This position serves as a full-performance Park Ranger (Interpretation) in any organizational unit within the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of interpretation is to enrich people's lives through meaningful experiences and enjoyable recreation; preserve and protect natural and cultural resources through broad collaboration and shared stewardship; and inspire social and environmental consciousness to build community and sustain the health of the planet.

Duties

Permanent career-seasonal positions include all the benefits of permanent employment but do not provide employment on a full year-round basis. Selectees are guaranteed to work at least 6 months per year but not more than 50 weeks per year. This position is expected to be in non-pay status for one pay period (two weeks) each year, with the work schedule to be determined upon appointment. This position has promotion potential up to the GS-9. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. The Park Ranger (Interpretation) at Steamtown National Historic Site takes on diverse assignments related to interpretation, education, and visitor experience. In this role, they develop and present guided tours, interactive experiences, and educational programs, ensuring visitors connect with the rich railroad history and mission of Steamtown National Historic Site. Engaging with small and large groups, the Park Ranger (Interpretation) interprets history during train rides and throughout the museum complex. Beyond this, they collaborate with community partners, organize events, and train staff in interpretive principles and park operations. Handling visitor services like lost and found, social media, statistics, and first aid, the ranger serves as a knowledgeable resource, contributing to an immersive and educational experience for visitors at Steamtown National Historic Site. Major duties for the position include: Develop and conduct interpretive programs to enhance visitor understanding of Steamtown National Historic Site's railroad history. Guide visitors on established tours and design new tour options. Coordinate special events and interpretive programming for park visitors. Stock an information desk and displays with brochures, signage, etc. Produce content for park social media channels and website. Provide public orientation of surrounding areas of interest and local events. Assist the public in planning visits to and recommending activities in the area. Provide visitors information related to the cultural, historical, and/or natural resources of interest of the park, area, facility, etc. Guide both small and large groups during train rides and throughout the museum complex, providing an engaging and informative experience. Train staff and volunteers in interpretive principles and park operations to ensure a cohesive and knowledgeable team. Area information: Steamtown National Historic Site encompasses 62 acres in downtown Scranton, PA, and includes active locomotive and restoration shops, a museum complex, a fully operational roundhouse and turntable, and a large assemblage of rolling stock used for both static display and interpretive ride experiences. Scranton is the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania, with over 76,000 residents. The city is home to five colleges as well as numerous historic and cultural institutions, sports and entertainment venues, and health care facilities. The area experiences four distinct seasons, with temperatures ranging up to the 90s in the summer, and down to the 20s in the winter, with an average of 45 inches of snowfall each year. LESS THAN FPL: Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. 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. 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/26/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Qualifying specialized experience is experience that involved facilitating shared learning experiences to in-person and virtual audiences using interpretive skills, techniques, and tools; prepare and deliver structured and informal presentations to diverse audiences; and assist in coordinating special projects. Examples of specialized experience could include but are not limited to park guide or tour leader, work in a park recreation or conservation area, environmental education, history and/or cultural resources education, and natural sciences education. OR EDUCATION: Successful completion of one full year of graduate study in one of the following fields: natural resource management, natural sciences, marine biology/sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, wetlands ecology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. (One year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours).-OR-Meet the criteria for Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) as evidenced by one of the three following methods: I am in the upper third of my graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR I have a GPA 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in my major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR I am a member in one of the national scholastic honor societies. OR Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. (You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating the number of credit hours in order to qualify based on the combination option). For example, I have one half year of the specialized experience described in A above (50% of the experience requirement), and 14 semester hours or 21 quarter hours of directly related graduate level college study in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education). To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the following: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). For this position, specialized experience is defined as implementing a visitor services program, developing curriculum-based education programs, developing and conducting interpretive presentations, and delivering presentations to a variety of audiences. This experience includes activities such as: (1) Develop and present a wide variety of formal and informal audience and learner-centered interpretive experiences (2) Train, mentor, coach, and evaluate a broad range of interpretive programs and products conducted by fellow interpreters, (3) Actively engage and interact with local communities through on and off-site representation and interpretive programming (4) Coordinate the development and implementation of special projects from beginning to end. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the occupation. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of Experience and Education:Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

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 interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Contacts

• Address Steamtown National Historic Site 150 S Washington Ave Scranton, PA 18503-2018 US
• Name: William Jones
• Phone: 4045075774
• Email: [email protected]