Visitor Services Assistant

Summary
Serve as representatives to answer questions and offer guidance. Monitor sites and maintain relations with park partners and concessions on roving patrols throughout National Parks.
Likely Entry On Duty: March-July 2024.
Open to the first 150 applicants.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the 12/10/2023 to be considered.
For more park(s) information, select "Learn more about this agency" below:
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
This announcement is for the National Capitol Area - Group 3. Please refer to the "Location" section to see which National Parks are included on this announcement.
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Duties
Visitor Services Assistant Standard Duties for GS-03:

• Provide Visitor Services including patrol, roving, fixed post assignments and public programs.
• Participate in day-to-day operation of a seasonal contact station.
• Site monitoring, and resource protection.
• Operates two-way radio equipment.
• Responds verbally to visitor inquiries, offering information and guidance.
• Public can include individuals who are distressed, confused, frustrated, difficult or even hostile.

Additional duties for GS-04:

• Monitors special use permits and maintains good relations with partner organizations, concessions and stakeholders.
• Relates effectively to people from varied cultural backgrounds and is sensitive to diversity, race, gender, religion, disabilities and other individual differences.
• Educates customers regarding rules, regulations, and safety concerns to ensure visitor safety and resource preservation.
• Direct visitors and the public with problems, questions, or complaints to appropriate resource.
• Assists in medical or other emergencies up to level of training.

Additional duties for GS-05:

• Provide informal interpretation and public orientation to a park or recreation area (e.g. current events, resource management or environmental projects, and overview of areas natural, cultural, and/or historical resources).
• Provide information to the public using information or materials on management policies and legislative updates on issues affecting the natural, historical, and/or cultural preservation of the area.
• Operate general computer software programs such as word processing, spreadsheet, or database (e.g. Excel, Access, Word, or similar operating systems).
• Gather information from reporting parties concerning accidents/incidents within the area to notify appropriate personnel.
• Assess a situation to determine the appropriate response in accordance with policy guidelines.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• Occupancy of government quarters may be required.
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
  
  • Use find a park to contact specific parks for more information on government housing.
• You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work.
• 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.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/10/2023 (unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement).
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For all applicants, 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. If you do not include hours worked per week (or indicate full-time status), you will not be given credit for that experience.
To qualify for this position at the GS-03 level, you must possess one of the following:
A. Six months of progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. General experience includes greeting the public, disseminating information, providing directions.
-OR-
B. One year of education above high school (30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university.
-OR-
C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
To qualify for this position at the GS-04 level, you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates your ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. General experience includes greeting the public, disseminating information, providing directions and fee collection.
-OR-
B. Two years of education above high school (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university.
-OR-
C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 level, you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Visitor Services Assistant. Specialized experience includes providing information or assistance to the public in a business or recreation setting; instructing groups of people or individuals; compiling and analyzing information to report; greeting the public, disseminating information, providing directions, fee collection, and using software programs such as, word processing, spreadsheet, or database (e.g. Excel, Access, Word, or similar operating systems).
-OR-
B. Four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours). This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university.
-OR-
C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.
Education
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and that (1) deemed your education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program, or (2) given full credit for courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement will be used to fill one or more additional selections at anytime without notification.
Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wage to calculate locality pay.
Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) 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 (NPS).
If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 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 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.
Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Standing for long periods of time, walking, bending, lifting of moderately heavy items and sedentary work is required. Mental stress and physical fatigue occur due to high volume of personal contacts.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is often performed in small, outdoor structures with open windows which results in exposure to extreme temperatures, rain, snow, wind, and direct sunlight. Park areas may be geographically located in areas of high elevation, rugged terrain or dense populations. High levels of vehicle noise and emissions may exist during heavy visitation periods. Duties may be performed alone in isolated locations.

• 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.
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 will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veterans' preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10-percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the p...