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 submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
- You must pass a pre-employment medical examination and meet physical fitness standards throughout employment.
- You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
- You must possess, by your start date, and maintain a valid state driver's license.
- You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), and small watercraft.
- Government Housing may be available.
- 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-05/19/2026-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 qualified specialized experience.
To qualify for this position at the
GS-03 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience. General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.
Examples of general experience may include:
- Performing basic manual or clerical tasks in a recreational, hospitality, or service setting.
- Assisting with routine setup or cleanup of facilities, equipment, or event spaces.
- Providing basic information or directions to the public or visitors.
- Observing or shadowing others in a support role without independent responsibility.
- Performing entry-level tasks that require following instructions and working under close supervision.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year above high school with some course work related to the position such as physical education or recreation.
-OR-
COMBINATION of Experience and Education: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
To qualify for this position at the
GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: 6 months of general experience
AND 6 months of specialized experience.
General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation
. See examples of general experience above.
Specialized Experience is experience which is in the occupation of the position to be filled, in a related occupation, or in one of the specialized areas within that occupation, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
- Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers, or resort recreational activities.
- Teacher's aid in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities.
- Aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service.
- Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities.
- Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children).
- Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop.
- Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility.
- Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to recreation (e.g., basic psychology, group dynamics, physical education, arts and crafts, etc.).
-OR-
COMBINATION of Experience and Education: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
SELECTIVE FACTORS - GS-5 level ONLY
OCEAN LIFEGUARDING: These positions are responsible for training staff in ocean/surf lifeguard skills. At least 90 days of experience working as an ocean lifeguard is required. Candidates who do not show they meet this requirement in their application documents will receive no further consideration for this position.
- AND -
CERTIFICATIONS: Due to the critical nature of these positions and the impact on visitor health and safety, current and valid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Basic First Aid Certifications (or higher Emergency Medical Responder certification) are required. Candidates who do not show they meet this requirement in their application documents will receive no further consideration for this position.
-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:
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).
Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
- Leading lifeguard operations during supervisor absences, including assigning tasks and ensuring adherence to safety protocols.
- Conducting ocean surf rescues and providing emergency medical care at the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) level or higher.
- Operating off-road vehicles (ATVs) for emergency response and patrol duties.
- Training lifeguard staff in personal safety, equipment use, EMS procedures, and surf rescue techniques.
- Coordinating search and rescue operations, including handling missing persons cases.
- Monitoring beach safety, enforcing regulations, and using signage and flag systems to manage public behavior.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in courses related to recreation or physical education. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
COMBINATION Education and Experience: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
For GS-5 level positions, 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. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours,
beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience.
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.
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.
Additional information
This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions.
The local commuting area has been defined as the following counties: Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Dorchester in Maryland, Accomack County in Virginia, and Sussex County in Delaware.
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.
Physical Demands: This rigorous position requires meeting RM-57 medical standards. Duties involve daily strenuous activity, including running with rescue gear, long-distance swims in strong surf while towing victims, and lifting/carrying people through waves. Work includes use of rescue fins, kayaks, and paddleboards, plus prolonged sitting, standing, and running on uneven terrain. Must have 20/40 uncorrected or 20/20 corrected vision, operate ATVs in adverse weather, and meet fitness benchmarks: 500-yard swim under 10 minutes and 1.25-mile run under 12 minutes. Strenuous exertion is required during search and rescue operations.
Work Environment: While some work may be performed in an office setting, most of the work is performed outdoors where the incumbent can be subjected to weather variances such as extreme heat or cold, rainy conditions, and high UV indexes, cold water temperatures, large waves and marine organisms. The employee can be exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations in emergency type I situations requiring the use of a wide range of personal protective gear. Emergency operations will require entry into hazardous environments, exposure to dangerous persons, animals, substances, and potential exposure to infectious diseases. The terrain can be uneven and consists of soft or hard packed sand mixed with seashells and other debris.
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.
Applicants will be evaluated based on how well they meet the qualification requirements for the position.
Upon receipt of a completed application package, the Servicing Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement.
Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages. Resumes longer than two pages will not be reviewed. Applicants may submit only one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine qualifications and eligibility. If more than one resume is submitted, only the most recent submission will be reviewed.
This position is being filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. The Servicing Human Resources Office will determine whether applicants meet the qualification and eligibility requirements described in this announcement. Applicants who meet these requirements may be referred to the selecting official on a certificate of eligibles for consideration.
Applicants must certify that they maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within the defined vicinity of the field unit(s) listed in this announcement. Residency eligibility will be verified during the hiring process.
If your resume is incomplete or does not demonstrate that you meet the qualification requirements or specialized experience described in this announcement, you may be determined ineligible or not qualified for further consideration.
Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations.