This position is located in Valles Caldera National Preserve, in the Interpretation Team.

Duties

Major duties include but is not limited to: Provides guidance and leadership in the decision-making process for interpretive programs, both on-site and off-site. Leads the development of a curriculum-based education program, which includes in-park field trips and activities, classroom presentations, and distance learning programs. Supervises, coaches, and mentors permanent employees, interns, and volunteers performing visitor services, outreach, and education program operations. Manages the park's volunteer and youth programs by working with all park operations, training volunteers and volunteer supervisors, tracking volunteer hours, maintaining records, and submitting reports. Connects youth to Valles Caldera National Preserve through stewardship projects, internships, volunteerism, resume workshops, career ladder and developmental opportunities, and other youth-focused recruitment and outreach opportunities. Develops partnerships and relationships with New Mexican communities and untapped or underserved audiences through creative programs, opportunities, and outreach planning. Area Information: Located in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico, Valles Caldera National Preserve protects, preserves, and restores ecosystems and cultural landscapes within an outstanding example of a volcanic caldera for the purpose of education, scientific research, public enjoyment and use, and cultural continuity. Visitor activities include hiking, biking, equestrian riding, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Through a special use permit process, grazing continues within some areas of the preserve, but on a smaller scale than when the land was a privately owned ranch. The area is mountainous and mostly undeveloped. Elevations range from 7,800' to 11,254'. Temperatures during the summer can range from near freezing (night) to the mid-80 degrees (F) (day), while winter temperatures can reach -30 degrees F. The weather is typically dry and sunny, but monsoon rains are likely each day during the summer. Winters generally see 3-5 feet of snow, so driving under winter road conditions is required. Primary access is by dirt roads, which require the use of 4WD or AWD vehicles or the use of tire chains. Secondary access is by hiking (summer) or skiing/snowshoeing (winter), which can be challenging considering the weather and elevation.

Requirements

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/16/2024-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-11 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-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes but is not limited to: supervising or leading an interpretive program including developing budget estimates, seasonal staff planning, and building partnerships; coordinating the operation of a visitor center and recommending improvements to management; demonstrating interpretive competency with scientific and cultural content by designing interpretive experiences; evaluating and modifying interpretive programs to utilize new interpretive techniques or approaches. You must provide hours worked per week and to/from dates (month/year) on your resume. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree at an accredited college or university related to the occupation 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. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, more than 36 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then, take the number of months of experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must provide copies of your transcripts and the hours worked per week and to/from dates (month/year) on your resume. 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. Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments and must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, you must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals, ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance consistent with your SF-50s.

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.

Additional Information:
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.

Contacts

• Address NPS Inflation Reduction Act 1849 C St. NW Washington, DC 20240 US
• Name: Heather Dujay
• Email: [email protected]