Supervisory Park Ranger (Interpretation)

U.S. Department of the Interior; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of the Interior's Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, IL invites an experienced leader to head the Interpretation Division.

You will guide interpretation, education, and outreach across the site and affiliated programs. You will supervise interpretive staff and volunteers, manage visitor services and digital media, and coordinate with partners and tribal representatives on interpretive projects.

Qualifications

• Experience leading public programs in a park or cultural setting.
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and partners.
• Strong communication and leadership skills demonstrated in program delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily supervision, guidance, and support to interpretive staff, volunteers, and program managers.
• Oversee visitor services operations, including visitor centers, digital information platforms, and public-facing communication.
• Coordinate with partners, agencies, and tribal representatives on interpretive projects and collaborative initiatives.
• Review and develop interpretive content, including social media posts, public information materials, and education programming.
• Monitor ongoing projects, budgets, and planning efforts to ensure program goals and operational needs are met.

Skills

Administration

Interpretation

Partnerships

Program Management

Job description

Summary

This position is located at Lincoln Home National Historic Site in the Interpretation Division.

Major Duties

This position leads Interpretation, Education, and Outreach for Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Springfield, IL, and New Philadelphia National Historic Site in Barry, IL. As a key member of the park management team, the incumbent provides expert leadership in planning, developing, and overseeing park-wide interpretive and education programs; manages digital and print media, volunteer services, partnerships, and public affairs; and guides staff and management in delivering high-quality visitor services. The position directs a multifaceted division, supervising personnel, coordinating interagency efforts, and ensuring effective communication of park themes and resources to visitors.

• Provide daily supervision, guidance, and support to interpretive staff, volunteers, and program managers.
• Oversee visitor services operations, including visitor centers, digital information platforms, and public-facing communication.
• Coordinate with partners, agencies, and tribal representatives on interpretive projects and collaborative initiatives.
• Review and develop interpretive content, including social media posts, public information materials, and education programming.
• Monitor ongoing projects, budgets, and planning efforts to ensure program goals and operational needs are met.

Area information: Lincoln Home National Historic Site is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Springfield, the state capitol (population 117,000) is located approximately 200 miles south of Chicago and 100 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri. Amenities are typical of a Midwestern city and include a wide variety of educational and cultural opportunities as well as professional, commercial and health services. The climate is cold in the winter and hot and humid in summer. Government housing is not available, but a variety of housing options are available for rent or purchase in the local area. Housing costs are some of the lowest in the country. Additional information can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/liho and information about the Springfield area can be found at: https://www.springfield.il.us/.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Requirements

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 be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license within 30-days from entry-on-duty. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work occasional evenings, holidays and overtime. You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. A financial disclosure report will be required within 30-days of appointment. *Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Evaluations

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Administration and Management Interpretation Partnerships Program Management To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job. All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. DUE WEIGHT: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in your application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. 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/ICTAP, 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.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) -08/25/2026-unless otherwise stated. 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). 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 & below only), VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program must submit the most recent Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions (e.g. DD-214) 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 the VA letter from https://www.va.gov/records. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA): If you are applying under LMWFA, you must submit ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment verifying the Position Occupied code 1-Competitive Service (block 34); AND Documentation of satisfactory performance for each period of temporary employment claimed, such as, performance evaluations, memorandum of record, whereas the supervisor(s) documented an acceptable performance level for a specified rating/employment period. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles 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: 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.

Other Information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. 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. 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, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior. Physical Demands: Most of the incumbent's duties do not involve unusual physical requirements but may involve hikes up to five miles in duration, boat operations on park waters, snowmobiling, skiing, and being outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. Work requires periods of standing, bending, hiking, walking, and periods of intense concentration so that good physical condition and the ability to adapt are essential. Some lifting may be required on occasion. Work Environment: Work is both in an office and in the field. Work indoors may be in the interpretative office, in the exhibit room, or in the information or contact station. While in the field, the incumbent will occasionally be exposed to all kinds of weather conditions. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require nominal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, residences, or commercial vehicles/vessels. The work area is adequately lit, heated, and ventilated.