As a Park Ranger, you will perform various "generalist" duties designed to: (1) facilitate visitor understanding of park resources; (2) facilitate visitor enjoyment; (3) facilitate and induce visitor behavior and (4) encourage visitors to develop a sense of stewardship for park resources. Open to the first 50 applicants or until 01/12/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/12/2026-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. 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 (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-4 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 include, but are not limited to: Emergency services (emergency medical, search and rescue, emergency dispatch); Resource management assistant or program specialist work related to natural and cultural resources involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; Assist in the management, information dissemination, or the carrying out of programs in a park, conservation, reserve, or similar area such as backcountry office, visitor information desk, campground; Forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area, Park Guide or tour leader; environmental educator; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; or other similar work. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park related work. Resume must include hours worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four (4) years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of coursework in a related field, (Related fields of study include natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archaeology, 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 education and experience as described above. Only education beyond the 60 semester hours above high school is considered qualifying when combined with specialized experience. Thirty semester hours beyond the first 60 is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. For example, take six (6) months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement) combined with 90 semester hours of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified (50% of the related coursework required) and when combined equal 100%. You must include transcripts. Resume must include hours worked. 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.
This position is located in on the Manitou Islands of Sleeping Bear Dunes NL. Park Rangers live and work on the islands during tour of duty. Duties may include assisting the Ranger staff in providing safety and personal services for the public, greeting the daily passenger ferry and private boats, camper registration and orientation, informational contact for park visitors, conducting tours of South Manitou Lighthouse, conducting patrols by along trails, beaches and campgrounds, providing information to ranger staff of concerning problems, assisting during emergency situations and conducting resource management projects. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is within a beautiful scenic resort area on the shores of Lake Michigan. Housing, medical facilities, shopping, churches, banks, daycare, and recreational opportunities are readily available within a 30 mile radius from park headquarters in Empire. High temperatures average between 70-80 degrees in the summer and low temperatures average between 10-20 degrees in winter. Shared government housing may be available for rent. For additional area information, please visit www.nps.gov/slbe.