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This position is located in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, in Mosca, Colorado, and serves as the Chief of Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services for the park.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Current Department of Interior Career or Career-Conditional Employees in the competitive service; Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibles; CTAP eligible in the local commuting area.
Videos
Duties
This position serves as the Chief of the Division of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, with overall responsibility for the planning and management of Interpretation and Visitor Services Program, Education and Outreach Programs, Volunteer-in-Parks Program, and Public Information services.
You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Physical demands are varied. The majority of work involves periods of sedentary activity: reading, writing, editing, and analyzing written materials, using a computer keyboard, mouse, and screen, and meeting and conferring with others. Work performed outdoors may involve walking, hiking, bending, carrying reasonable loads, lifting, and standing for long periods. Occasional situations, i.e. special events, public meetings, etc. require the ability to function effectively for periods beyond the conventional eight hour work day.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The park's front country area is located at an elevation of approximately 8170 feet above sea level. Considerable time is spent in an indoor office setting. Outside work sites can involve rugged terrain and tend to be subject to sudden changes in weather conditions with extended periods of intense sun, heat, snow and sub-zero temperatures. There are occasions of moderate exposure to risk situations, such as exposure to dust, slippery footing conditions, high winds and extreme temperatures in excess of -30 and above 90 degrees F.
AREA INFORMATION: Nestled in southern Colorado, North America's tallest dunes rise over 750 feet high against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This geologic wonderland, containing over 30 square miles of massive dunes, became a national monument in 1932. With the passage of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act in 2000, resources now also include alpine lakes and tundra, six peaks over 13,000 feet in elevation, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands and wetlands all habitat for diverse wildlife and plant species. The city of Alamosa, Colorado, is 35 miles from the park and offers a full range of shopping, medical facilities, and other amenities.
Government (park) housing is not available.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/11/2023-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.
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as:1) supervising a park interpretive program; 2) serving as a lead interpretive ranger, environmental educator or teacher in a park, recreation, or conservation area; 3) management or program specialist work involving the development and/or implementation of policy related to the interpretation or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work. . 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
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.
Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.
Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
This position is located in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, in Mosca, Colorado, and serves as the Chief of Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services for the park.
This job is open to
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee. - Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of this agency. - Land & base management
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
Clarification from the agency
Current Department of Interior Career or Career-Conditional Employees in the competitive service; Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibles; CTAP eligible in the local commuting area.
Videos
Duties
This position serves as the Chief of the Division of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, with overall responsibility for the planning and management of Interpretation and Visitor Services Program, Education and Outreach Programs, Volunteer-in-Parks Program, and Public Information services.
- Works collaboratively with the Superintendent and other Division Chiefs to provide leadership for the park,
- Provides direct supervision for five permanent employees (two permanent Park Rangers, one career seasonal Park Ranger (Education Specialist), two permanent Park Guides) as well as second line supervision for one to three seasonal staff, volunteers, and interns.
- Responsible for the management, overall direction and supervision of the park's Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services Program, as well as the Volunteer in Parks program and Public Information Services. This includes responsibility for the Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services financial program, including appropriated funds and additional special project funding.
- Plans, evaluates, and supervises park's interpretive services, including operation of the Visitor's Center, exhibits, digital and social media, special events, and recurring interpretive and educational programs.
- Serves as the park's Public Information Officer.
- Develops, maintains, and expands partnerships with a wide variety of partners and cooperators, including cooperating associations, Federal, state and local agencies, and non-profit, commercial, private, and professional organizations. This includes serving as the park's liaison with the Friends of the Dunes, and Western National Parks Association (WNPA).
You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Physical demands are varied. The majority of work involves periods of sedentary activity: reading, writing, editing, and analyzing written materials, using a computer keyboard, mouse, and screen, and meeting and conferring with others. Work performed outdoors may involve walking, hiking, bending, carrying reasonable loads, lifting, and standing for long periods. Occasional situations, i.e. special events, public meetings, etc. require the ability to function effectively for periods beyond the conventional eight hour work day.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The park's front country area is located at an elevation of approximately 8170 feet above sea level. Considerable time is spent in an indoor office setting. Outside work sites can involve rugged terrain and tend to be subject to sudden changes in weather conditions with extended periods of intense sun, heat, snow and sub-zero temperatures. There are occasions of moderate exposure to risk situations, such as exposure to dust, slippery footing conditions, high winds and extreme temperatures in excess of -30 and above 90 degrees F.
AREA INFORMATION: Nestled in southern Colorado, North America's tallest dunes rise over 750 feet high against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This geologic wonderland, containing over 30 square miles of massive dunes, became a national monument in 1932. With the passage of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act in 2000, resources now also include alpine lakes and tundra, six peaks over 13,000 feet in elevation, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands and wetlands all habitat for diverse wildlife and plant species. The city of Alamosa, Colorado, is 35 miles from the park and offers a full range of shopping, medical facilities, and other amenities.
Government (park) housing is not available.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
- Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
- 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). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
- 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.
- You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
- If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
- You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally . You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
- The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/11/2023-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.
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as:1) supervising a park interpretive program; 2) serving as a lead interpretive ranger, environmental educator or teacher in a park, recreation, or conservation area; 3) management or program specialist work involving the development and/or implementation of policy related to the interpretation or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work. . 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
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.
Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
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.
- 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.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.
Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
- Communications and Media
- Financial Management
- Leadership
- Manages Human Resources
- Planning and Eval...
