Park Ranger (Preventative Search and Rescue)

Vacancy is being filled under the Field Unit Local hiring authority and is open only to residents in the local vicinity of the park. See "Additional Information" section below for eligibility details.

Position will be located in Bryce Canyon National Park in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division.

Position will be filled at the GS-7 grade, with a full performance level of GS-9.

This is a permanent career-seasonal position. See Duties section below for additional information.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/31/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must possess at least one of 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-5 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience performing duties for the protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations. Examples may include backcountry patrols to provide visitors with information and education to ensure their safety and safe use of park resources; report and/or assist with visitor issues/problems that may involve medical concerns; monitor special use permit compliance and threats to park resources; assist with park incidents/emergencies/etc. You MUST include hours per week worked. Failure to include hours worked per week may result in loss of consideration for the position.

-OR-

EDUCATION: At least one (1) year of graduate level study in directly-related fields such as natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. Course work in fields other than those specified may be accepted if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled. If qualifying with education, you MUST include your school transcript in your application packet.

-OR-

COMBINATION: An equivalent combination of education and experience. For example: I have six (6) months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement, and nine (9) semester hours of graduate level college study in a directly related field of study (50% of the related coursework required).

-OR-

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (SAA): Meet the criteria for Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) as evidenced by one of the three following methods (you must include transcripts). NOTE:In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in an undergraduate curriculum that is directly related to the position as listed above.

1. I am in the upper third of my graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. I have a GPA 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B " or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in my major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
3. I am a member in one of the national scholastic honor societies. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (external link). Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

-AND-

In addition to the above qualification requirements, applicants must also meet the below Selective Factor.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position responds to emergency medical calls. Applicants must possess a valid and current Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certification. Certification must be through the NREMT or a State EMS organization. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. Documentation supporting your AEMT certification must be included in your application packet.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40 hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience.

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.

Minimum Age: Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Responsibilities:

Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Career-Seasonal: This position is designated as Career-Seasonal. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. In this position you will work from approximately mid-January to mid-November, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year unless other work exists that can be assigned to during this period. Though non-pay time may be reduced, you will still be placed in non-pay status for a minimum of 1 pay period each year in accordance with NPS policy.

Major Duties: This position serves as a Park Ranger in Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR) in Bryce Canyon National Park. The primary purpose of this uniformed position is to perform a variety of park ranger duties associated with preventing search and rescue incidents from occurring in park units managed by the National Park Service (NPS).
Position serves as a member of a highly functioning team of Rangers alongside fellow General Rangers, Protection Rangers, other park staff, personnel from cooperating agencies, and volunteers. Use computers to communicate electronically; use radios to communicate on a daily basis. Conduct patrols throughout the park's backcountry trail network via foot and throughout the park's front country and fire roads via motor vehicle. Educate Park visitors about a variety of subjects, including recreational opportunities, natural and cultural history of the park and its resources, hazards and how to avoid them, backcountry safety, preparedness, safe hiking, and what to do in the case of an emergency while on patrol and while staged at busy trailheads. Deliver Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) messaging to visitors. Communicate in-person via impromptu contacts, as well as via informal and semi-formal presentations. Respond to emergency medical calls as an AEMT, such as motor vehicle crashes, litter carryout rescues, helicopter rescues; drive the park ambulance (if trained); conduct hasty ground search operations; conduct visitor assists, such as lockouts, jump starts, and courtesy transports. Assist with managing Division equipment, such as rescue gear, medical supplies, office equipment, etc.; and facilities to include an ambulance bay, equipment caches, the park ambulance, and patrol vehicles.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Physical Demands: This position includes a mixture of duties and responsibilities that can be both sedentary as well as extremely physically demanding. Positions assigned responsibility for patrols, all-hazard incident response, search and rescue, watercraft operation, etc. may require extended periods of standing, walking, hiking, riding, rowing, and carrying of heavy items weighing more than 50 pounds over long distances, to include safety and rescue supplies for injured/ill park visitors. Employees who participate in all-hazard incident operations in certain roles may be required to meet fitness requirements on a continuing basis.

Work Environment: The work can include moderate risks or discomforts that require safety precautions (e.g., exposure to extreme temperatures, climates, rough terrain, wild animals, pests, and/or insects). The incumbent may be required to use protective clothing or gear, such as masks, boots, gloves, etc. Some employees may be engaged in all-risk operations and be exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations which require a range of safety and other precautions.

Salary : $50,460