Address
Form of workSummary
This position is located in the Division of Interpretation and serves as the Deputy Chief at Independence National Historical Park responsible for strategic recruitment and retention efforts for a large and complex work group. The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Interpretation and is responsible for the management of a complex operation of interpretation, visitor services, and education programming across the park with a focus on program development, program evaluation, and coaching.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Former Public Land Corp (PLC) Member, Interchange Agreement.
Videos
Duties
Serves as the Deputy Chief of Interpretation at Independence National Historical Park, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, and Thaddeus Kosciusko National Memorial by planning, directing, managing, staffing, and evaluating all personal interpretive and education services and activities either directly or through subordinate staff.
The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Interpretation is responsible for the management of a complex operation of interpretation, visitor services, and education programming across the three parks with a focus on program development, program evaluation, and coaching. The incumbent also manages staff training and professional development and ensures the workgroup is respectful, inclusive, safe, and engaged through both administrative efforts (recruitment, hiring, staff support) and public programming.
This position has oversight of daily operations and visitor services. The Deputy Chief directly supervises two key positions, the Operations Supervisor and the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator and periodically supervisors several support staff. The incumbent has indirect responsibility for several Supervisory Park Rangers and permanent/ temporary Park Rangers, Park Guides, and an Administrative Support Assistant, as well as Volunteers-in-Parks.
Participates as an active member of the Interpretation Leadership Team in establishing or implementing policy, evaluating division operations, and implementing changes based on findings; recommending management directions, priorities, goals, and objectives and methods of aligning with and accomplishing them; preparing a wide range of reports; and determining issues to be addressed and methods for managing issue-specific actions. Uses professionally vetted and relevant studies in monitoring the preferences and needs of the audiences and populations served through personal interpretive activities and products.
Coordinates management of the multi-million-dollar field operations budget. Analyzes data from a variety of sources and collaborates in the development of budget strategies, allocates fiscal resources based on visitation and resource issues and needs; and ensures the efficient, effective, and accountable use of funds consistent with park and division priorities.
Exercises the full scope of supervisory responsibilities for a large and diverse staff. Directs, guides, and mentors five or more subordinate supervisors in the performance of supervisory, human resources, and employee relations functions.
Coordinates community engagement programming manages the parkwide volunteer program (through subordinate staff) and other partner-related activities related to personal interpretive services and visitor experience.
Park Ranger Interpreter: The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by Park Ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/25/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying 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 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. 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.
To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Manage, plan, develop, and direct a large park's personal interpretive and education services such as visitor center operations at multiple locations, informal interpretive services aka roving or field contact interpretation provided in a large geographic area with widely dispersed locations, formal interpretive offerings such as walks, talks, hikes, programs, tours, demonstrations, and special events; community outreach activities/programs, and collaborative, interdisciplinary/operational functions and activities such as those involved with visitor use management (traffic management, natural and cultural resource protection through education). Perform the full range of supervisory duties for a large and diverse staff including position management, hiring, performance management, employee development, and recruitment/retention planning and implementation, and handling employee relations issues at all levels of seriousness and disciplinary actions. Coordinates with a wide variety of park, regional, and national partners. Collaborates with Senior Management and subject matter experts in the development of budgets, tracking, monitoring, and accountability for expenditures, determining and reporting on efficient use of funds and developing funding requests based on operational data and in conformity with park priorities and goals. 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.
Physical Demands: Work is sedentary, requiring no unusual physical exertion. Sufficient mobility is required to inspect physical resources and monitor interpretive/education programs. Incumbent may spend periods standing, walking, talking, and using computer equipment. The work requires sound judgment, emotional stability, and sound decision-making ability sometimes under highly stressful situations.
Working Conditions: Most work is performed within the office environment, but will also involve travel to partner sites, historical sites in the park and nearby and some outside activity with moderate risks and discomfort in hot, cold, windy, and inclement weather.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.
Additional information
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.
A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) under P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.
Current appointees:
This position is located in the Division of Interpretation and serves as the Deputy Chief at Independence National Historical Park responsible for strategic recruitment and retention efforts for a large and complex work group. The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Interpretation and is responsible for the management of a complex operation of interpretation, visitor services, and education programming across the park with a focus on program development, program evaluation, and coaching.
