Park Ranger

Duties

This position serves as a commissioned National Park Ranger at Shenandoah National Park. As such, the incumbent will serve as a multi-skilled park ranger performing the full spectrum of visitor resource protection duties including visitor services, resource education, law enforcement, emergency medical services, search and rescue, wild land fire fighting and more. This position is responsible for the enforcement of the criminal laws of the United States through investigation, apprehension, education, and detention of individuals suspected of or convicted of violating these laws. Other duties of this position is to perform fee courier duties for the park's Fee Management Program. Shift work, call-outs and overtime can be expected.

Physical Demands: Rigorous field work requires above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. This includes prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar strenuous activities requiring agility and dexterity.

Duties often involve working in isolated outdoor environments while exposed to severe weather conditions. Dangerous persons must be physically confronted, subdued, and apprehended many of whom are known to carry weapons. There is a high-stress component associated with much of the incumbent's work assignment.

Work Environment: Duties require extended periods of outdoor work and exposure to conditions including temperatures well below freezing to in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Investigations are conducted on foot, in four-wheel drive vehicles, or other forms of conveyance in remote back country settings. Emergency service and law enforcement work requires entry into hazardous environments, exposure to dangerous persons, animals, and substances, and potential exposure to infectious diseases. Long periods of surveillance work may be required in cramped or unpleasant locations and under unpleasant conditions. A wide range of personal protective equipment and clothing is required to be used and work, some of which may be uncomfortable, hot or inconvenient to wear. Adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions is required.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement, Wednesday, May 31, 2017 (unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement).

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate that you possess either the specialized experience or the education as described below. Equivalent combinations of experience and education may also be used to qualify.

Selective Placement Factor (Mandatory Screen-Out): Minimum Age Requirement.

This position has a mandatory requirement that applicants must be at least 21 years of age. (MUST SUPPORT IN RESUME OR WILL BE RATED INELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION)

Selective Placement Factor (Mandatory Screen-Out): Law Enforcement Commission.

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria by the entrance-on-duty (EOD) date to be considered for these positions:

• Currently hold, or have previously held (within the past three years), a National Park Service Seasonal (Level II) or full (Level I) law enforcement commission, or equivalent within the past three years.
• Successful completion a Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program during the last three years, but have not yet received a National Park Service Seasonal (Level II) Law Enforcement Commission.
• Will successfully complete a Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program by the entrance on duty date from one of the approved participating academies found at https://aonpr29.wildapricot.org/Seasonal-Law-Enforcement-Training-Program. NOTE: This is not regular police officer training.

Applicants must certify in their supporting documents the possession of at least one of the above criteria. Please include in your resume your commission number with expiration date or your anticipated graduation date from an approved NPS Seasonal Law Enforcement Academy.(MUST SUPPORT IN RESUME OR WILL BE RATED INELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION)

Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB)

Applicants are required to pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) prior to entering law enforcement positions. The duties of this position require arduous physical exertion involving walking, running, lifting, standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. The Physical Efficiency Battery (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 the upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run – measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach – measures the flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition – measures the body fat. Prior to appointment, applicants will be tested in all five components, but only the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run will be measured for a passing score in the 25th percentile (age and gender adjusted) of these components. These procedures will ensure that law enforcement officers are capable of performing strenuous physical training and law enforcement duties. Applicants shall be disqualified for appointment if they fail to meet any physical requirements. Probationary or seasonal employment is subject to termination for failure to meet the 25th percentile in each of the identified components being measured.

For the GS-07 grade level

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience performing law enforcement duties for the protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations, which involved the application of law enforcement authorities and procedures to protect visitors and resources. –OR- B. One full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation. One year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours. –OR- C. Equivalent combinations of education and experience.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. In order to receive credit for experience, your resume must clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the number of hours worked per week.

Credit for experience is given on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

In describing the nature of your duties (your experience), please be clear and concise. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

Foreign Education: Education completed outside the United States must have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, commonly called a credential evaluation service or education that is recognized by the Secretary of Education from an accredited body http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.