PARK RANGER (PROTECTION)

Duties

These positions are located in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area within the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Emergency Operations Supervisor incumbents perform law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical services, wildland fire, structural fire protection, motor boat patrol operations, relations with gateway communities, and park concessionaires. Other duties include mutual law enforcement, search and rescue and emergency medical services relationships, resource monitoring, protection, and mitigation activities, environmental compliance, campground management, and special park uses. The park has a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation and law enforcement staff are involved with providing security to critical infrastructure. May need to lead or guide seasonal law enforcement and lifeguard staff during the summer seasons.

Duty Station: Fort Smith, Montana

REQUIRED OCCUPANCY:  Incumbent will be required to reside in federal government housing and housing is available.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Must pass a Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) test once hired. 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.  Must maintain a minimum Firefighting Type-2 wildland fire currency. There is a high-stress component associated with much of the incumbent's work assignments.

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, motor boat, 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

To be eligible for this position, you must meet the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's (OPM), Qualification Standards which includes specialized experience and/or education as described in the Occupational Questionnaire and as outlined below.  All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement unless other wise stated.  Wednesday, July 12, 2017.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. 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.

1. OPM Qualification Standards for the GL-0025-07.

A. To qualify at the GL-07 grade level, you must possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level.  Specialized experience is experience that provides the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

B. OR, you may qualify based on graduate education.  Must have successfully completed at least one year of  graduate education (18 semester hours) in directly-related fields 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. 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.

C. OR, you may also qualify based on a combination of your specialized experience and related graduate education.

D. OR,  accomplished a Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): A Bachelor's degree in one of the above fields of study with SAA. The SAA provision may be met in one of the following three ways:

--Class Standing-Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on completed courses.

--Grade Point Average-Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or based on the last 2 years of the curriculum; or a 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed in the major during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

--Election to Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society-Applicants can be considered eligible for SAA based on membership in a national scholastic honor society that meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. You must also submit copies of your college transcripts as proof of any claimed education.  (Please see Occupational Questionnaire).

Definition of specialized experience: Experience in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Park guide or tour leader, Law enforcement or investigative work, Archeological or historical preservation research work. Forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area.  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.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS (Mandatory): In addition to meeting OPM's Qualification Standards, you must possess the following selective placement factors. If you do not meet all of these factors you will be considered ineligible.

2.  LE Commission (Selective Factor): Applicants must possess a current Level I or Level II Law Enforcement Commission issued by the National Park Service by close of this announcement, with no lapse in eligibility upon entry on duty, in accordance with RM-9 and departmental policy.  OR, have held a Level I or Level II LE Commission within the last 3 years OR,  have successfully completed a National Park Service accredited Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program within the last 3 years.

3. Maximum Entry Age (MEA) Requirement (Selective Factor): This position is approved as "PRIMARY/RIGOROUS" under the provisions of 5 USC 8336 (c) (CSRS) and under 5 USC 8412 (d) (FERS). Applicants must not have reached their 37th birthday by the appointment date to this position. This position is covered by the special retirement provisions for Fire Fighters/Federal Law Enforcement Officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. If over age 37, selectees to these positions must have been or currently be covered by the special retirement provisions and be able to complete at least 20 years of covered service by age 57. You must submit proof of this creditable service in the Fire Fighters/Law Enforcement retirement system in your application package. (Exception: This age restriction does not apply to those who have previously served in a Federal civilian (not military) firefighter/law enforcement position covered by title 5 U.S.C. section 8336 provisions or for those who are entitled to veterans' preference if otherwise qualified and meet medical and fitness requirements. You must submit proof of your veterans' preference.) Applicants applying under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act may be considered for a wavier of the maximum entry age.  The waiver must be approved and appointment to the position must be effective prior to the selectee's 40th birthday (SEE OCCUPATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE).

4. Medical Certification (Selective Factor): This position requires a minimum of a current Emergency Medical Certification (First Responder), or higher emergency medical technician level certification by closing date of announcement and no lapse in certification upon entry on duty. (PLEASE SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT CERTIFICATION.)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. Selectee must pass a pre-employment law enforcement medical examination.

2. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Level I Law Enforcement Commission.

3. Motor Boat Certification: In order to successfully perform the duties of this position, selectee must qualify as a Department of the Interior Motor Boat Operator. Once on duty you will train and expected to certify within 90 days.

4.Valid State Driver's license: Must possess a current valid state driver's license in good standing by the entrance on duty date if selected. Please include in your resume, your license number, state and expiration date. (DO NOT SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR LICENSE.)

Education

For any college courses, graduate work, research, thesis or other non-descript courses listed on your transcript (such as "Independent Research"), please indicate through your resume or attachment memorandum from an academic professor how each course fulfills the specific education requirement, i.e., state number of semester hours credited, topic of study, grade earned.

NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement).  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/search.aspx.  All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

Special Instructions For Foreign Education:  If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the 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.  For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html