This job is open to
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee. - Federal employees - Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees. - Individuals with disabilities
- Land & base management
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency. - Military spouses
- Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
- Special authorities
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations. - Veterans
Clarification from the agency
Former Public Land Corp (PLC) Member, Interchange Agreement.
Videos
Duties
Serves as the Deputy Chief of Interpretation at Independence National Historical Park, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, and Thaddeus Kosciusko National Memorial by planning, directing, managing, staffing, and evaluating all personal interpretive and education services and activities either directly or through subordinate staff.
The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Interpretation is responsible for the management of a complex operation of interpretation, visitor services, and education programming across the three parks with a focus on program development, program evaluation, and coaching. The incumbent also manages staff training and professional development and ensures the workgroup is respectful, inclusive, safe, and engaged through both administrative efforts (recruitment, hiring, staff support) and public programming.
This position has oversight of daily operations and visitor services. The Deputy Chief directly supervises two key positions, the Operations Supervisor and the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator and periodically supervisors several support staff. The incumbent has indirect responsibility for several Supervisory Park Rangers and permanent/ temporary Park Rangers, Park Guides, and an Administrative Support Assistant, as well as Volunteers-in-Parks.
Participates as an active member of the Interpretation Leadership Team in establishing or implementing policy, evaluating division operations, and implementing changes based on findings; recommending management directions, priorities, goals, and objectives and methods of aligning with and accomplishing them; preparing a wide range of reports; and determining issues to be addressed and methods for managing issue-specific actions. Uses professionally vetted and relevant studies in monitoring the preferences and needs of the audiences and populations served through personal interpretive activities and products.
Coordinates management of the multi-million-dollar field operations budget. Analyzes data from a variety of sources and collaborates in the development of budget strategies, allocates fiscal resources based on visitation and resource issues and needs; and ensures the efficient, effective, and accountable use of funds consistent with park and division priorities.
Exercises the full scope of supervisory responsibilities for a large and diverse staff. Directs, guides, and mentors five or more subordinate supervisors in the performance of supervisory, human resources, and employee relations functions.
Coordinates community engagement programming manages the parkwide volunteer program (through subordinate staff) and other partner-related activities related to personal interpretive services and visitor experience.
Park Ranger Interpreter: The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by Park Ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
- Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
- Time-in-Grade: 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. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
- Incidental Driving: You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
- Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
- Probationary Period: If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/25/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying 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 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. 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.
To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Manage, plan, develop, and direct a large park's personal interpretive and education services such as visitor center operations at multiple locations, informal interpretive services aka roving or field contact interpretation provided in a large geographic area with widely dispersed locations, formal interpretive offerings such as walks, talks, hikes, programs, tours, demonstrations, and special events; community outreach activities/programs, and collaborative, interdisciplinary/operational functions and activities such as those involved with visitor use management (traffic management, natural and cultural resource protection through education). Perform the full range of supervisory duties for a large and diverse staff including position management, hiring, performance management, employee development, and recruitment/retention planning and implementation, and handling employee relations issues at all levels of seriousness and disciplinary actions. Coordinates with a wide variety of park, regional, and national partners. Collaborates with Senior Management and subject matter experts in the development of budgets, tracking, monitoring, and accountability for expenditures, determining and reporting on efficient use of funds and developing funding requests based on operational data and in conformity with park priorities and goals. 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.
Physical Demands: Work is sedentary, requiring no unusual physical exertion. Sufficient mobility is required to inspect physical resources and monitor interpretive/education programs. Incumbent may spend periods standing, walking, talking, and using computer equipment. The work requires sound judgment, emotional stability, and sound decision-making ability sometimes under highly stressful situations.
Working Conditions: Most work is performed within the office environment, but will also involve travel to partner sites, historical sites in the park and nearby and some outside activity with moderate risks and discomfort in hot, cold, windy, and inclement weather.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.
Additional information
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.
A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) under P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.
Current appointees:
- Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency;
- Must have served under 1or...
