Park Ranger (Interpretation) Job in Boston, MA

Vacancy No. NPS-IRA-25-12555948-DE Department National Park Service
Salary $98,240.00 to $127,707.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/30/2024 Close Date 10/4/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Boston, MA


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

There are a total of 3 positions at multiple park locations. Please read below for more information.

See the "Duties" section for locations, salary and anticipated Term Not to Exceed (NTE) periods.

Open to the first 101 applicants or until 10/04/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens; Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).

Duties

These are TERM positions (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of three years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

The National Park Service retains the right to extend the duration of this appointment after selection and/or appointment, based on changes to the regulation governing the number of years term appointments may last. This change, which may be made at the agency's sole discretion and without further competition, shall not be construed or interpreted as the granting of a right to a selectee or employee to such an extension. No extension to a term appointment shall be granted to a selectee/employee to an amount of time that exceeds the maximum number of years authorized under any present or current regulation, unless such regulation expressly allows such action.

National Parks of Boston
The National Parks of Boston is a constellation of three National Park Service sites - Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park - collectively managed by a general superintendent. Established by individual legislation and designated purposes, the three units have come together as a unified, relevant and collaborative organizational structure. More commonly, you may know us as the Bunker Hill Monument, Charlestown Navy Yard, and Dorchester Heights or our partnerships along Boston's "Trails to Freedom" or our partnership on the Boston Harbor Islands. You may also know us from the Park Ranger uniform, but we also employ a wide variety of employees from across varied career fields.

The position duty location is Boston, Massachusetts; There are a Total of 3 positions:

Boston National Historical Park-Two (2) Positions will perform duties/ provide support to Boston National Historical Park NTE 3 Years.
Boston National Historical Park is a unique partnership park that encompasses eight historic sites of national significance associated with the colonial struggle for independence and American ideals of self-determination and civil freedom. The park works collaboratively with federal, municipal and private partners to preserve, protect, and interpret the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Charlestown Navy Yard (including USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young), Bunker Hill Monument and Dorchester Heights. The park also operates two visitor centers and the Bunker Hill Museum. For additional information, please visit www.nps.gov/bost.

Boston African American National Historic Site-One (1) Position will perform duties/ provide support to the Boston African American National Historical Site. NTE 2 Years.
Boston African-American National Historic Site is a unique partnership park that encompasses the largest area of pre-Civil War black owned structures in the United States. The nearly two dozen historic sites, linked by the 1.6 mile Black Heritage Trail, were homes, businesses, schools, and churches of a thriving black community that, in the face of great opposition, fought the forces of slavery and inequality. The site includes the African Meeting House, the Abiel Smith School, and the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/boaf.


Major Duties:
  • Manages and provides strategic direction for collaborative interpretive planning and execution of high visibility events and programs associated with key commemorations and anniversaries.
  • Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to plan, prototype and operationalize new approaches to activating public lands through visitor experiences that support park goals and public needs and interests.
  • Strategically manages financial resources to support program areas and foster continuous program improvement and accountability.
  • Develops communication tools, systems and practices to strengthen existing and support the creation of new partnership models that leverage park and partner expertise, resources and networks to achieve shared visitor experience goals.
  • Creates and sustains a work environment that encourages creative thinking and innovation to achieve visitor experience, employee health and wellness and community engagement goals.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • You will be required to complete a one-year trial period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up occasionally.
  • You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/04/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. 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 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.

Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

QUALITY RANKING FACTOR: Knowledge of 18th and 19th century US political and social history, including Boston's roles in the American Revolution, abolition and organized efforts to expand civil rights and liberties.

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience obtained in either the public or private sector. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: planning or leading a park education and interpretive program; serving as a lead interpretive ranger, educator, or recreation planner in a park, historic site, recreation, or conservation area; management or program specialist work involving the development and/or implementation of policy related to education/interpretation, outdoor recreation, and/or volunteer programs in park areas or similar operations; or other similar work (or similar business - local, state, federal). You must include hours per week worked.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level of this announcement.

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.

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.

Education


There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level of this announcement.

Additional information

A 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 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) 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: Physical demands range from sedentary work in an office environment to frequent trips to partner sites and throughout park field areas. Travel to park field sites involves ferry and small craft water transit to island locations, walking on uneven surfaces and over hilly terrain, and may involve travel over snow in winter, walking on uneven terrain, or travel to locations away from the park and across the state or greater region. Occasionally, work may demand very long work hours with work in the evenings and on weekends.

Working Conditions: Work is generally performed in an office setting and duties involve extensive use of computers; however, work may also take place at partner sites and at island, harbor, and mainland locations throughout the three parks. Travel is accomplished on foot and using the city-wide public transportation system (bus, subway, ferry). Distance travel for regional meetings, off-site events and training may require use of park vehicles or commercial carriers. The incumbent must be able to work in the field for specific, limited purposes in all weather conditions, including rain, snow, cold and heat.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Benefits

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Communications and Media
  • Financial Management
  • Partnering
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Project Management

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/04/2024:

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the 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. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
  2. Complete All Required Assessments.
  3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
    • Veterans Preference Documentation:
      • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
      • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
      • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
  4. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 80 on the rating criteria for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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

To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/04/2024. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.

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 login or create an account.
  2. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
  3. Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS.
  4. Select documents you want included in this application.
  5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
  6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
  7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
  8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
  9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  10. Review and Submit Application.
  11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  12. 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 it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Agency contact information

Liliana Clayton
Address
NPS Inflation Reduction Act
1849 C St. NW
Washington, DC 20240
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.