- Position Title
- Park Ranger (Protection)
- Agency
- National Park Service
- Announcement Number
- SE-1630-GRSM-25-12733652-MP Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025 to Tuesday, June 3, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
2.
Are you a current career/career-conditional National Park Service Federal employee and meet the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibility:
Current National Park Service Federal employee with a career or career- conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced.
To verify your eligibility as a current National Park Service Federal employee, you must provide a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your competitive status showing that you are a current National Park Service employee. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
Current National Park Service Federal employee with a career or career- conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced.
To verify your eligibility as a current National Park Service Federal employee, you must provide a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your competitive status showing that you are a current National Park Service employee. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
3.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
4.
Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) who:
To verify your eligibility, you must provide documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
For more information, review Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).
- was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,
- served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and,
- performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,
- if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and departed that position in good standing.
To verify your eligibility, you must provide documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
For more information, review Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).
5.
Are you a current career/career-conditional National Park Service Federal employee and meet the following Non-competitive Merit Promotion Eligibility:
Current National Park Service Federal employee with a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced.
To verify your eligibility as a National Park Service Federal employee, you must provide a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your competitive status showing that you are a current National Park Service employee. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
Current National Park Service Federal employee with a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced.
To verify your eligibility as a National Park Service Federal employee, you must provide a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your competitive status showing that you are a current National Park Service employee. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
Preferences
1.
Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.
2.
My performance is at an acceptable level and I am not serving under a formal Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).
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.
3.
When you applied to this job, did you have any engagement with a National Park Service (NPS) Recruiter?
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Park Ranger (Protection), GS-0025-11 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Your responses to this questionnaire, in conjunction with the other portions of your completed application, will be evaluated to determine your qualifications for this position. Please carefully follow all instructions before submitting your responses. If you change a response, be certain to erase (unclick) the incorrect response before you submit the application. Once you have submitted your application, items with more than one response or items that are left blank will not receive credit. This is a federal job application system. Providing false information or failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely may be grounds for not hiring, for disbarment from federal employment, or for dismissal after you begin work. Falsifying a federal job application, attempting to violate the privacy of others, or attempting to compromise the operation of this system may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.
Time-in-Grade Requirement- Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS-11 grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For this vacancy, applicants must have held a GS-09 or equivalent level for at least one year to be eligible for the GS-11 grade level of this position. Provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" to indicate your current federal status. You must also submit additional SF-50(s) to clearly demonstrate one year time-in-grade as required in the announcement. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time-in-grade. In this instance, you should provide an additional SF-50 to clearly demonstrate one year time-in-grade.
BASIC EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION SECTION: It is important that your application package submitted, including a resume or application form, clearly shows how you possess the experience and skills levels you claim in this questionnaire. Each of your responses must be clearly supported by your education, training, and/or specific work experience you describe in your application packet submitted for this position (application form or resume, transcripts, list and description of training completed, and/or other items you submit). If not, your score will be lowered, or you will be found not qualified. The information you provide will be verified. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible, not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.
1.
From the description below, select the one response that best describes how your background meets the basic experience or education requirements for the Park Ranger (Protection), GS-0025-11 position. Read all the responses before making your selection. If you do not meet the requirements of this question or leave this question blank, you will be rated ineligible. NOTE: Your resume must support the response you select.
2.
This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position. Please select the response below that best describes how you meet this requirement.
3.
In addition to the requirements in the questions above, selectees must possess or be able to obtain a Type I Law Enforcement Commission by entrance on duty date, which requires successful completion of an approved Law Enforcement Training Program. Please select the response below that best describes your qualifications in this area. If you do not meet the requirements of this selective factor, you will be rated ineligible for the position. Applicants must document how they meet this requirement, as indicated below, to be considered qualified for this position.
COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE SECTION: For the questions below, please select from A through E to indicate the skill level that you possess for each task listed. The questions were developed based on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to perform the work of this position. Be sure to describe your experience that supports your answers to the questions below, in your resume or application materials. It is important that your application package submitted, including a resume or application form, clearly shows how you possess the experience and skill levels you claim in this questionnaire. Each of your responses must be clearly supported by your education, training, and/or specific work experience you describe in your application packet submitted for this position (application form or resume, transcripts, list and description of training completed and/or other items you submit). If not, your score will be lowered or you will be found not qualified. The information you provide will be verified. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible, not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. A- I have not had education, training or experience in performing this task. B- I have had education or training in performing this task, but I have not yet performed it on the job. C- I have performed this task on the job, with close supervision from supervisor or senior employee. D- I have performed this task as a regular part of a job, independently and usually without supervision from senior employee. E- I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist or train them in doing this task because of my expertise.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Coordinate with attorneys and agency personnel in preparation for prosecutions and testify in federal or state court.
5.
Represent the organization in meetings, assemblies, and other sessions with various stakeholders for the purpose of explaining or defending the park's position on often controversial and complex resource and public use issues.
6.
Cultivate relationships with Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to improve cooperation, coordination, and communication.
7.
Maintain/track expenditures or budget.
8.
Maintain an accountable inventory.
9.
Address career development methods (training, awards, promotions, recognition, individual development plan (IDP)) with subordinate staff.
10.
Evaluate the performance of subordinate staff and complete appraisals.
11.
Address performance and conduct issues.
12.
Demonstrate understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, and concern in handling contentious or stressful situations.
13.
Supervise subordinate staff.
14.
Develop work plans (sets objectives and goals).
15.
Provide routine safety information to employees and participate in the safety program.
16.
Familiar with safety reporting procedures (CA-1 / CA-16, safety management information system (SMIS)).
17.
Provide advice and guidance to subordinates and management on the progress and impact of potential or proposed activities and programs.
18.
Serve in establishing and evaluating work plans, schedules goals, objectives and outcomes within a work unit.
19.
Manage a visitor protection program that includes both public safety and resource protection, Law Enforcement (LE), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Emergency Services (EMS).
20.
Serve as Incident Commander (or command or general staff position) on a major Search and Rescue (SAR), special operation, special event, or incident lasting more than one operational period.
21.
Serve as a sworn or commissioned law enforcement officer issuing citations and making arrests related to offenses against people, property, and resources.
22.
Lead complex resource crime or felony investigations.
23.
Process crime scenes, collect and secure evidence.
24.
Conduct investigations into theft of cultural resources, poaching, and other natural resource crimes.
25.
Research threats against natural or cultural resources at risk and prepare protection plans.
26.
Monitor or enforce special use permits (film, collection, special events, research permits).
27.
Manage a complex Search and Rescue (SAR) program.
28.
Lead initial attack on a wildland fire.
29.
Emergency Medical certification.
30.
Manage a district or park Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program.
31.
Lead operations in land search missions.
QUESTIONNAIRE THAT MEASURES APPLICANTS' TECHNICAL EXPERTISE SECTION: In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a QTMATE (Questionnaire that Measures Applicants Technical Expertise). These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.
32.
What is the name of the park/unit level document that incorporates the provisions of 36 CFR 1.7(b), the Superintendent shall compile in writing all the designations, closures, permit requirements and other restrictions imposed under discretionary authority?
33.
Per RM-9 Chapter 10B for a Category 2 use of force, how long do supervisors have to review and approve a completed Use of Force Form and general narrative within the LE RMS?
34.
What is the formal court process called where the prosecution and the defense disclose information about the witnesses and evidence they will present at trial?
35.
According to RM-9, Legislative Jurisdiction is defined as: "The authority of a ________ to make and enforce laws of _______ applicability"?
36.
An Electronic Control Device (ECD) that is pointed at a subject but not deployed falls under what use of force category?
37.
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001), my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 CFR part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.