Park Ranger (Protection)
National Park Service (DOI)
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Job summary
National Park Service (DOI) is seeking Park Ranger (Protection) professionals for a temporary detail with potential for extension. Duty locations negotiable, with occasional travel.
The role emphasizes training, evaluation, and curriculum development for law enforcement staff. Qualified applicants will have substantial law enforcement experience and may be placed on a permanent or temporary promotion track depending on the location and grade.
Responsibilities
- Serves as a Field Training Officer, providing expert guidance and training on law enforcement procedures as a certified instructor.
- Develops and delivers law enforcement curriculum and training materials.
- Evaluates student performance in training settings to determine skill levels.
- Maintains relationships with stakeholders to complete joint training projects and present to management.
Job description
This announcement is for the Law Enforcement, Security, & Emergency Services with multiple duty locations/positions available (location negotiable). To see available parks and duty locations, please see the Duties section.
This is a temporary promotion and/or detail not to exceed 1 year, and can be extended up to 5 years.
Open to the first 75 applicants or 11/14/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
Learn more about this agency
: $76,745 – $124,730 per year The salary annotated on this announcement does not include the cost-of-living allowance, nor locality pay. See Additional Information section.
Full-time
Occasional travel – You may be expected to travel for this position.
Permanent – Temporary promotion/detail not-to-exceed 1 year, and may be extended up to 5 years.
- 0025 Park Ranger
No
This job is in the Competitive Service
Yes – Bargaining Union Status Code or Union eligibility is dependent upon the location and grade.
Yes
Not Required
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
- Credentialing
- Suitability/Fitness
- National security
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
LE-IMP-27-13099069-KDM-SD1
890622500
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
This is a Merit Promotion announcement for current career and career conditional National Park Service employees and Career Transition eligibles (CTAP). Refer to Required Documents section for more information.
This position requires substantial prior primary law enforcement experience either inside or outside the Federal government (e.g. investigating, apprehending, or detaining criminals or criminal suspects).
- Serves as a Field Training Officer, providing expert guidance and training on law enforcement procedures as a law enforcement instructor.
- Conduct technical training and education programs including development of law enforcement training curriculum as a certified law enforcement instructor.
- Provide evaluation of student performance for both team and individual training settings to determine behavior anchor points and acquired skills/abilities.
- Develop law enforcement training curriculum using advanced principles and techniques to include lesson plan development, research, curriculum review, development, and revision; develop training materials utilizing different approaches and methods to instruct in classroom settings and practical exercises.
- Maintains working relationships with key stakeholders to complete joint training projects or to share best practices; develop and deliver presentations to students and management officials.
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you’re selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
- Big Cypress NP – Ochopee FL
- Biscayne NP – Homestead FL
- Blue Ridge Parkway – Laurel Springs NC, Blowing Rock NC, Spruce Pine NC, Asheville NC, Waynesville NC, Floyd VA, Vinton VA, Big Island VA, Bedford VA, & Montebello VA
- Boston NHP – Boston MA
- Bryce Canyon NP – Bryce UT
- Buffalo – Harrison AR
- Canaveral NS – Titusville FL, New Smyrna FL
- Cape Cod National Seashore – Wellfleet MA
- Cape Hatteras NS – Buxton NC, Nags Head NC, & Ocracoke NC
- Chattahoochee River NRA – Sandy Springs, GA
- Chickasaw NRA – Sulphur, OK
- Colonial NHP – Yorktown VA, Jamestown VA
- Cumberland Gap NHP – Middlesboro KY
- Cuyahoga Valley NP – Brecksville OH, Peninsula OH
- Delaware Water Gap NRA – Bushkill PA
- Everglades NP – Homestead FL, Everglades City FL, Key Largo FL, & Flamingo FL
- Gateway Arch NP – Saint Louis MO
- Gateway Sandy Hook – Highlands NJ
- Glen Canyon NRA – Page AZ
- Golden Gate NRA – San Francisco CA, Sausalito CA
- Grand Canyon NP – Grand Canyon AZ, North Rim AZ
- Grand Teton NP – Moose WY, Colter Bay WY
- Great Smoky Mountains NP – Townsend TN, Gatlinburg TN, Cherokee NC
- Gulf Islands NS – Gulf Breeze FL, Ocean Springs MS
- Hot Springs NP – Hot Springs AR
- Independence NHP – Philadelphia PA
- Joshua Tree NP – Twentynine Palms CA
- Lake Mead NRA – Boulder City, NV
- Little River Canyon NP – Fort Payne, AL
- Mammoth Cave NP – Mammoth Cave KY
- Mojave NP – Barstow CA
- Mount Rushmore NM – Keystone SD
- Natchez Trace Parkway – Franklin TN, Hohenwald TN, Cherokee AL, Tupelo MS, Mantee MS, Ridgeland MS, & Port Gibson MS
- New River Gorge NP – Glen Jean WV, Lansing WV, Beaver WV
- Organ Pipe Cactus NM – Ajo, AZ
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways – Van Buren MO, Eminence MO
- Padre Island NS – Corpus Christ, TX
- Rocky Mountain NP – Estes Park CO
- San Antonio Missions NHP – San Antonio, TX
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP – Kings Canyon National Park CA, Three Rivers CA, & Sequoia National Park CA
- Valley Forge NHP – King of Prussia, PA
- Yellowstone NP – Yellowstone NP WY
- Yosemite NP – Yosemite CA
- Zion NP – Springdale UT
- Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances to calculate locality pay.
