Job Information
Bureau of Reclamation Park Ranger in Sonora, California
Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Park Ranger. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Sonora, California Responsibilities As a Park Ranger with the California-Great Basin Region, your duties will include: Patrolling various outdoor areas and park facilities to monitor conditions and ensure visitor safety and administrative compliance. Providing information to visitors about local points of interest, travel routes, various attractions, park facilities, safety rules, etc. Organizing interpretative materials and educational displays and giving presentations to interested groups. Providing emergency assistance; coordinating with medical response units and/or law enforcement agencies, as necessary. Performing other duties as assigned within this classification. Physical Demands: The ranger must be able to swim and pass a basic water safety course. Must be able to work under physically demanding conditions for extended periods (i.e., during emergency operations or when performing field work in remote locations). The incumbent may be placed in situations that require crowd control procedures or evacuation protocols. Work performed outdoors may require extended periods of standing; traversing over rocky or uneven surfaces; bending, reaching, stooping, climbing; occasionally lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 lbs. Duties involve driving extensive distances on unpaved or gravel roads. Duties may also involve bicycling over mountainous terrain and using a variety of general groundskeeping tools such as rakes and shovels. Work Environment: During the winter season, duties are performed indoors in an office setting about half of the time. During other seasons, work is performed in an office setting about 20 percent of the time. The position requires outdoor duties to be performed in and around water, wetlands, and while aboard underway water vessels. Duties may require the incumbent to sometimes work in remote outdoor environments. Outdoor work environment may yield exposure to biting insects (including ticks), venomous snakes, skin irritating plants (including poison oak), and dust particles. Incumbent may sometimes be exposed to adverse weather conditions (i.e., extreme heat during summer and frigid temperatures during winter; high winds, flash floods, wildfires, and/or snowstorms). Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for federal employment, as determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit proof of eligibility documents for veterans' consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or specialized experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit legible copies of your college transcripts with your application if claiming education to qualify for the position (see Qualifications/Education). You must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state-issued driver's license. Failure to maintain a valid driver's license may result in removal from the position. You will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment physical examination conducted by an agency-approved licensed physician to certify your ability to perform the duties of the position. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency. This position is designated as a LOW-RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current. This is a condition of employment. Qualifications In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the evaluating HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirements -- this information must be clearly supported in your resume. To qualify for the GS-5: You must possess one year of specialized experience that is equivalent in scope and responsibility to the GS-4 grade level in the Federal civil service, having demonstrated the following in relation to the operation of designated parks and/or recreation areas and the conservation of natural and cultural resources: Patrolling outdoor areas or park facilities to monitor conditions and ensure visitor safety and administrative compliance; Assisting in developing interpretative materials to distribute or present to diverse audiences; Providing visitor assistance services or answering visitor inquiries about park facilities, programs, safety objectives, rules, and/or other related topics. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade level in the Federal civil service (GS-4). You could otherwise qualify on the basis of education, having successfully completed a four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related course work. Related course work must facilitate the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully perform the major duties of the position to be filled. Related course work as defined by OPM: 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. You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications. 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. You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements by 01/10/2025. Education This position allows substituting education for experience at the GS-5 grade level. If you are claiming education to qualify, you must include legible copies of your college transcript(s) with your application (unofficial copies are acceptable), if substituting education for experience. Copies of school transcripts must include the name of the college or university, your full name, and the date your degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated as not qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. 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.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Current, permanent Federal civil service employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to complete a probationary period. You may be required to work evenings, weekends, and some holidays. You will be required to wear the prescribed Reclamation park ranger uniform while performing duties. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. Male applicants born after 12/31/1959: You must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that you are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework with supervisory approval. Direct deposit enrollment is required. This position is eligible for bargaining unit position representation. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.