specialist, Outdoor activities Director, Park Activities Coordinator providing formal educational resource training, developing curriculum, or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked.
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education OR a master's/equivalent graduate degree in a field related to the occupation as shown above. You must include transcripts.
• Successful completion of a COMBINATION of experience and graduate education as described above that when combined equal at least 100% of the minimum qualification requirement. NOTE: Only progressive graduate education beyond the first year is credible when combining. You must include transcripts.