Seasonal Park Ranger (Protection) River Job

Vacancy No. IM-1540-IMNR-26-12832812-DE Department National Park Service
Salary $23.83 to $27.13 Grade 5 to 7
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/24/2025 Close Date 12/1/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
West Glacier, MTMoran, WY


Summary

These positions may be filled for a six month seasonal period, but can vary due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: Anticipated Entry on Duty: April 20 (Glacier National Park) and May 5th (Grand Teton National Park)

For more park(s) information, please visit find a park.

This job is open to

The public

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

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Duties

The individuals selected for these positions will perform a variety of resource and visitor protection duties including but not limited to: enforcement of federal and state laws, regulations, and policies, vehicle and foot patrol, front country patrol, back country and wilderness patrol, emergency response, emergency medical services, search and rescue, visitor stewardship and orientation, wilderness management, boundary enforcement, protection of natural and cultural resources (wildlife, plants, archeological sites, historic building) and wild land fire suppression. Positions at Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks will operate on whitewater rivers.These positions will conduct patrols on the Snake River (at Grand Teton NP) and on the North and Middle Fork of the Flathead River (in Glacier NP), an advanced technical swift water river and participate in a large number of rescue incidents on these and other rivers. Duties include providing emergency medical assistance, responding to search and rescue incidents, performing patrols and performing operations on swift or whitewater rivers. At Glacier NP, selectees will be expected to perform overnight river patrols.

Physical Demands: Duties will require rigorous fieldwork requiring above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. Work requires prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and reoccuring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar strenuous activities requiring agility and dexterity. Duties involve performing physically rigorous assignments, often 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. Physical fitness requirements must be met prior to and on a continuing basis during employment.

Work Environment: Duties require extended periods of outdoor work where the incumbent will be exposed to severe weather 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 backcountry 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 worn, some of which may be uncomfortable, hot or inconvenient to wear. Adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions is required. Selectees will work on rivers and have associated hazards that come with whitewater rivers.

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.
  • Depending on location, occupancy of government quarters may be required.
  • Depending on location, government housing may be available.
  • You may 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/or shift work.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Positions at Grand Teton National Park require certification to perform emergency medical response, with a minimum acceptable certification of Wilderness First Responder before entrance on duty
  • 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.
  • Must possess or be able to obtain a NPS Type II Law Enforcement Commission.
  • Must pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) prior to start date.
  • Pre-employment medical exam and drug testing are required.
  • Mandatory Minimum Age Requirement: This position has a mandatory requirement that applicants must be 21 years of age or older.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/01/2025-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.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position requires the selectee to operate an oar powered raft along a complex braided river system with class III rapids during high stress incidents. and experience in navigating white water rivers is required. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. This experience must be clearly and thoroughly documented in your application materials.
- AND -
Mandatory 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 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://www.anpr.org/sletp.php. NOTE: This is not regular police officer training.

You MUST certify in your supporting documents the possession of at least one of the above criteria. Include your commission number with expiration date, or your anticipated graduation date from an approved NPS Seasonal Law Enforcement Academy within your resume.

-And-

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
  • SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: law enforcement or investigative work; emergency services (emergency medical, search and rescue, emergency dispatch, lifeguard); park guide or tour leader; resource management related to natural and cultural resources (museum technician, biological science technician, archeological technician, trail crew, etc.); fire management (wildland and/or structural); assist in the management, information dissemination, or the carrying out of programs in a park, conservation reserve or similar area (fee collection, entrance station, backcountry office, visitor use assistant, volunteer, visitor information desk, campground ranger).. You must include hours per week worked. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
  • EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree (or higher level degree) with 24 semester hours of related course work (related fields of study include 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.). One year of full time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours. You must include transcripts. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
  • Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example: 6 months of specialized experience and three 3 years of education beyond the high school level with at least 18 hours in related studies. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. You must include transcripts.. Then take the number of months of full time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.
To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
  • SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to the following: protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations, performing independent resource and visitor protection work by educating and informing visitors of federal rules and regulations and conducting wilderness or backcountry patrols (by foot or boat) to assess for resource impacts; Implementing measures to inform and enforce resource protection regulations (i.e. proper signage, online information, installing and interpreting public use technology and data such as cameras or counters); Performing emergency services work in an outdoor setting; Preparing reports and/or official documents related to research or investigations; performing law enforcement duties involving the application of authorities and procedure to protect visitors and resources. Using and maintaining firearms for law enforcement or wildlife use. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
  • EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full academic year of graduate education in a directly-related field such as graduate level study 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. One year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
  • Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 9 semester hours of graduate level college study in a directly-related field of study (50% of the related coursework required).The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

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.

CONTINUED BELOW UNDER 'EDUCATION'

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.

CONTINUED FROM 'QUALIFICATIONS'
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.

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.

Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay.

This job opportunity announcement will be used to fill one or more additional selections at any time without notification.

The locations listed on the announcement anticipate filling vacancies. However, not all grade levels may be filled at all locations. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified if there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied.

Positions will be filled at one grade level and have no promotion potential.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

The National Park Service has determined that most temporary positions are suitable for telework on a situational basis or during an emergency or natural disaster.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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:
  • Criminal Law
  • First Response
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Restraint and Self-Defense
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/01/2025:

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Your resume must clearly show how long your have held each grade in a federal position.Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications
  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 that you meet selective factors, such as a copy of your Type I or Type II Commission, please block out photograph. Include commission details in your resume (commission number/date, location, and date of last 40-hour refresher training, and date of last established proficiency in use of firearms). Provide a copy of your emergency response certification.
  5. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
  6. 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 on the rating criteria for this position.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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 12/01/2025. 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

John Rhoades
Phone
(307) 344-2093
Email
john_rhoades@nps.gov
Address
Intermountain-Northern Rockies Regional Human Resources Office
Do not Send Mail
Northern Rockies SHRO, WY 82190
US

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.