This position is located in the Division of Interpretation and serves as the Deputy Chief at Independence National Historical Park responsible for strategic recruitment and retention efforts for a large and complex work group. The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Interpretation and is responsible for the management of a complex operation of interpretation, visitor services, and education programming across the park with a focus on program development, program evaluation, and coaching.

Duties

Serves as the Deputy Chief of Interpretation at Independence National Historical Park, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, and Thaddeus Kosciusko National Memorial by planning, directing, managing, staffing, and evaluating all personal interpretive and education services and activities either directly or through subordinate staff. The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Interpretation is responsible for the management of a complex operation of interpretation, visitor services, and education programming across the three parks with a focus on program development, program evaluation, and coaching. The incumbent also manages staff training and professional development and ensures the workgroup is respectful, inclusive, safe, and engaged through both administrative efforts (recruitment, hiring, staff support) and public programming. This position has oversight of daily operations and visitor services. The Deputy Chief directly supervises two key positions, the Operations Supervisor and the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator and periodically supervisors several support staff. The incumbent has indirect responsibility for several Supervisory Park Rangers and permanent/ temporary Park Rangers, Park Guides, and an Administrative Support Assistant, as well as Volunteers-in-Parks. Participates as an active member of the Interpretation Leadership Team in establishing or implementing policy, evaluating division operations, and implementing changes based on findings; recommending management directions, priorities, goals, and objectives and methods of aligning with and accomplishing them; preparing a wide range of reports; and determining issues to be addressed and methods for managing issue-specific actions. Uses professionally vetted and relevant studies in monitoring the preferences and needs of the audiences and populations served through personal interpretive activities and products. Coordinates management of the multi-million-dollar field operations budget. Analyzes data from a variety of sources and collaborates in the development of budget strategies, allocates fiscal resources based on visitation and resource issues and needs; and ensures the efficient, effective, and accountable use of funds consistent with park and division priorities. Exercises the full scope of supervisory responsibilities for a large and diverse staff. Directs, guides, and mentors five or more subordinate supervisors in the performance of supervisory, human resources, and employee relations functions. Coordinates community engagement programming manages the parkwide volunteer program (through subordinate staff) and other partner-related activities related to personal interpretive services and visitor experience. Park Ranger Interpreter: 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-03/25/2024-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 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Manage, plan, develop, and direct a large park's personal interpretive and education services such as visitor center operations at multiple locations, informal interpretive services aka roving or field contact interpretation provided in a large geographic area with widely dispersed locations, formal interpretive offerings such as walks, talks, hikes, programs, tours, demonstrations, and special events; community outreach activities/programs, and collaborative, interdisciplinary/operational functions and activities such as those involved with visitor use management (traffic management, natural and cultural resource protection through education). Perform the full range of supervisory duties for a large and diverse staff including position management, hiring, performance management, employee development, and recruitment/retention planning and implementation, and handling employee relations issues at all levels of seriousness and disciplinary actions. Coordinates with a wide variety of park, regional, and national partners. Collaborates with Senior Management and subject matter experts in the development of budgets, tracking, monitoring, and accountability for expenditures, determining and reporting on efficient use of funds and developing funding requests based on operational data and in conformity with park priorities and goals. You must include hours per week worked. 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. Physical Demands: Work is sedentary, requiring no unusual physical exertion. Sufficient mobility is required to inspect physical resources and monitor interpretive/education programs. Incumbent may spend periods standing, walking, talking, and using computer equipment. The work requires sound judgment, emotional stability, and sound decision-making ability sometimes under highly stressful situations. Working Conditions: Most work is performed within the office environment, but will also involve travel to partner sites, historical sites in the park and nearby and some outside activity with moderate risks and discomfort in hot, cold, windy, and inclement weather.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.

Contacts

• Address Independence National Historical Park 143 S Third Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 US
• Name: Sarah Hummel
• Phone: 717-756-3987
• Email: [email protected]