Park Ranger (Protection)

SummaryLocation Negotiable after Selection: For more information on NPS law enforcement and to view available parks/locations, see "Find Positions and Locations": Become a Law Enforcement RangerFor position and park related questions, please contact: LE_Recruitment@nps.govOpen to the first 400 applicants or 11/27/2025whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.Duties Help Park Ranger (Protection) Duties:Enforce Federal laws, regulations and policies; patrol front country and backcountry sites.Emergency response (utilizing Incident Command System) including medical services, search and rescue, and wildland/structural fire suppression.Facilitate visitor stewardship and orientation; wilderness management; boundary enforcement; protection of natural and culturalresources (e.g. wildlife, plants, archaeological sites, and historic buildings).Assist with preliminary investigations of felonies, crimes, and violations of park rules, public use, safety requirements, and motor vehicle accidents.Crowd control activities; proactively protects park resources from all forms of degradation.Conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor violations.Under the supervision of a Type I commissioned personnel, investigate felony violations and fatalities.Additional duties for GL-9:Conduct law enforcement investigations into misdemeanor, felony violations and fatalities.Provide specialized knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management.Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.Other Position Requirement Information: Prior to selection or 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. Learn more about the PEB here.You can look up required scores for your age and gender for PEB here.Learn more about the Medical Standards Program here.Learn more about FLETC Physical Performance Requirements (PPRs) here.To learn about Ranger-Specific Basic Training and Land Management Police Training go to this ReferenceOccupancy of government quarters may be required.Government housing may be available.May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.May be required to travel overnight away from home.May be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.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 and recommendation by the supervisor.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. Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:your performance and conduct;the needs and interests of the agency;whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; andwhether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.Requirements Help Conditions of employmentU.S. Citizenship or National RequiredAppointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.Subject to a pre-employment medical exam and drug test; Must pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB).Must successfully complete agency-sponsored training to obtain an NPS Type I Law Enforcement Commission.Required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.Required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency.Must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.Required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.Must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized physician. You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.Required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.Required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.Applicants must be at least 21 years old.Must not have reached your 37th birthday prior to employment.Exception to mandatory age requirement: Applicants who have prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57 OR if an applicant is a qualified veteran and is preference eligible, in which case the mandatory entry age is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.QualificationsADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:Basic Law Enforcement Academy and Field Training & Evaluation Program (FTEP) Information -If selected, you will be required to successfully complete the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Land Management Police Training (LMPT). Completion of FTEP is also mandatory. FTEP may or may not occur at the candidate's employing park. Housing and per diem are provided. You will be officially assigned to your permanent duty location once FLETC training is successfully completed. Failure of LMPT or FTEP may result in termination of employment.If you have completed a Police Training Program from a local, state, tribal, or Federal agency, or the military, and have prior sworn law enforcement experience, you may be eligible to attend the NPS Basic Academy Bridge Course in lieu of FLETC. QUALIFICATIONS:All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/27/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2-page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the 2-page resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified 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.In addition to the standard Park Ranger (Protection) qualifications listed below, If you would like to be considered for this option, the applicant must be conversationally fluent in at least one of the following languages, and support within your resume. You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional language in your application.SpanishSome parks on this announcement may require Park Ranger (Protection) to be certified in Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) duties will be less than 20% of the time. If you would like to be considered for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) you must provide your certification in your supporting documents at the time of application. (Note: You will still be considered for this position without EMT certifications. These are additional designations applicants can be considered for by parks that require it). You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional certifications in your application.Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection): 2. Applicants must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: Selective Placement Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 11/27/2025.GL-07 level: Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors), performing work that provided specific knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management. Examples where this experience could have been gained by informing visitors about organizational policies, rules, or laws; gathering information or collecting evidence as part of an investigation; monitoring or inspecting resources (e.g. buildings, roads, land, etc.) to identify potential hazards or illegal activities; performing emergency response or wildland firefighting; or other similar work. -OR- Education: You must possess one full academic year of graduate education directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): SAA is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade-point average, or 3) honor society membership. Specific requirements are: 1) Class Standing: Upper third of graduating class based on completed courses; 2a) Grade Point Average: 3.0 or higher as recorded on official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education; 2b) based on courses completed during the final full 2 years of curriculum; or 2c) 3.5 or higher based on average of courses completed in the specific major field of study; or 3) Honor Society Membership: Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society listed in the Association of College Honor Societies, Booklet of Information, and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision).-OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.GL-09 level: Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors), performing work that provided specialized knowledge of resource protection, resource education, and public use management. Examples where this experience could have been gained performing law enforcement or investigative work; emergency response management work; formal interpretation and education regarding park resources; archaeological or historical preservation work; forestry and/or fire management work; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work. -OR- Education: You must possess 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.Specialized Experience - MUST include hours per week worked in your resume.If qualifying with related education, see Education section.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.EducationRelated Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- 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. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled.You must provide transcripts if you are claiming you meet the qualifications based on 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 POSITION INFORMATION:Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work from approximately 6-9 months (or more depending on the park) and you will be in a non-pay status for approximately 3-6 months (or less depending on the park). Non pay status is dependent on the location of the position being hired. NOTE: Not all available positions are career-seasonal positions; both full-time (all year employment) and career-seasonal positions are available.For more information, please visit: Please visit LE Recruitment page and find a park.These positions are being advertised concurrently under vacancy announcements WO-1614-VRP-26-12832128-ST & WO-1614-VRP-26-12831156-DE (for experienced police officers). If you are interested in applying under any of the job opportunity announcements, you must submit an application package for each.Additional informationA selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.Physical Demands: Requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as running in pursuits or emergency responses, long periods of standing, walking, driving, bending, stooping, reaching, crawling, and similar activities, on uneven, steep, rough, slippery, and/or rugged terrain. Strenuous exertion is frequently required in search and rescue, medical and related emergency. Lifting or carrying equipment weighing over 50 pounds, such as emergency equipment, or search and rescue equipment is required. In some assignments heavy packs may have to be carried long distances over mountainous, desert, or snow-covered terrain.Duties involve performing physically rigorous assignments, often in isolated outdoor environments, frequently while exposed to severe weather conditions. Requires common physical characteristics and abilities in agility and dexterity and the strength to pursue, apprehend, and detain uncooperative suspects. Required to meet and continuously maintain the physical/medical standards as set forth in the requirements of D.O. #57. There is a physical, mental and emotional high stress component to much of the incumbent's work assignment.Working Conditions: The work is performed outdoors in all kinds of weather and climatic conditions for various hours of the day and night and for prolonged periods during emergency situations. 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. Long periods of surveillance work may be required in cramped, or unpleasant locations and under unpleasant conditions. Shift work is often required. Required to operate motor vehicles of various types. Emergency law enforcement operations will require entry into hazardous environments, exposure to dangerous persons; animals; and substances, and potential exposure to infectious diseases.The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.Bargaining Union Status Code or Union eligibility is dependent upon the location and grade.Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.