Student Trainee (Park Ranger)

Summary
About the Position: Position(s) will be filled under the Department of the Army Pathways Intern Program. Click here for more information on Pathways program participation.
Receives formal, informal and on-the job training by completing routine day-to-day duties that involve some specialized skill and judgement while supporting ranger staff at a recreational facility. Position is located within the Huntington District Army Corps of Engineers at Summersville Lake located in Summersville WV.
This job is open to

• Students
  Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.

Clarification from the agency
See "Who May Apply" in the "Qualifications" section for more information on who is eligible to apply for this position.
Videos
Duties

• Pathways Internship positions provide for development and training. Assignments become more responsible as incumbent increases knowledge and skills through work experience and academic training. At the full-performance level, you will be expected to:
• Providing interpretive services to the general public (i.e., leading project tours, answering general questions at a visitor center information counter, orienting people to recreation area, etc.)
• Providing visitor assistance.
• Enforcing title-36 regulation (i.e., park rules).
• Performing natural resources management tasks such as invasive plant removal, boundary line patrols and maintenance.
• Perform minor park maintenance and upkeep of facilities.
• Work with park volunteers to accomplish tasks.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Two year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Pre-employment physical required.
• Required to possess a valid State motor vehicle operator's license prior to appointment and maintain the license for the duration of employment.
• A valid State motor vehicle operator's license prior to appointment and maintain the license for the duration of employment is required.
• Requires work in all types of weather (e.g., heat, cold, rain, wind, etc.).
• Requires USACE uniform in accordance with EP 1130-2-550 (Engineering Pamphlets) Chapter 8 and LRD appearance standards during routine work situations.
• Shift work is required; days of operation and typical daily schedules may vary.
• May be required to alternate working hours on all shifts, during work week including weekends and holidays. Work hours may be reduced or eliminated during periods of school attendance.
• Must receive a minimum of 24 hours of agency-provided personal protection /unarmed self-defense, situational evaluation and tactical communication training within two years of employment.
• Required to obtain and maintain a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification and complete First Aid and blood-borne pathogen training.

Qualifications
Who May Apply: Students who are eligible for participation in the Department of the Army Internship Program
Positions are open to current students pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution on at least a half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled). Short-term training programs (e.g., several two-week programs completed) are not considered an academic course of study.
Internship for current students in good standing at an accredited education.
For this internship, you must be able to work full-time when not attending classes (i.e., summers, fall and spring breaks, etc.) and as much as feasible when classes are in session. You must be available to work in the geographic location of the advertised job while still maintaining a student status.
This intern position is designed to prepare a Student Trainee for employment after graduation as a Park Ranger . Interns will be assigned tasks designed to increase familiarity with the target occupation in a real world work environment.
This opportunity follows a standard promotional path:

1. Internship selection will be made at the GS-03 or GS-04. These grade levels are what typical college students in their 2nd or 3rd year may qualify.
2. Within 120 days after completion of Internship requirements, you may be eligible for conversion to the entry-level for the target occupation. The actual grade level at the time of conversion depends on academic achievement and other factors.
3. The full performance level of this position is GS-05.
4. Progression from the entry-level to the full performance level for this occupation will depend on successful completion of all requirements for promotion. Promotions may be considered after a year at each grade level, but are not guaranteed to occur on a specific time schedule.

See requirements for conversion to permanent or term position in the "Additional Information" section below.
To qualify for a Pathways Internship as a GS-03, students must have completed one full academic year of post-high school study.
To qualify for a Pathways Internship as a GS-04, students must have completed two full academic years of post-high school study or have an associate's degree.
For qualification purposes, an academic year is computed as follows:

• At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. Four years of progressive study or 120 semester hours meets the degree requirements. Additional credit cannot be given for duplicate course work.
• For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school.
• An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
• When academic credit is expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the appropriate institution in order to equate them to the semester or quarter hours specified in the standard.

NOTE: If your college, vocational, trade, technical or high schools' definition of "academic year" differs from above, you must submit proof of this difference (e.g., copy of course catalog that defines an academic year). Absent this documentation, you will screened for academic qualifications based on the academic hours as defined in the bullets above.
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• Grade Point Average

Education
For this internship, you must be a current student majoring in an academic program that is closely related to the duties of the position being filled. Major study natural resource management, environmental science, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, education, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. .
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
This is a student internship opportunity. Your transcripts are a required part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
Additional information

• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship, as applicable.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• This is a(n) Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Career Field position.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• You may claim military spouse preference.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• This position may require a mobility agreement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

Eligibility requirements for conversion to a permanent or term position. Interns must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen at the time of conversion;
• Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program prior to or concurrent with completion of academic requirements;
• Complete their educational requirements (as specified in the announcement);
• Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standard, including any applicable positive education requirement and/or selective placement factors and any other special qualifications requirements and conditions of employment (e.g. medical standards) appropriate for the specific competitive service position to which the intern will be converted;
• Successfully complete all the requirements of the Internship Program as defined in the agency-participant agreement; and
• Perform their job successfully as documented through performance evaluations and/or completion of an Individual Development Plan (IDP).

• Benefits
  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.
  Review our benefits
  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.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.
Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of two quality categories: Ideal Candidate and Eligible Candidate. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

• Ideal: This category will be used for those candidates who meet grade point average between 4.0 and 2.99 point scale.
• Eligible: This category will be used for those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications of the position.

• Benefits
  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.
  Review our benefits
  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.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A compl...