- COLA pay in Alaska is 3.00% with the exception of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, which is 1.49%.
- COLA pay in Hawaii is 8.64% with the exception of Hawaii island, which is2.91%.
- COLA pay for Puerto Rico is 2.49%.
- COLA pay for US Virgin Islands is 11.88%.
- Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.
- Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
- 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license throughout employment.
- Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
- A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
- Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
- Government housing may be available.
- You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
- You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally.
- May be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
- This may be a bargaining unit position, depending on location.
- Firearm qualification and certification are required for the role, and ongoing proficiency must be maintained
- You must be at least 21 years old.
- You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
- Must maintain a delegation of law enforcement authority.
- Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5-mile run in the 25th percentile.
*Additional Requirements located under Qualifications
Requirements Continued…
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.
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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Temporary Promotion – Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement – 11/14/2026-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.
Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s), you will be rated not qualified.
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
- Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years) a valid Type 1 National Park Service Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by 11/14/2026. More information can be found in the ‘Education’ section of this job announcement.
- This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). In addition to the qualifying experience and/or education described above, applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent.
- Must have a current, valid State Driver’s License by 11/14/2026.
- Candidates must currently be a credentialed Field Training Officer for the NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program. Applicants must have attended a NPS Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) Training Officer Course. The two NPS-approved courses of instruction are the NPS FTEP Training Course and the DHS FLETC FTEP Training Officer Course. Candidates must have completed one of the two courses by 11/14/2026 in order to qualify as a Field Training Officer.
-AND-
Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications.
Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GL‑09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated: substantial prior primary law enforcement experience either inside or outside the Federal government which includes experience in investigating, apprehending or detaining criminals or criminal suspects. You must include hours per week worked on your resume
-OR- Education: Successfully completed three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, or a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree at an accredited college or university, in a field of major study that is directly related to the work of the position such as: 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. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled. Note: You must include a copy of your academic transcripts with your application if qualifying on education.
-OR- Combination of education and specialized experience as described above. To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours in excess of 36 semester hours by 18, or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide the months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. They must equal at least 100% to qualify using this option. Note: You must include a copy of your academic transcripts with your application if qualifying on education and you must include hours per week worked on your resume.
Temporary Promotion Requirements – Career or career-conditional candidates applying for a temporary promotion, must meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade qualification requirements.
Detail Requirements – Career or career-conditional candidates must meet qualification requirements, however, candidates are not required to meet the time-in-grade qualification requirements of this position. Details also apply to current employees who hold the full performance level of the position (GS‑11) or higher grade level on a permanent basis. While on detail, the employee continues to hold their official position from which detailed and keeps the same status and grade.
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.
Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years), a FLETC issued Land Management Police Training, full Type I Law Enforcement Commission or equivalent; or be qualified to receive a Type 1 Law Enforcement Commission upon appointment
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 https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
Special retirement coverage will not be affected by this detail/temporary promotion. Your position of record determines your retirement coverage.
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
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. Open in a new window Learn more about federal benefits.
This is a secondary/administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, applicants must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to a secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage; if such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system. For FERS eligibility, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding three days) from a primary position to a secondary position, complete three years of service in a primary rigorous position‑including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld—and must continuously employed in a secondary position since moving from a primary rigorous position. Applicants must inform human resources if they are currently in a primary position.
Review our benefits 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.
- Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed 2 single‑sided pages and resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10‑point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5‑inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. Resume Builder: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
- Complete All Required Assessments.
- Performance Appraisals and Awards: All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If the performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months OR no performance appraisal is available, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
- Documentation that you meet the Selective Factors.
- All College Transcript(s) if qualifying based on education.
- Eligibility Documentation:
- Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF‑50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF‑50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF‑50s. If your SF‑50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year. Do not submit award SF‑50s.
- Veterans Preference Documentation: Veterans eligible under VRA (GS‑11 and below only), VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD‑214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15. You may request a copy of your VA letter from https://www.va.gov/records.
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): If you are applying under CTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility including a copy of the agency notice, most recent performance rating, and most recent SF‑50 showing your position, grade level, and duty location. For more information visit USAJOBS Help Center – Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
Failure to submit any of the above‑mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.
Katherine Mott
katherine_mott@ios.doi.gov
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
1131 Chapel Crossing Road
Building 64
Glynco, GA 31524
US
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.
Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request
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