Summary
The anticipated Entry on Duty: March - July 2027. but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. For more park(s) information, please visit find a park.Major Duties
Some of the Standard Duties include but are not limited to: Protection of park resources and visitors through patrols, education and compliance checks, providing information regarding regulations and explaining the importance of resource preservation and protection. Conducts multi-night backcountry/trail patrols. Patrols are conducted by both motorized and non-motorized watercraft and on foot in front country, backcountry, and remote areas of the park. May be providing backcountry orientation, emergency medical services, search and rescue, environmental protection and resource management data collection. May be performing development and delivery of Interpretive talks and tours. Actively promote the safety of park visitors and stewardship of park resources in all interactions, and potentially serve as the initial contact for accident reporting and emergency assistance. Assisting visitors with wilderness trip planning and safety information, issuing permits, discussing Leave No Trace and wilderness regulations, informal educational presentations, data entry, and other office related tasks as assigned. May collects and manage government funds in accordance with law and policy. Additional duties for GS-5: Teaches others - provides on-the-job training, mentoring and assistance to team members by providing guidance and feedback and direction to accomplish projects and/or daily operations. Additional duties for GS-7: You will perform duties listed at the GS-5 level as well as provide on-the-job training and assistance to team members. Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon's Cascade Mountains and encompasses approximately 183,224 acres of volcanic landscapes, old-growth forests, and rugged wilderness. Elevations range from approximately 4,000 to 8,929 feet. Wilderness and backcountry assignments may involve remote hiking, overnight trips, and travel along portions of the Pacific Crest Trail. Heavy snowfall creates a short summer hiking season, with snow often remaining on higher-elevation trails into July. Cell service is unreliable, and shopping, lodging, and other services within the park are limited and seasonal. Klamath Falls, approximately 57 miles from park headquarters, offers additional services. Mount Rainier National Park is located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington State. The park encompasses 236,381; it rises abruptly from the surrounding land with elevations in the park ranging from 1,600 feet to over 14,000 feet. Eatonville Washington is the closest community providing a medical clinic and grocery store 44 miles from Paradise. All services can be found in Puyallup 65 miles from Paradise. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm. North Cascades Duty Locations: Marblemount, Hozomeen (Whatcom County), and Stehekin, WA Marblemount: A small community with gas stations, restaurants, a post office, and limited services. Concrete, approximately 18 miles away, offers grocery shopping, medical services, and additional stores. Summer temperatures typically reach the 80s, with nighttime lows in the 50s. Annual precipitation averages 84 inches. Hozomeen: A remote location accessible by a 40-mile gravel road from Hope, British Columbia. There are no local shopping or medical services; the nearest are in Hope. On-site power may be unreliable, and there is no landline or cell service. Communication is primarily by radio or emergency satellite phone, with possible satellite internet access. Stehekin: Located at the northern end of Lake Chelan and accessible by airplane or a 50-mile boat trip. Ferry and baggage fees may apply. Local services are limited to a restaurant and small gift shop. Groceries, medical care, and other services are available in Chelan. Supplies must be ordered and shipped by boat at the employee's expense. Residential phone service is unavailable. Olympic National Park is located on Washington's Olympic Peninsula and encompasses approximately 922,650 acres of rugged mountains, temperate rainforests, and Pacific coastline. Approximately 95% of the park is designated wilderness. Backcountry areas may be accessible only by hiking, with limited or no cell service. Weather varies considerably and no roads cross the park, and travel between locations can require considerable driving time. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks protect rugged Sierra Nevada wilderness, giant sequoias, and Mount Whitney. Nearly 97% of the parks are designated wilderness, with elevations ranging from 1,370 to over 14,000 feet and approximately 835 miles of trails. Conditions include steep terrain, freezing temperatures, snow, and hazardous stream crossings, even during summer. Air quality may be poor from May through October due to elevated ozone levels and wildfire smoke. https://www.nps.gov/seki/getinvolved/workwithus.htmEducation
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.Requirements
U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Occupancy of government quarters may be required. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed. Use find a park to contact specific parks for more information on government housing. You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license will be required in such cases. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal employment program. Some locations require pre-employment drug test Emergency Medical Services: Some locations require specific emergency medical certifications, such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or higher, Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR, National Registry Emergency Medical Responder (NREMR), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness Emergency Medical Responder (WEMR), or Wilderness EMT (WEMT). Additional details are provided in the announcement questionnaire.Evaluations
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. 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. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures.These procedures place candidates with veterans' preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10-percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position. Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. You will be evaluated on the following competencies: First Response Interpersonal Skills Leadership Spatial Orientation Technical Competence 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. To meet the definition of well-qualified, you must (1) score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire; (2) meet the minimum qualification requirements (education, experience or a combination therein), including any selective placement factors; and (3) be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry with reasonable accommodation, when applicable. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 10/26/2026- unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. **Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. 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.** The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13093191 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.What to Expect Next
Please refer to your USAJOBS account for application status; the Human Resources Office cannot respond to individual status inquiries. Many similar positions are advertised by various offices within the DOI. You MUST apply to each announcement for consideration. Officials may hire at any grade level, location or work schedule. All positions may or may not be filled. Dates and length of employment will vary between DOI sites depending on funding, weather conditions, and visitation. Positions are TEMPORARY positions and have no promotion potential. Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received, you will receive an email acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete. Applicants will get a response from this announcement by approximately January 2027. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.Required Documents
ALL required documentation must be submitted to receive full consideration for eligibilities and veterans' preference selected. The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/26/2026: 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 two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two 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 to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include Complete All Required Assessments. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as: Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF-15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives. 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. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability. College transcripts if qualifying based on education. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position. 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. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.Other Information
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The salary range on this vacancy does not grant an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay. Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE 1039 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS). If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment combined total of 1039 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1039 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM. *This position may be filled under a temporary seasonal appointment not-to-exceed 1560 hours rather than 1039 hours depending on the park and program* Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work involves extensive periods of standing and walking, and in some cases, over rough surfaces or inclines carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, etc. These positions require hiking and backpacking in backcountry settings. Requirements vary by location: Mount Rainier National Park: Hiking up to 15 miles per day while carrying a 45-pound pack. North Cascades National Park: Hiking and backpacking up to 10 miles per day in varied environmental conditions, including over snow, while carrying loads up to 50 pounds. Olympic National Park: Backpack and hike over steep terrain, hiking up to 15 miles per day while carrying a backpack weighing up to 50 pounds. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work is performed in settings 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). All Department of Interior (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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
