Landscape Architect (Seasonal) @ National Park Service

Job Summary

The purpose of the work is to provide advisory services on conventional landscape management activities and concerns; research policies, procedures, and statutory requirements. The typical season is March to Oct, but can vary during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Open to the first 50 applicants or until 10/26/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Qualifications

• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
• Minimum Qualification

Requirements

• To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: PLEASE NOTE - Basics requirements must be met.
• 1. You must possess a professional degree in landscape architecture or landscape design. OR
• 2. Have a combination of education and experience - for each year short of graduation, the applicant must have had 1 year of experience under professional leadership and guidance of such character and diversity as to be a satisfactory substitute for the required education.

This experience must have included original landscape design.

• Transcripts must be submitted or you will receive no further consideration for this position.
• 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 either full-time or 40 hours per week.
• If a part-time work schedule is reflected, the hours must be annotated to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. -AND- In addition to the basic requirements, to qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level you must possess at least one of the following: EXPERIENCE: Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service.
• Examples of qualifying experience include the following: assist with the preparation of compliance documents, such as Section 106, or National Historic Site or Landmark nominations, applying cultural resource laws, rules and regulations; utilize a range of tools, methods, and technology (e.g., photographs, statistics, maps, field map production, remote sensing, oral history, measured drawings, GPS, and/or GIS) to research and document cultural resources; work cooperatively with individuals, interagency groups or multiple organizations to plan for or manage long-term protection of cultural resources; and/or perform work requiring the ability to comprehend and apply theoretical considerations and new developments in the technical literature of landscape architecture.

-OR- EDUCATION

• Successful completion of 1 year of graduate-level education, leading to a master's degree in landscape architecture, landscape design, or other closely related fields which has equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of this position. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.
• To combine education and experience, first take percentage of completed education.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).
• To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Major Duties

• Conducts site and visual inventories of river areas and develop visitor use site analysis.
• Creates conceptual site plans on many park projects including camping areas, trails, river access, scenic overlooks trailhead areas.
• Sketches solutions for daily park projects and operations, as well as draw site plans, sections, perspectives and plan view maps on a weekly basis.
• Enhances communication between park natural resource division and park facility staff and contributes to communications with local park partners.
• Works with all park divisions and reports directly to the Park Superintendent.

Area Information: The Missouri National Recreational River is made up of four free- flowing segments that comprise a portion of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and unit of the National Park Service. These components include the Park's 39-Mile District from the Francis Case Reservoir and Fort Randall Dam in Pickstown, SD downstream to just above the Lewis and Clark Reservoir, and the 59-Mile District extending from below the Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, SD downstream to Ponca State Park in Nebraska.

Additionally, the Park encompasses the lower 20 Miles of the Niobrara River from Knox County, NE to its confluence with the Missouri River, and 8 miles of Verdigre Creek for a combined total of 126 linear stream miles. The Park's Congressionally authorized boundary is made up of 42,000 acres, which includes combinations of federal, state-, and privately-owned land. All areas of the Park still exhibit the river conditions and adjacent natural landscapes found during early American history and pre-development.

• The duty station for the position is at the National Park Service, Missouri National Recreational River headquarters located in Yankton, South Dakota.
• The greater Yankton area has a population of ~20,000 people and is situated in southeast South Dakota.
• Recreational amenities abound, including hiking, hunting, fishing, and boating (renowned canoeing, kayaking, and motorboating) along the Missouri Recreational River National Water Trail, as well as within 3 adjacent state parks, Lewis and Clark Recreation Area (SD), Niobrara State Park (NE), and Ponca State Park (NE).
• Affordable and abundant housing for either rental or purchase is available within the greater Yankton area.
• The community is congenial and friendly and offers an excellent setting to raise a family.
• Summers are generally hot and humid, spring and autumn are mild with moderate temperatures, and winters can be cold, windy, and snowy.
• For more information about our park, please visit Missouri National Recreational River

Requirements

• Must 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 Home |

E-Verify Incidental Driving

• You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties.
• Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle.
• You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists.
• Lastly, you may be required to 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 discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• A uniform allowance will be provided.

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.

You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.