Protection Ranger Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
You will serve as the Chief Ranger which is responsible for planning, directing, and executing all park programs dealing with visitor and resource protection within the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Visitor and Resource Protection Division.
This announcement has been extended and will close on 9/22/2026.
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Duties
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• Serves as the principal advisor to the Superintendent relative to visitor and resource protection issues and assists the Superintendent with a variety of park management assignments.
• Directly supervises one GS-11 Protection Ranger, two GS-09 Protection Rangers, and one Park Ranger (PSAR).
• Plans work schedules and sequences of operations on a long-range basis.
• Revises work schedules and goals to meet changes in workload, and assures coordination of work schedules and operations among subordinate units and with other divisions when activities affect the whole park.
• Reviews resource requirements data and other material for proper determination of what staffing, equipment, space requirement, materials and other resources are needed to accomplish the mission of the division. Adjusts figures based on overall determination of needs.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's 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 are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• 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
• You must at least 21 years old. You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
• Must maintain a delegation of law enforcement authority.
• 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.
• This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.

*Additional Requirements located under Qualifications*
Qualifications
Requirements Continued...
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
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, 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 - 09/22/2026-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 NPS Type I Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by 09/22/2026. 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. 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.
• Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 09/22/2026.

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Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:.
To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:
Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) leading a law enforcement or investigative program or employees; 2) interpreting regulations and policy directives related to law enforcement and natural resource protection; 3) providing input to and/or evaluating law enforcement or resource protection program for short- and long-term planning of operational needs; OR 4) serving as Incident Commander or Operations Chief on all-hazard operations (e.g., emergency services, search and rescue, special security events, etc.).
You must include hours per week 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.
Education
Type I 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 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.
You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
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, and 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.
Physical Demands/Work Environment: Occasionally required to exert strenuous physical effort in law enforcement activities, search and rescue, emergency services, wildland and structural fire control, etc. The employee must meet the required fitness standards for law enforcement personnel. Incumbent must be in good physical and emotional health, capable of sustained strenuous physical activity and effective decision making under extremely stressful conditions. Many duties will be performed indoors in an office setting and the employee will often be working for long periods at a desk. The work environment involves potential exposure to extreme outdoor weather/temperature conditions of all kinds and involves high risk of exposure to potentially dangerous situations such as law enforcement physical confrontations, high angle rescue hazards, fire protection on
uncontrolled fires and wildlife encounters.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
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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.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
This is a secondary/administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, applicants must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to a secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. 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. For FERS eligibility, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding three days) from a primary position to a secondary position, complete three years of service in a primary rigorous position-including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld-and must be continuously employed in a secondary position 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 applicant's responsibility to ensure this office has sufficient information to determine retirement status and prevent loss of benefits, typically by submitting an SF-50 or other documentation demonstrating work history in approved covered positions. Applicants must inform human resources if they are currently in a primary position.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.