This position is located in Colonial National Historical Park, in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate communications for law enforcement, EMS, fire, and search and rescue, ensuring rapid response and visitor safety. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent with full benefits but do not provide year-round work. You will work from approximately April to December, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year.?
Requirements Continued: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-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. Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/14/2026-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 qualified specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess 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: working as a dispatcher in person, by telephone, or by radio, operating a telephone switchboard, operating a radio base station, working an information desk that involved in-person, and either telephone or radio contacts, working as a receptionist or other comparable administrative position that involved similar contacts. You must include hours per week worked. - OR - EDUCATION: Successful completion of 4 years of education above the high-school level at an accredited institution. You must include transcripts. - OR - Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only education beyond the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year of study) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. For example: 6 months of specialized experience as described above (50% of the experience requirement) combined with 3 years of college study (i.e., 30 semester hours beyond the second year = 50% of the education requirement) meets 100% of the qualification requirements. You must include transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess 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-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: providing communications support using radios, telephones, frequency monitors, computer networks, etc. to coordinate emergency units such as law enforcement, fire, etc. during complex and emergency operations; operate and search Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) or similar state/national data; and utilize caller control and interrogation techniques to take emergency/911 calls and determine the appropriate response. You must include hours per week worked. EDUCATION: There is no applicable education substitute for the GS-2151-06 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.
GS-5 Public Safety Dispatcher Receives and routes emergency and non-emergency calls; develops ability to manage high call volume. Supports visitor and resource protection operations, including law enforcement, EMS, fire, and search and rescue. Monitors multi-frequency radio traffic and relays information to field personnel. Enters and retrieves data in computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and other communication systems. Assists with law enforcement telecommunications queries (e.g., VCIN, NCIC, IMARS). Uses CPI OpenFox, email, telephones, fax, and radios to coordinate information. Monitors alarm systems and reports activations to supervisors or responders. Maintains communication logs and records. Provides dispatch support to NPS units and partner agencies while building proficiency. GS-6 Public Safety Dispatcher Manages high-volume emergency and non-emergency communications for law enforcement, EMS, fire, and search and rescue. Coordinates communications across multiple platforms (CPI OpenFox, CAD, email, fax, telephones, computers, radios). Monitors and directs multi-unit radio traffic across frequencies, ensuring accurate, timely information flow. Dispatches personnel and equipment to incidents and emergencies. Processes telecommunications data and conducts queries in VCIN, NCIC, IMARS, and related systems. Monitors alarm systems and initiates appropriate responses. Maintains accurate logs, records, and documentation in compliance with policy. Provides full dispatch support to park units, other NPS sites, and partner agencies. Ensures communications systems remain operational and troubleshoots issues as needed. Duties are developmental when filled below the full performance level.