Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Summary NOTE: OPM has identified this position as eligible for an exception to the typical 1039-hour season. This exception allows up to 1560 hours which may extend the season(s) reflected in this announcement. See the Additional Information section for details. Positions selected for Wiseman, AK will be duty stationed in Coldfoot, AK. This announcement is selecting for one GS-05 and one GS-07 position in Wiseman (Coldfoot), AK, and one GS-07 position in Bettles, AK. Duties The typical season for this position is May - September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is May 2026. You will work as a Park Ranger (Interpretation) representing Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Serve as a professional, punctual interagency team member; provide visitor information on public lands, services, and safety; maintain brochure stock; and respond to emergencies using CPR/First Aid knowledge. Handle Alaska Geographic educational sales, including Point of Sale transactions, register management, and evening deposits. Represent Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, advising on access, boundaries, policies, hazards, and promoting stewardship and safety. Conduct backcountry orientations, ensure visitor compliance with safety policies, manage registrations, issue bear containers, and maintain inventory. Develop and deliver formal and informal interpretive programs on park significance, Arctic ecosystems, and resources. Support interagency interpretive projects and events, including guided walks and creative programs. Operate audio visual equipment as needed. Participate in daily cleaning of the visitor center. Assist with off-site interpretation, field work, and other duties as assigned. In addition to the duties outlined above duties at the GS-07 grade level include but are not limited to the following: Serve in an acting capacity when the lead is out of the office. Mentor and support lower graded employees, interns and volunteers. Maintain accurate visitation counts and assist with monthly reporting. The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations. Please visit find a park for additional park information. Requirements Conditions of employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You will be required to obtain/maintain First Aid and CPR certifications after entrance on duty, training will be provided. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to five nights per month. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 03/17/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties. -AND- To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraph. Areas considered "near" Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and/or the eleven resident zone communities are Alatna, Allakaket, Ambler, Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles/Evansville, Hughes, Kobuk, Nuiqsut, Shungnak, Wiseman/Coldfoot. -ALSO- The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies: Ability to present informational talks, interpretive programs and guided tours to educate and inform a variety of audiences. Knowledge of the tools and techniques of communication in the setting of a park or similar, including a basic knowledge of the principles of interpretation, public speaking, and use of presentation media. Ability to operate audio visual equipment. Education There is no substitution of education for the required special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof as outlined in this announcement. Additional information NOTE: In support of Executive Order (EO) 14189 "Celebrating America's 250th Birthday" and EO 14314 "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks," the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved an exception to the 1039-hour time limitation for this position. This approval may extend the time limitation up to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment. 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 display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status. Government housing may be available. All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee. Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. Selectee may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries. Physical Demands: The work involves extensive periods of standing and walking, in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines, carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, etc. Working Conditions: 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. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. 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.