Park Ranger (Seasonal)

National Park Service; Alaska; On-site; USD 30,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

National Park Service in Alaska is recruiting for positions across Denali, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Klondike Gold Rush, Lake Clark, and Sitka. Roles include protecting resources, educating visitors, and conducting backcountry operations with potential for wildlife- or weather-related challenges.

Seasonal entry-on-duty typically spans spring through fall; some duty stations offer housing. Applicants should be prepared for hiking and rugged terrain in remote areas throughout Alaska.

Qualifications

• Submit legible transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and GPA or class ranking.
• If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities, show that credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that determines equivalency or recognizes full credit.

Responsibilities

• Protect park resources and visitors through patrols, education, and compliance checks.
• Provide information on regulations and Leave No Trace principles to visitors and hazards present in parks.
• Deliver backcountry orientation, EMS, search and rescue, environmental protection, and data collection for resource management.
• Develop and deliver interpretive talks and tours; may require hikes up to 8 miles daily over rough terrain.
• May require firearms in backcountry or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons; some parks may not require firearms.

Education

Transcripts from accredited institution

Foreign education credentials evaluation by a private organization

Job description

• Schedule: Work schedule is dependent on the position.

Open to the first 350 applicants or until 10/26/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Alaska Regional Office is April to May but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April 2027.

Key Responsibilities

The parks and duty stations hiring for these positions are below, as is each park's anticipated seasonal period. The typical seasonal period may vary during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali Park, Kantishna and Toklat, AK. Applicants selected for Kantishna will be duty stationed at Wonder Lake, AK): April - September Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Bartlett Cove and Yakutat, AK.

Applicants selected for Yakutat will be duty stationed at Dry Bay, AK): April - October Katmai National Park and Preserve (King Salmon, AK): May - September Kenai Fjords National Park (Seward, AK): April - September Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (Skagway, AK): May - September Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (Port Alsworth, AK.

Applicants selected for Port Alsworth may be duty stationed at Twin Lakes, Chinitna Bay and/or Silver Salmon Creek, AK.): April - September Sitka National Historical Park (Sitka, AK): April - October Selectees may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries. Government housing may be available at Denali Park, Seward, Skagway, and Sitka.

Government housing is available at Kantishna (Wonder Lake), Toklat, Bartlett Cove, Yakutat (Dry Bay), King Salmon, and Port Alsworth (Twin Lakes, Chinitna Bay, Silver Salmon Creek). Please visit find a park for additional park information. You must apply to each park, duty station, and grade you are interested in working at. This position includes protection of park resources and visitors through patrols, education, and compliance checks.

The individuals selected will provide information regarding regulations and explain the importance of resource preservation and protection. The individuals will contact and provide visitors information regarding Leave No Trace principles and specific hazards found throughout the park. Patrols are conducted by both motorized and non-motorized watercraft and on foot in both front country and remote areas of the park.

Other duties consist of providing backcountry orientation, emergency medical services, search and rescue, environmental protection, and resource management data collection. Selectees may also perform development and delivery of Interpretive talks and tours. May require hikes up to 8 miles a day over rough, uneven terrain.

Additional duties for the GS-07 position: Teaches others - provides on-the-job training, mentoring and assistance to team members by providing guidance, feedback, and direction to accomplish projects and/or daily operations. All positions are subject to drug testing. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. These positions are subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

All positions except those at Bartlett Cove and Yakutat (Dry Bay) will be required to carry firearms in the backcountry or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals. All positions except those at Denali Park, Kantishna (Wonder Lake), Toklat, Skagway, and Sitka will be required to operate a small watercraft less than 26 feet in length.

Operation includes transport of personnel (including visitors), tools, and materials/supplies to job/work sites. Physical Demands: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, driving, bending, etc. The work, on a regular and recurring basis, requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as climbing, hiking and lifting heavy objects.

Work may be performed on uneven, steep, rough, slippery, and/or rugged terrain. Incumbents must have the ability to routinely carry backpacks of up to 50 pounds in steep terrain and in adverse weather conditions. Work Environment: The work is performed in a setting in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness, e.g., high or low temperatures, confined spaces or adverse weather conditions.

The work environment regularly involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress. In addition, work may be performed in areas of extremely rough terrain with wide annual variations in climatic conditions. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.

All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selected employees.

Requirements & Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and that (1) deemed your education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program, or (2) given full credit for courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

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.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $22.07 – $35.54/hr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-26.

What is the work schedule?

This is a Work schedule is dependent on the position. position.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.