Park Ranger (Preventative Search and Rescue) (Seasonal) @ National Park Service

Job Summary

WFRs are accepted from any organization. Park Rangers (Preventative Search and Rescue) perform duties associated with preventing search and rescue incidents from occurring. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Seasonal Staffing Office-Pacific West Region is March - July 2027 but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page 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. 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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level. Specialized experience Includes activities such as: Park Ranger, Park Guide or tour leader; environmental educator; backcountry ranger, law enforcement or investigative 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; or similar work. -OR- 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related course work. -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level. Specialized experience Includes activities such as: Independently lead and resolved PSAR activities; Park Ranger, Park Guide or tour leader; environmental educator; backcountry ranger, law enforcement or investigative 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; or similar work. -OR- B. You must possess one full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation (one year of full-time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess one of the following: A. At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. This experience includes activities such as: 1) coordinating, evaluating or directing wilderness programs and projects; (2) developing educational or interpretive programs related to wilderness; (3) coaching/mentoring wilderness or PSAR, or similar, staff. -OR- B. You must possess two full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation (one year of full-time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.

Additional Areas of Consideration and Specialties All applicants will be evaluated against the general qualification requirements listed above for the Park Ranger (Preventative Search and Rescue) (Seasonal) position. The following areas of consideration and specialties have additional experience requirements. During the application process, you will have the opportunity to select one or more areas or specialties for which you wish to be considered. Your resume must clearly document the required experience to receive consideration.

Climbing Specialty: This specialty involves climbing outreach and patrol duties, including multi-day (Grade VI) rock climbs. Applicants must have expertise climbing 5.11 and A2 routes. Your resume must clearly document this experience to be considered for this specialty. Additional information about location/grade specific requirements is provided in the Announcement Questionnaire. Multi-Night Solo Backpacking: To be considered for this area of consideration, your resume must clearly document experience completing multi-night solo backpacking trips in remote wilderness or backcountry areas, including navigation, route finding, and self-sufficient travel and camping.

Mounted: To be considered for this area of consideration, your resume must clearly document horsemanship experience, such as handling, caring for, packing, and/or riding horses. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards. 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.

Major Duties

• Some of the PSAR Standard Duties include but are not limited to: Conduct regularly scheduled and special purpose PSAR patrols by foot, vehicle, or other appropriate means of various park resources such as backcountry, front country and/or wilderness areas, park trails, campgrounds, parking lots, shorelines, rivers, docks, roads, concessions, and assist with traffic and visitor management as needed.
• While on patrol, provide visitors with information and education to ensure their safety, obtain their cooperation, and facilitate safe visitor use of park resources.
• Respond to emergency incidents and provide emergency medical care within the scope of current training and certification.
• May assist with motor vehicle crashes, litter carryout, search and rescue operations, helicopter operations, visitor assists, and other emergency responses.
• May operate emergency or patrol vehicles when trained and authorized.
• Assist with the management and maintenance of division equipment, including rescue gear, medical supplies, communications equipment, office equipment, patrol vehicles, emergency vehicles, equipment caches, and related facilities.
• Provide administrative, operational, and logistic support to PSAR-related educational activities conducted by the organization.
• Additional GS 7 duties but are not limited to: Independently determine new patrol routes and prepare for patrol(s), accounting for the specific needs, topography, and requirements of each patrol.
• Additional GS 9 duties but are not limited to: Provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentoring to wilderness, PSAR, and other visitor safety staff and volunteers; assist with coordinating field activities and ensuring work is carried out safely and consistently with established procedures.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
• Use find a park to contact specific parks for more information on government housing.
• 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 complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license will be required in such cases.
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.
• You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

You 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.

Emergency Medical Services: Some duty locations require specific emergency medical certifications, such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or higher, Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness Emergency Medical Responder (WEMR), or Wilderness EMT (WEMT).

• Additional information is provided in the Announcement Questionnaire.
• Some locations may require you to complete a medical physical prior to appointment