This position serves as a full performance Park Ranger (Interpretation) at the Colonial National Historical Park 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

The full performance park ranger (interpretation) articulates and applies principles of interpretation, and provides accurate and effective visitor experiences, activities, and programming based on learning theory and resource knowledge. Engages a range of different groups and people and offers a variety of opportunities for people to make meaningful connections to park resources and participate in park experiences. Functions as a member of the larger park operations team to ensure positive visitor experiences that come from smooth park operations. Contributes to positive and easily navigable procedures and environments for employees and the public. Works effectively both externally with the public and internally as a contributing member of the park team. Fosters cooperation, communication, and a collaborative environment. Provides customer service interactions with external (public) audiences and internal (park and agency) colleagues in a timely and courteous manner; customer service is not limited to the public components of work. Applies a working knowledge of and incorporates Operational Leadership (OL) into planning and decision making in daily activities. Maintains familiarity with and complies with related safety standards, policies, environmental standards related to pertinent management plans and documents. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Park Ranger Interpretation: 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-05/28/2024-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. 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-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of 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-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Serves as a 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. Experience includes independent research and presentation. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 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 superior academic achievement based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. 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 at least one of 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-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Serves as a 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. Experience includes independent research and presentation. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least at least two full years (36 semester hours) of progressively higher level graduate education OR master's or equivalent graduate degree in directly-related field of study such as natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. 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). 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 Colonial National Historical Park 1000 Colonial Parkway Yorktown, VA 23690 US
• Name: Lisa Cupp
• Phone: 717-673-5505
• Email: [email protected]