These positions are located in Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve in the Resource Education and Interpretation Division. Please see the "Education" section of the announcement for additional information.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/31/2025-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: Incumbents in these positions must be able to swim and self-rescue (re-enter a swamped canoe or kayak without assistance from others or by landing at a dock or beach) while canoeing and kayaking. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions. - AND - SELECTIVE FACTOR: Incumbents in these positions must be able to paddle canoes and/or kayaks up to and over 5 miles in a single trip and lead visitors on canoe and kayak trips. Candidates who do not meet, and document meeting this requirement in their application, by close of this announcement, will receive no further consideration for these positions. 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). This experience includes activities such as: Park Guide or tour leader; environmental educator or teacher; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research 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 other similar work. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a 4-year course of study above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related course work in a major study 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. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of experience and education as described above. To combine experience and education, first take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12. Multiply the resulting decimal by 100. Then take the number of credits completed above 60 and divide by 60. Multiply the resulting decimal by 100. Add the percentages together. 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.
Please see the "Education" section of this announcement for additional information regarding these positions. Major Duties: Rangers develop and present interpretive and educational programs for visitors of all ages, managing group sizes that range from small family units to large tour groups with diverse backgrounds and accessibility needs. Programs include guided walks, talks, and interactive presentations focused on the park's natural and cultural resources. Rangers lead physically demanding activities, including outdoor work in hot, humid conditions, navigating rugged terrain, and exposure to insects and other environmental elements. Responsibilities include delivering daily interpretive programs, staffing visitor centers, ensuring visitor safety and resource protection, and maintaining interpretive props and supplies. Rangers also support outreach efforts by representing the park at community events, festivals, and partner programs, both on- and off-site. Outreach activities may include developing and delivering programs for community groups and special interest organizations. Rangers contribute to the creation of interpretive media such as brochures, exhibits, social media content, and signage; assist in planning and executing special events; contribute to visitor use data collection; and report safety and resource concerns. The role requires strong public speaking skills, knowledge of the park's natural and cultural features, and the ability to work independently in variable outdoor conditions. Additional duties include submitting program statistics, driving and maintaining government vehicles, and identifying and reporting safety issues. The role requires knowledge of swimming, paddling, water safety, and natural resource management, as well as the ability to work in physically demanding environments. Area Descriptions: These positions are located in Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, and Everglades National Park. These NPS units boast subtropical climates with mild, pleasant winters and hot, rainy, and buggy summers. Winter temperatures seldom drop below 40 degrees and only for short periods. Big Cypress National Preserve spans 729,000 acres of cypress forests, prairies, pinelands, hammocks and mangroves supporting incredible biodiversity. As one of the nation's first national preserves, it protects vital freshwater resources and traditional and customary uses of the Miccosukee and Seminole, hunting, fishing, and off-road vehicle use. Designated as an International Dark Sky Park, it provides exceptional stargazing and night sky interpretation opportunities. Rangers at the Nathaniel Reed and Oasis Visitor Centers in Ochopee, FL, offer orientation and information, work with volunteers, support our cooperating association, and plan and lead a variety of ranger-guided programs and experiences for audiences of all ages. Programming includes swamp walks, canoe-kayak programs, mountain bike trips, illustrated programs and campground chats. They conduct informal roves and pop-ups along the Preserve's boardwalks and scenic drives, assist with visitor contacts on remote sites, and support special events. More information can be found at www.nps.gov/bicy. Biscayne National Park preserves a rare blend of aquamarine waters, mangrove shorelines, emerald islands, 10,000 years of cultural heritage, and vibrant coral reefs, all within sight of downtown Miami. The park provides valuable access and opportunities for over 700,000 visitors each year to explore breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and maritime heritage. Rangers at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead, FL, offer orientation, answer questions, and plan and lead diverse interpretive programs and special events for audiences of all ages. They conduct roving interpretation along jetty trails, assist with visitor contacts on remote islands, lead fishing and paddling clinics, host Park After Dark events, and share safety messages related to boating, snorkeling, and wildlife. More information can be found at www.nps.gov/bisc. Everglades National Park is a vast, subtropical wilderness home to sawgrass prairies, cypress domes, mangrove forests, and Florida Bay. As a World Heritage Site and Wetland of International Importance, it plays a critical role in protecting the Greater Everglades ecosystem. Rangers at the Flamingo and Gulf Coast Districts connect visitors with the park's biodiversity and cultural heritage through interpretive programs and visitor services. They provide orientation, share safety and resource messages, host Dark Sky Park events, assist with backcountry permits and orientation for the wilderness waterway, and help with roving interpretation on trails and backcountry areas. Rangers also support special events and outreach, working with volunteers and ensuring visitor compliance with park regulations. More information can be found at www.nps.gov/ever.