Park Ranger (Protection) Training Program Manager

Major Duties of the Park Ranger (Protection) - Training Program Manager position include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides full leadership direction and operational oversight of a satellite law enforcement training program ensuring for effective training delivery resources and operations meet Department of the Interior and National Park Service (NPS) standards and mission objectives.
• Develops reviews and updates law enforcement training curriculum evaluation tools and instructional methods to ensure consistency with federal standards NPS policy and contemporary law enforcement practices.
• Selects supervises and evaluates instructors field training staff and program support personnel; provides guidance on performance training delivery and adherence to program objectives.
• Serves as the primary liaison between the satellite training site and internal/external partners (e.g. NPS leadership parks academies federal/state/local agencies) ensuring alignment of training needs expectations and program requirements.
• Ensures all program components comply with federal law enforcement standards NPS policy and applicable regulations; conducts ongoing assessment of program effectiveness and implements improvements to strengthen trainee preparedness for NPS law enforcement duties.

Temporary Promotion/Detail Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates applying for a temporary promotion/detail must meet all qualification requirements including time-in-grade qualification requirements.

Detail Requirements - Career or career-conditional candidates must meet qualification requirements however candidates are not required to meet the time-in-grade qualification requirements of this position. Details also apply to current employees who hold the full performance level of the position (GS-11) or higher grade level on a permanent basis. While on detail the employee continues to hold their official position from which detailed and keeps the same status and grade.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Any individual who is currently holding or has held within the previous 52 weeks a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments and must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit possess and maintain a valid drivers license throughout employment.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• A physical examination will be required or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You must at least 21 years old. You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year 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 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 individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be 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.

*Additional Requirements located under Qualifications*

Requirements Continued...

• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• Firearm qualification and certification are required for the role and ongoing proficiency must be maintained.
• Prior to appointment you must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties pass a medical examination and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment selectees will be tested in all five components and must pass the agility run bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile.

Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 07/29/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300 Subpart F.

For current Federal employees if hours worked per week are not included on your resume you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized 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 periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. 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.

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s) you will be rated not qualified.

• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years) a valid Type I National Park Service Law Enforcement Commission or equivalent by 07/29/2026. More information can be found in the Education section of this job announcement.
• This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). In addition to the qualifying experience and/or education described above applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent.

Candidates who do not meet these requirements by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.

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Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

GS-13 Grade Level Experience: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

• Experience at this level must include ALL of the following:
  • 1) performing law enforcement duties for the protection conservation use and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations which involved the application of law enforcement authorities and procedures to protect visitors and resources; providing law enforcement or investigative services which include apprehending detaining detection and prosecution of individuals; applying knowledge of applicable laws regulations policies and areas of jurisdiction when serving as a person with law enforcement authority; responding to accidents emergencies and/or natural disaster; using precautionary methods and techniques while patrolling to mitigate any crimes or violations of the law;
  • 2) planning administering or directing a structured law enforcement training or field-training program including curriculum oversight instructor coordination trainee evaluation or training quality assurance;
  • 3) supervising leading or providing formal performance evaluation of law enforcement officers instructors or field training staff in a professional policing environment; and
  • 4) creating delivering or validating law enforcement training content assessment methods performance standards or qualification processes for sworn officers.

Resume must include hours per week worked.

You must include months years & hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. 1 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. Experience listed as full-time will be credited at 40 hours per week.

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.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual at managerial discretion providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations 630).

All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees their spouses & minor children may not acquire or retain any claim permit lease small tract entry or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here DOI Ethics Prohibitions U.S. Department of the Interior.

Education

Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years) a FLETC issued Land Management Police Training full Type I Law Enforcement Commission or equivalent; or be qualified to receive a National Park Service Type I Law Enforcement Commission upon appointment.

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Physical Demands: Many assignments regularly require long periods of standing hiking &/or climbing in many cases on uneven steep rough slippery &/or rugged terrain. Strenuous exertion is frequently required in law enforcement firefighting search & rescue & with medical & related emergency activities. Lifting or carrying equipment over 50 pounds such as firefighting or search & rescue equipment is required. These duties are performed either during the instruction of others or in performance of the duties on an individual basis. Duties involve performing physical rigorous assignments often in isolated outdoor environments & occasionally exposed to severe weather conditions. Dangerous persons must be physically confronted subdued & apprehended; many of whom are known to carry weapons. Prisoners must be kept under physical restraint during transport & processing. Criminal investigations & emergency incidents often must be managed without regard to fixed work schedules days off or opportunities for proper rest or nutrition. Physical fitness requirements must be met prior to & on a continuing basis during employment. Must maintain compliance with RM-57 arduous duty physical requirements & successfully participate in the physical efficient battery test. There is a high stress component to some of the incumbents work assignments.

Working Environment: While much of the work is performed in an office setting some of the work is performed outdoors in all kinds of weather & climatic conditions. The work is performed at various hours of the day & night & for prolonged periods during emergency situations. The incumbent is frequently exposed to high risk & potentially dangerous situations in law enforcement & 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 & other precautions. Incumbent is required to obtain & maintain a valid state operators license in order to operate required motorized vehicles. May be required to fly in either fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft &/or may be required to operate &/or ride in all types of watercraft. Emergency law enforcement operations will require entry into hazardous environments exposure to dangerous persons animals & substances & potential exposure to infectious diseases. Emergency service & law enforcement work requires entry into hazardous environments exposure to dangerous persons animals & substances & potential exposure to infectious diseases. Long periods of surveillance work may be required in cramped or unpleasant locations & under unpleasant conditions. A wide range of personal protective equipment & clothing is (some of which may be uncomfortable hot or inconvenient to wear) is required to be used & worn. Adherence to specific safety procedures & other precautions is required.

Applicants who include vulgar offensive or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.