Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation)

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): Copper Center, Alaska, McCarthy, Alaska

Salary Range: $22.07 - $35.54 Per Hour

Job Summary: NOTE: OPM has identified this position as eligible for an exception to the typical 1039-hour season. This exception allows up to 1560 hours which may extend the season(s) reflected in this announcement. See the Additional Information section for details. Applicants that apply to and are selected for McCarthy will be duty stationed at Kennecott, AK.

Major Duties:

• The typical season for this position is April - September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is April 2026. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to the following: Develops interpretive programs, conducts basic research of topics using records, documents, books, files, and interviews with people who have personal knowledge. Presents onsite programs to a wide variety of audiences. Programs may include guided walks, demonstrations, evening PowerPoint presentations, campfire programs, and children's programs. Conducts offsite programs to community groups, curriculum-based programs to school children and other programs to various interest groups on park-related themes. Develops interpretive props and other material needed for offsite programs. Staffs Information Desk at visitor center serving as initial contact for all visitors entering the building. Greets visitors and provides information on a variety of subjects including local and regional attractions. Conducts Wilderness trip planning sessions with an emphasis on safety. Conducts sales of cooperating association publications, issues federal subsistence permits, and replenishes stock of free publications when necessary. Answers the telephone and provides area information or takes messages. Operates and maintains a variety of audiovisual equipment. Services AV systems at visitor centers and off-site. Operates audiovisual programs at park visitor centers and off-site. May take photos and perform other photographic tasks, and contributes to social media platforms. Performs roving interpretation throughout the park and surrounding area at varied points of visitor interest. In addition to the above, duties at the GS-0025-07 level include but are not limited to the following: Demonstrates a broad understanding of the interpretive profession and can articulate it to others through training and coaching. Suggests new topics, revisions, and other changes or improvements in the overall interpretive program and individual peer programs. Performs various administrative duties including scheduling, gathering information for reports, and compilation of statistical data. Prepares written communications such as information requests, letters, and the park's webpage and social media pages. Serves as a role model for other staff members and assists with program development, coaching, and training of other staff members. The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations. Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 03/16/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties. -AND- To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraphs. Areas considered "near" Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve are Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy Lake, Kenny Lake, Long Lake, Lower & Upper Tonsina, McCarthy, Mendeltna, Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Nelchina, Northway/Northway Village, Northway Junction, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, Tonsina and Yakutat. -ALSO- The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies: Ability to communicate orally to diverse groups and in a variety of settings. Ability to research, develop, and present a variety of formal, structured, and impromptu thematic interpretative programs such as talks, guided walks and off-site programs to diverse audiences. Ability to communicate effectively and provide excellent customer services (Interpersonal skills). Skill in daily operation of a busy visitor center/Information desk, sales outlet, bookstore, or similar facility to include providing frontline information and support services. Skill in operating computers, various computer programs, and office equipment. Additional Competency for the GS-0025-07 grade level: Ability to mentor and provide on-the-job training to lower graded team members.

How to Apply: There are multiple options for applying to this position, please see application options and instructions below: To apply online: You must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/16/2026. You must provide documentation to support your eligibility claim. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application." Click here for USAJobs Help with "How to create an application" To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12902072 Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS. Select documents you want included in this application. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed. Select if you want to include your demographic information. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site." Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown. Upload any missing required documents or optional documents. Review and Submit Application. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job. Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So, it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application. To apply via mail: Mailed applications must be postmarked by the closing date of the announcement. If applying via mail, you must include answers to the Application Questionnaire. The Application Questionnaire can be accessed via the link in the instructions above. If your application is postmarked by the closing date, it must be received in a sealed envelope no later than seven calendar days after the closing date. The seven-day waiting period may be extended if weather delays mail delivery. Applications may be mailed to: National Park Service Alaska Regional Office Attn: Human Resources 240 W. 5th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 Applications must include the vacancy announcement number. If you are applying to multiple vacancy announcements, you must submit a separate application for each vacancy.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-16