Associate Director for Visitor Experience Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. WO-1614-SESO-26-12977258 Department National Park Service
Salary $186,207.00 to $228,000.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/5/2026 Close Date 6/22/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Associate Director for Visitor Experience

Department of the Interior
National Park Service

Summary

More than 20,000 employees work in a wide variety of disciplines and organizations, from parks to regions to national programs, throughout the National Park Service. They are led by the NPS Director, who is supported by senior executives who manage national programs, policy, and budget in the Washington, DC, headquarters, (WASO) and seven regional directors responsible for national park management and program implementation.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Senior executives

Individuals looking for an executive-level job and who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

Duties

The Associate Director for Visitor Experience provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and policy oversight for Service-wide visitor experience programs that define how the public engages with, understands, and values the National Park System. Responsibilities include:

  • Serves as the focal point within NPS for providing advice and guidance in reaching decisions on a range of management and policy issues relating to the programmatic areas, which include the following activities: engagement programs designed to foster meaningful connections between people and national parks; visitor experience operations that directly support public use, learning, and enjoyment of national parks; national interpretive and educational media development ensuring the design, production, and delivery of high-quality, accessible, and innovative interpretive media that support visitors' understanding and learning outcomes.
  • Evaluates program performance against organizational objectives, endorsing key plans and changes in directives, and analyzing structural and resource needs to enhance operational effectiveness.
  • Serves as a member of the NPS leadership team. Collaborates with the Director and other leaders to set overall policy, establish priorities, define the strategic direction of the Service, and determine legislative goals and strategies at a national level.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  1. U.S. Citizenship.
  2. Must be able to obtain/maintain a background/suitability investigation/determination commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position (Tier 4, non-sensitive, high risk.)
  3. Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1-year probationary period.
  4. Public Financial Disclosure is required within 30 days of appointment (OGE-278.)
  5. This position may require pre- and post-employment drug screening.
  6. Selections are subject to Department approval. Initial appointments to the SES must undergo an ECQ based structured interview with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for SES certification.
  7. Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirements. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  8. Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint current or former (within 5 years) Executive Branch political appointees (political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES) to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES position. You must disclose political appointments held to the Human Resources Office.
  9. The incumbent may be required to wear the official uniform on an intermittent basis.

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualifications, you must submit a two-page resume (max) that shows you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and two Technical Qualifications (TQs). To be considered, only the first 2 pages of your resume will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Technical Qualifications (TQs) are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience and accomplishments related to the TQs below:

  1. Demonstrated ability to manage a complex program which includes at least 3 of these areas: visitor experience, visitation data analytics, recreation and lands management, concessions management, interpretation and education programs and media development, and promotion of engagement opportunities.
  2. Demonstrated ability to manage personnel and budget-related issues that affect a major organization.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): Your two-page resume should also show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications listed below. By statute, the Office of Personnel Management prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career SES members. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and not technical expertise.

ECQ 1-Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: Demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: Demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - Leading People: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results: Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Qualifications will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of your programs; services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of your actions taken. Typically experience will have been gained at the GS-15 or equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations. Executive Core Qualifications

Already SES Certified? If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or have completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SES CDP) approved by OPM, please submit a two-page resume and personnel action showing you have held a career SES position. SES CDP graduates must submit a two-page resume and a copy of their CDP program certification with their package.

Education

This position does not have an educational qualification requirement.

Additional information

--Veteran's Preference and time in grade restrictions are not applicable to the SES. Competitive status is not required.
--Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.
--The Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a category 4 position, the pay range is $186,207-$228,000.
--Annual pay increases and recognition, if applicable, are based on performance in the SES.
--This position may require wearing the official uniform on an intermittent basis to perform duties that involve representing the agency to the public, supporting field operations, or participating in activities where a uniformed presence is necessary.
--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 Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 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), to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record is currently located, due to a need of the NPS.
--If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information,https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

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.

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 benefits

Eligibility 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your accomplishments and experience. ECQs and TQs must be demonstrated within your two-page resume. Applicants who do not demonstrate sufficient possession of the ECQs and TQs will be determined ineligible for further consideration. If you meet the basic qualifications and eligibility requirements, a panel of SES members will evaluate your resume and determine the degree to which you possess each of the listed qualifications. The highest qualified applicants will be considered for one or more interviews.

If the selectee does not have Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), he/she will be required to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with OPM for SES appointment approval.

Required Documents

Please upload the following documents:

  • Resume (not to exceed two pages). If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
  • We highly recommend that you DO NOT use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to create your resume.
  • If a current or former Federal employee, submit SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (or equivalent); please do not send an SF-50 for an award.
  • Strongly Recommended: Performance Evaluation (not more than 2 years old)
  • If you are already SES Certified but have NOT held a career SES position, please upload your OPM QRB SES certification.
Note: You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your eligibility and the information provided in your resume.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

  1. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to log in or create an account.
    1. Prompted to start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
    2. Click here for USAJobs Help with "How to create an application.
  2. Add your two-page resume.
  3. Select the documents you want to be included in this application.
  4. Review the package to acknowledge that your documents were reviewed.
  5. After reading and certifying that the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
  6. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
  7. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  8. Review and Submit Application.
  9. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  10. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job. Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So, you must select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Agency contact information

Sharon Benitez
Phone
771-215-6605
Email
sharon_benitez@ios.doi.gov
Address
Senior Executive Service Office
1849 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20240
US

Next steps

The Department of the Interior will conduct a qualifications evaluation of applicants who supply all of the required
material. Qualified applicants will be rated and ranked by an executive-level rating panel.

Highly qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration and possible interview. You
will be notified of the outcome after the completion of the selection process.

National Park Service

Agency contact information

Sharon Benitez
Phone
771-215-6605
Email
sharon_benitez@ios.doi.gov
Address
Senior Executive Service Office
1849 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20240
US

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