Park Ranger (Part-Time and Seasonal)

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Thomas Edison National Historical Park, with a duty location of West Orange, New Jersey.

Anticipated Entry on Duty: July 2026 with a NTE of January 2027.

Help

Conducts basic research of topics for the purpose of providing interpretive programs, both orally and/or in writing.
Informs visitors about park facilities and resources.
Duties are performed at on or off-site at locations designated by the park, e.g. visitor centers and facilities within the park, other parks and historical sites, etc.
Learns Park resources by reviewing published maps, Park research materials, and other documents previously prepared by park rangers and other professionals and by talking with park staff.
Provides assistance in connection with one-time or annual celebrations related to the programs and themes of the park and assists in planning, setup, and operations for special events.
Operates a variety of audiovisual and other equipment used in connection with interpretive material and programs, e.g., projectors, video equipment, sound systems, electronic tablets, monitors, etc.
As assigned, performs occasional supporting roles in Park emergency response operations.
As assigned, staffs fee collection stations for visitor use and educates visitors regarding the requirements for visiting restricted areas of the park.
As assigned, performs various administrative duties, e.g., scheduling, gathering routine information for reports, compilation of statistical data, etc.
Help

Citizen or U.Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
Direct Deposit participation required.
Physical Demands: The work involves extensive periods of standing and walking, in some cases over rough surfaces or inclines, carrying backpacks, tools, rescue equipment, etc.

Work Environment: The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness, e.g., All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

To receive credit for experience, 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. 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 may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, history research and interpretation, law enforcement, or other park related work. environmental educator or teacher; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; Successful completion of at least a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related course work (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). For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of experience requirement), and 6 months of graduate education as described above (50% of education requirement). 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., 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. 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. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence.

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. 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.

The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

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. 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.

Help

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.