This position serves as the Chief of the Division of Ranger Activities at Shenandoah National Park. The Division includes operational services that support resource protection, resource education and public use management services through law enforcement, wildland fire, search and rescue. emergency medical services, dispatch communications, fee collection, and other related activities. The Chief Park Ranger is responsible for the supervision and management of all personnel, funds, and assets.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/02/2025. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying 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. Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify: Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type I National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by the closing date of this announcement 09/02/2025. More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement. Valid State Driver's License: Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 09/02/2025. Primary Law Enforcement Experience: 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. - AND - Applicants must possess 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-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: managing or leading law enforcement and resource protection program; evaluating law enforcement program activities based on funding to determining objectives, amount and location of work, as well as type of resources needed for the program; interpreting regulations and policy directives related to law enforcement and natural resource protection; reviewing law enforcement case reports to ensure compliance with policy, mutual aid agreements, cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding; investigating criminal activity, conducting investigations of applicable Federal or state laws, and performing training / instructor responsibilities. You must include hours per week worked. 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.
As the Chief Ranger, GS-0025-13, your typical work assignments include the following: Manage a comprehensive park visitor and resource protection program that complies with policy in areas of public safety and resource protection, including Law Enforcement (LE), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Emergency Services (EMS). Coordinates with state, local and federal resources to ensure response readiness and mutual aid responses within the park for SAR, EMS, law enforcement and wildland fire. Performs all administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised; ensures training and compliance with employee/visitor safety programs; fosters open communication; establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff; work with staff to execute established work plans, establish work schedules and priorities, applies equal opportunity principles and requirements, resolve grievances, provide advice and counsel related to work and administrative matters. Provides technical assistance and oversight to staff to develop written reports for complex incidents involving trauma and medical emergencies, visitor fatalities, remote search and technical rescues in park Wilderness, custodial arrests, law enforcement reports, evidence collections, and suspect interviews in support of criminal investigations. Manages ONPS budgets, FLREA, philanthropic funds, and other non-ONPS fund sources through annual and long-range budget and position management plans. Maintains accountability for funds and equipment within law, policy, and regional protocols/directives. Ensures projects are on schedule for appropriate fiscal year obligations. Cultivates positive relationships with law enforcement / emergency services personnel within Federal and State government agencies, local municipalities, and private and public groups and individuals; shares information, intelligence and other related law enforcement activities with partners. Exercise tact, diplomacy, cultural competence, and empathy to provide information and assistance and resolve conflicts, while interacting with management, staff, park partners, and the public. Secondary Positions: This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position. POSITION LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park preserves and protects more than 300 square miles of nationally significant natural and cultural resources, scenic beauty, and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginia's northern Blue Ridge Mountains; and provides a broad range of opportunities for public enjoyment, recreation, inspiration, and stewardship. Within just 90 miles of Washington D.C. the Park provides visitors the ability to explore mountain peaks, hidden hollows, cascading streams, accessible wilderness, and stunning natural beauty. Approximately 40% of the Park is designated wilderness with over 500 miles of hiking trails and the iconic Skyline Drive, SHEN was established as an eastern Park that provided a "western Park experience". Due to the Park's easy accessibility to D.C and other highly populated areas along the east coast, visitation exceeds 1.4 million visitors annually which results in significant resource protection and visitor management issues and incidents.