Summary
You will serve as a Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection) at Shenandoah National Park.
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Duties
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This permanent full-time position serves as the Chief of the Division of Ranger Activities at Shenandoah National Park (SHEN). The Division includes operational services that support resource protection, resource education and public use management services through law enforcement, wildland fire, search and rescue. emergency medical, dispatch communications, fee collection and other related activities. The Chief Park Ranger is responsible for the supervision and management of all personnel, funds, and assets under the programs previously listed to ensure that SHEN resources and visitors served and protected.
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:
- Manage a visitor protection program that includes both public safety and resource protection, Law Enforcement (LE), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Emergency Services (EMS).
- Provide technical assistance and oversight to field-level personnel as they respond to complex incidents involving trauma and medical emergencies, visitor fatalities, remote search and technical rescues in park Wilderness, custodial arrests, violation notices and written warnings, law enforcement reports evidence collections and suspect interviews in support of complex criminal
investigations.
- Exercise the full range of supervisory duties; work with subordinate staff to execute established work plans and establish work schedules and priorities.
- Prepares long range budget planning documents, staffing level requirements, and position management plans for ONPS budgets, FLREA, and other non-ONPS fund sources.
- Exercise tact, diplomacy, and empathy to provide information and assistance, as well as resolve conflicts, while interacting with management, staff, park partners, and the public through telephone and personal interaction.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
*Additional Requirements located under Qualifications*
Qualifications
Requirements Continued...
Probationary Period: 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.
Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/18/2026-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 1 National Park service Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by 08/18/2026. 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.
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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-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: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the federal service:
(1) managing or leading law enforcement and resource protection program;
(2) evaluating law enforcement program activities based on funding to determining objectives, amount and location of work, as well as type of resources needed for the program;
(3) interpreting regulations and policy directives related to law enforcement and natural resource protection;
(4) reviewing law enforcement case reports to ensure compliance with policy, mutual aid agreements, cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding; AND/OR
(5) investigating criminal activity, conducting investigations of applicable Federal or state laws, and performing training /instructor responsibilities.
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
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 1 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.
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:
The position is required to meet medical standards and participate in a physical fitness program as described in RM-57. Work frequently requires sitting at a desk or table and conducting business in an office environment. Assignments often require working long hours during emergencies and in
stressful situations. The work infrequently includes long periods of standing, hiking, and/or climbing in much case on uneven, steep, rough, slippery, and/or rugged terrain.
Work Environment:
The work environment ranges from sedentary office work to fieldwork with exposure to severe natural elements. Work is done in temperatures which may range from below freezing to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and may be perfonned in high humidity, snow, sleet, rain and high winds and at
elevations ranging from 500 feet to over 4.000 feet above sea level. Managerial demands occasionally require extended hours. both day and night. and often with short deadlines which can cause elevated stress levels.
The duties of this position are suitable not suitable for telework.
You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 25% per month.
You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
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. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). 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. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) 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 responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are 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 informati
