This position is located in the Visitor & Resource Protection Division of Rocky Mountain National Park. For questions about the position, please contact: David_OBrien@nps.gov.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/22/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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. Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify: Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type I Law Enforcement Commission issued by the National Park Service Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA. OR possess a current Commission issued by another Federal Agency and have completed at least one of the following approved Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) training programs: (I) Land Management Police Training or its predecessors (LMTP, 11 LM, 9PT), (2) National Park Ranger Integrated (NPRI) Training, (3) U.S. Park Police Integrated (USPPI) Training, (4) BIA- Basic Police Officer Training Program (BJA-BPOPT), or (5) Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP) and its predecessor (Mixed Basic Training Program) (UPTP / Mixed Basic programs is ONLY approved when accompanied by patrol experience to include a minimum of three years of federal law enforcement experience in a position of investigation, apprehension and detention. (You must indicate your commission number and date, location and date of your last 40-hour refresher training, and the date of your last established proficiency in the use of firearms in your resume) by entrance on duty. More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement. This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements, but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position. Must currently possess or be able to obtain a National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification by entrance on duty. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by entrance on duty. - AND - Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-11 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience could include managing and conducting internal investigations, conducting complex law enforcement investigations, reviewing and writing policies and procedures, interpreting and providing advice on national policy, managing park law enforcement programs, managing other than active status commissioning issues, and auditing park law enforcement programs. You must include hours per week worked on your resume. 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 limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. You can only submit one resume; Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes. You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".
In this position, as Branch Chief of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, you will report to the Chief Ranger, and will be responsible for providing assistance, support, and coordination for a wide range of programs and activities related to protection of persons and resources (law enforcement and emergency services). Your primary duties include providing expert advice and support on the implementation of law enforcement programs and practices, and managing the park's law enforcement and emergency services program. Other duties include overseeing and managing a variety of programs including a communications center, IMARS, evidence management, firearms inventory and training, physical security, and leading a full range of law enforcement investigations. Developing short and long range goals and work plans for the law enforcement and emergency services program at the park. Maintaining and update local commission files and training records for every commissioned employee in the park. Supervising permanent and seasonal staff in the communications center as well as a permanent Emergency Services Coordinator. Collaborates with other divisions within the park and in close cooperation with other law enforcement officials from the NPS, other federal, state, and local jurisdictions. Physical Demands: This work regularly includes long periods of standing, hiking and/or climbing, in many cases on uneven, steep, rough, slippery, and/or rugged terrain. Strenuous exertion is frequently required in law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, medical, and related emergency activities. Lifting or carrying equipment weighing over 50 pounds such as firefighting or search and rescue equipment is required. In some assignments, heavy packs may have to be carried long distances over mountainous, desert, or snow-covered terrain. Duties involve performing physically rigorous assignments, oftentimes in isolated outdoor environments, frequently while exposed to severe weather conditions. Dangerous persons must be physically confronted, subdued, and apprehended, many of whom are known to carry weapons. Prisoners must be kept under physical restraint during transport and processing. Criminal investigations often must be carried out without regard to fixed work schedules, days off, or opportunities for proper rest or nutrition. Work Environment: Work is performed in both an office and field setting. Field conditions can range from extreme winter temperature (below 0 degree) to summer temperatures over 90 degrees. At any given time, incumbent must be prepared to be dispatched to any location with Rocky Mountain National Park ranging from 7500 ft to over 14,000 ft in elevation. The work is performed at various hours of the day and night and for prolonged periods during emergency situations. The incumbent is frequently exposed to high-risk and potentially dangerous situations in law enforcement and emergency types of situations requiring use of a wide-range of personal protective gear (some of which may be uncomfortable, hot, or inconvenient to wear), adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions. Incumbent is required to operate motor vehicles of various types and may be required to fly in helicopters. Area Information: Established on January 29, 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. The park embraces 415 square miles of pristine, uninhabited mountains in north-central Colorado and, as such, is the one of the most spectacular, yet easily accessible high mountain areas in North America. With elevations ranging from 7,800 feet at park headquarters to 14,259 feet at the summit of Longs Peak, the park has glacier-sculptured valleys, rugged gorges, alpine lakes, and vast areas of alpine tundra. Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved continuous road in the United States, stays above tree line for 11 miles and reaches 12,183 feet in elevation. Elk, deer, bighorn sheep, moose, coyotes, and smaller animals are found throughout the park, as well as threatened and endangered species, such as the Greenback Cutthroat Trout and Boreal Toad. Due to the park's easy accessibility to the Front Range communities of Colorado, with over 4 million visitors annually, which results in significant resource protection and visitor management incidents. Government housing may be available on a temporary basis only. Please visit find a park for additional park information.