Park Ranger (Protection)

About the role

This announcement is for the Law Enforcement, Security, & Emergency Services with multiple duty locations/positions available (location negotiable). To see available parks and duty locations, please see the Duties section. This is a temporary promotion and/or detail not to exceed 1 year, and can be extended up to 5 years.

Open to the first 75 applicants or 11/14/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

What you will do

• This position requires substantial prior primary law enforcement experience either inside or outside the Federal government (e.g. investigating, apprehending, or detaining criminals or criminal suspects).
• Park Ranger (Protection) - Standard & Field Training Officer Major Duties: Serves as a Field Training Officer, providing expert guidance and training on law enforcement procedures as a law enforcement instructor.
• Conduct technical training and education programs including development of law enforcement training curriculum as a certified law enforcement instructor.
• Provide evaluation of student performance for both team and individual training settings to determine behavior anchor points and acquired skills/abilities.
• Develop law enforcement training curriculum using advanced principles and techniques to include lesson plan development, research, curriculum review, development, and revision; develop training materials utilizing different approaches and methods to instruct in classroom settings and practical exercises.
• Maintains working relationships with key stakeholders to complete joint training projects or to share best practices; develop and deliver presentations to students and management officials.
• First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
• Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected.
• First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
• Location Negotiable - Available parks and duty locations (not all locations may be filling positions): Big Cypress NP - Ochopee FL Biscayne NP - Homestead FL Blue Ridge Parkway - Laurel Springs NC, Blowing Rock NC, Spruce Pine NC, Asheville NC, Waynesville NC, Floyd VA, Vinton VA, Big Island VA, Bedford VA, & Montebello VA Boston NHP - Boston MA Bryce Canyon NP - Bryce UT Buffalo - Harrison AR Canaveral NS - Titusville FL, New Smyrna FL Cape Cod National Seashore - Wellfleet MA Cape Hatteras NS - Buxton NC, Nags Head NC, & Ocracoke NC Chattahoochee River NRA - Sandy Springs, GA Chickasaw NRA - Sulphur, OK Colonial NHP - Yorktown VA, Jamestown VA Cumberland Gap NHP - Middlesboro KY Cuyahoga Valley NP - Brecksville OH, Peninsula OH Delaware Water Gap NRA - Bushkill PA Everglades NP - Homestead FL, Everglades City FL, Key Largo FL, & Flamingo FL Gateway Arch NP - Saint Louis MO Gateway Sandy Hook - Highlands NJ Glen Canyon NRA - Page AZ Golden Gate NRA - San Francisco CA, Sausalito CA Grand Canyon NP - Grand Canyon AZ, North Rim AZ Grand Teton NP - Moose WY, Colter Bay WY Great Smoky Mountains NP - Townsend TN, Gatlinburg TN, Cherokee NC Gulf Islands NS - Gulf Breeze FL, Ocean Springs MS Hot Springs NP - Hot Springs AR Independence NHP - Philadelphia PA Joshua Tree NP - Twentynine Palms CA Lake Mead NRA - Boulder City, NV Little River Canyon NP - Fort Payne, AL Mammoth Cave NP - Mammoth Cave KY Mojave NP - Barstow CA Mount Rushmore NM - Keystone SD Natchez Trace Parkway - Franklin TN, Hohenwald TN, Cherokee AL, Tupelo MS, Mantee MS, Ridgeland MS, & Port Gibson MS New River Gorge NP - Glen Jean WV, Lansing WV, Beaver WV Organ Pipe Cactus NM - Ajo, AZ Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Van Buren MO, Eminence MO Padre Island NS - Corpus Christ, TX Rocky Mountain NP - Estes Park CO San Antonio Missions NHP - San Antonio, TX Sequoia and King's Canyon NP - Kings Canyon National Park CA, Three Rivers CA, & Sequoia National Park CA Valley Forge NHP - King of Prussia, PA Yellowstone NP - Yellowstone NP WY Yosemite NP - Yosemite CA Zion NP - Springdale UT Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Statement: The salary annotated on this announcement does not include the cost-of-living allowance, nor locality pay.
• Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances to calculate locality pay.
• COLA pay in Alaska is 3.00% with the exception of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, which is 1.49%.
• COLA pay in Hawaii is 8.64% with the exception of Hawaii island, which is 2.91%.
• COLA pay for Puerto Rico is 2.49%.
• COLA pay for US Virgin Islands is 11.88%.
• Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.

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 ***
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing is required.
• You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed.
• You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
• Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Government housing may be available.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally.
• May be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• This may be a bargaining unit position, depending on location.
• Firearm qualification and certification are required for the role, and ongoing proficiency must be maintained You must be at least 21 years old.
• You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
• Must maintain a delegation of law enforcement authority.
• Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB).
• The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5-mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs, and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat.
• Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5-mile run in the 25th percentile. *Additional Requirements located under Qualifications*

Education

Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years), a FLETC issued Land Management Police Training, full Type I Law Enforcement Commission or equivalent; or be qualified to receive a Type 1 Law Enforcement Commission upon appointment You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience.

Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: ***

How you will be evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required 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.

Applicants are not required to submit proof of FTO during the application process - this will be verified by Human Resources during the application review.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required.

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 dated within the last 18 months 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.

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.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) -11/14/2026-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: *** 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).
• Documentation that you meet the Selective Factors.
• All College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education.
• 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 and below only), VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, 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 your VA letter from ***
• 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.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): If you are applying under CTAP, you 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: USAJOBS Help Center - 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.

Benefits

This is a secondary/administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS).

While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, applicants must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to a secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage.

Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage; if such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system.

For FERS eligibility, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding three days) from a primary position to a secondary position, complete three years of service in a primary rigorous position-including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld-and must be continuously employed in a secondary position since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause).

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure this office has sufficient information to determine retirement status and prevent loss of benefits, typically by submitting an SF-50 or other documentation demonstrating work history in approved covered positions.

Applicants must inform human resources if they are currently in a primary position.

What to expect next

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email.

Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at ***

Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education.

If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.

Additional information

Special retirement coverage will not be affected by this detail/temporary promotion. Your position of record determines your retirement coverage. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

(***) 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: Strenuous exertion is frequently required in law enforcement, search and rescue, medical and related emergency activities. Lifting or carrying equipment weighing over 50 pounds, such as emergency equipment, or search and rescue equipment is required.

There is a physical, mental and emotional high-stress component to much of the incumbents work assignment. Position is required to meet and continuously maintain the physical/medical standards as set forth in the requirements of D.O. #57.

Work Environment: The incumbent is frequently exposed to high-risk and potentially dangerous situations in law enforcement and emergency situations requiring use of a wide range of personal protective gear, adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection.

Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level.