Seasonal Park Ranger

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. The typical season for this position is April - September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is April 2026. Duties You will work as a Park Ranger, GS-0025-05 at Kenai Fjords National Park. This position includes protection of park resources and visitors through patrols, education, and compliance checks. Duties include but are not limited to the following: The individual selected will provide information regarding regulations and explains their importance to resource preservation and protection. The individual 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. Provides a wide range of services to visitors, including assistance with lost articles, car trouble and first aid; and provides information about weather conditions, highway routes, park and concessioner facilities, and prices. Provides public orientation and explanations of current park events and informs visitors of potential safety hazards. Provides answers to recurring and non-recurring visitor questions concerning specific park areas. Monitors and reports on the condition of the resources of the park. 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 submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. You will be assigned the collateral duty requiring firearms in the back-country or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals. You may 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. You may be required to obtain a current Department of Interior Motorboat Operator Certification Course (DOI-MOCC) certificate. 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 must have the ability to lift 50 pounds. 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, and overtime. You must obtain and maintain a Basic First Aid and CPR certification. On the job training will be provided. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 03/03/2026 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 paragraphs. Areas considered "near" Kenai Fjords National Park are the communities of Seward and Moose Pass extending north the Milepost 45 of the Seward Highway, as well as to the tribal villages with documented ties. These tribal villages include the Native Village of Nanwalek and the Native Village of Port Graham on the southwestern tip of the Kenai Peninsula as well as Seldovia Village Tribe. Also included is the Community of Homer, extending north on the Sterling Highway to mile post 165 and East End Road's end. -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 information to the public about the environment, hazards, and regulations Ability to collect field data using standardized data collection procedures and equipment. Knowledge of Leave No Trace principles and experience conveying these techniques to the public. 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 requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, driving, bending, and the incumbent must have the ability to routinely carry backpacks of up to 50 pounds in steep terrain and in adverse weather conditions. Working Conditions: 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. 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.