About this role
Job SummaryYou will serve as a Park Ranger with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, within the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport, MA. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
QualificationsRequirements Continued... All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. You may qualify at the GS -07 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience may include: Supporting and co-leading interpretive programming and environmental education to enhance public knowledge of nature-based recreation and conservation principles; assisting with project management including data reporting, status updates, and providing feedback on project performance; providing feedback and review on oral, written, and graphic communication developed for a variety of public audiences and groups; providing feedback and review on impacts of ecology, organizational factors, economics, and/or behavioral science on public use management, strategy, and planning; and supporting coordination of logistics, supplies, publications, and services to implement effective public service. OR Education: Successful completion of at least 1 full academic year of graduate level education related to the duties of this position. Examples of this type 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. OR Combination of education and experience as listed above. A combination of specialized experience as described in response A above and education as described in response B above. (Determine the percentage of qualifying specialized experience you possess and determine the percentage of qualifying education you possess. Add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100% in order to qualify based on a combination of experience and education). This experience is described in my resume/application, and I will submit copies of my college transcripts. OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to the one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society. You may qualify at the GS-09 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience may include: developing and conducting environmental education or interpretation programs; developing and managing partnerships with community organizations and corporations; leading and staffing a visitor center operation; developing a visitor services program that utilizes natural resource management principles and conservation; developing a robust volunteer program that includes recruitment, training, and leading volunteers; and utilizing public use related laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures to lead a visitor services program. OR Education: Have two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree - Major study: 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. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Possess a combination of qualifying specialized experience and more than one year of graduate education (both as described above) that, when computed as percentages of their respective requirements, equals at least 100% when combined. Only graduate education beyond the first full year (18 semesters) is creditable using this method. NOTE: Transcripts required, and your resume must contain sufficient information, e.g., complete begin/end dates, work schedule, duties performed, etc., for each period of work for consideration to meet this standard. 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.
Major DutiesSome of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Participates in the enhancement of a high quality and balanced visitor services (VS) program through the development, management, and implementation of public programming, environmental education, and interpretive products that reach a wide range of audiences and employ a variety of methods and materials. Identifies and evaluates accepted techniques to prevent conflict between user groups, and assists Refuge staff with visitor use management through compatibility determinations, visitor use surveys, and other analysis of recreational activities and facilities With other Visitor Services and Refuge staff, supports preparation of project and funding packages for visitor facility, transportation, and program enhancements, including applying for and managing related reporting for cost-share opportunities, volunteer/Friends group grants, and other non-traditional or special funding sources. Assist with identifying requirements and developing scopes of work, cost estimates, and reporting for activities associated with VS functions including coordinating with Visitor Services staff, the Contracting Office, and Youth Partners in selecting contractors, monitoring performance, and preparing associated routine, short-term plans, and recommending improvements. Identifies potential partnership activities with community organizations, and participates in and maintains partnerships with allied local and regional organizations, including participating in the development and implementation of related Memoranda of Agreement and Memoranda of Understanding. Coordinates the Refuge volunteer program including ensuring compliance with all Service rules and regulations, oversees development, implementation, and evaluation of volunteer training opportunities, recruits and maintains volunteer corps, develops volunteer recognition and appreciation opportunities, and leads cross-programmatic coordination. Participates in the development, coordination, and implementation of refuge-specific outreach and communication through print and digital media, including updates and enhancements to refuge websites, social media platforms, online recreation permit systems, and other internal and public-facing platforms. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.RequirementsMust be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. *Additional Requirements located under qualifications*