Wilderness Ranger Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Summary
You will serve as a Park Ranger (OHV) (Seasonal) with the California Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office located in El Centro, California.
We expect to fill 2 Seasonal Park Ranger (OHV) vacancies.
Applicants will get a response from this announcement by approximately September 2026.
Note: These are NOT Law Enforcement positions.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Responds to OHV emergency situations.
• Works with the public to provide OHV information, conduct permit compliance, and safety inspections.
• Greets riders and provides visitor information and education concerning responsible OHV use on public lands.
• Monitors use for compliance with BLM travel plan rules and regulations, monitor for resource damage to roads/trails and are responsible for trail maintenance.
• Performs maintenance and monitoring of off-highway vehicle use areas.
• Conducts Wilderness Study Area and dispersed recreation site management.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• 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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.

• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must possess and maintain a certification.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing are 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 the uniform standards.
• This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work and may also require weekend and holidays.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To receive credit for experience, 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
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. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified:

• Must possess a current National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT), EMT or higher-level, certification, by the close date of this announcement. You MUST provide your certificate/card in your application. -OR-
• Must possess a current and valid California State EMT License and Certification. You MUST provide your certificate/card in your application.

Minimum Qualifications: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
At the GS-07 Level: One-year specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-5 level. Examples of specialized experience include experience as a park guide or tour leader; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; forestry or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; explaining regulations to park visitors; providing information and advice on park activities and resources; maintaining recreation facilities or trails; monitoring special recreation permits; or assisting with supervision of seasonal recreation technicians. Specialized experience will include basic knowledge of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use on public lands or similar environment. -OR-
Education: Successful completion of at least one year of graduate level study (18 hours) in directly related fields such as natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. You must include transcripts. -OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience and education to meet total experience.
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
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification
Additional information
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
Physical Demands: The work is performed mostly outdoors in rugged terrain; to include very steep, wet, muddy, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces. The position requires physical exertion such as, but not limited to, driving over unpaved roads, walking over rough terrain or inclines, standing for long periods of time, bending, crouching and stooping, digging, hiking, lifting, biking, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. Work may involve early morning hours, night hours, or daytime hours and may require working on holidays. It can require carrying heavy backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, or other loads.
Work Environment: Most work will be performed out of doors, in all types of weather conditions, terrain, and elevations. Work may take place in an extremely remote environment and may require primitive camping and living skills for upwards of two weeks in duration. Indoor duties are performed in a normal office setting.
All Department of 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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Temporary positions not-to-exceed 1039 regular hours in a service year may be terminated sooner or extended depending on management needs. Individuals selected under this vacancy announcement are eligible for the possibility of extensions or rehire in subsequent service years.
Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Please note that a temporary seasonal employee can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of 1,039 hours anywhere in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (BLM).
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months, and have already worked the maximum 1,039 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1,039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1,039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1,039 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.
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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.
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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.