Park Ranger (Visitor Services Specialist) (Seasonal)

Job Details

Qualifications & Requirements

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/19/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. 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. 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. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet at least one of the following minimum qualifications: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of this type of experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Park guide or tour leader; Law enforcement or investigative work (park related); Archeological or historical preservation research work; 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. You must include hours per week worked on your resume. -OR- Education: 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-- 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. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take the number if hours earned beyond the second year and divide by 60 semester hours (90 if school uses quarter hours). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts. 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.

Position Overview

You will serve as a Park Ranger (Visitor Services Specialist) (Seasonal) GS-0025-05 working in Ridgefield, Washington, for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. This is a Temporary Not to Exceed 1039 hours position. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. Approximate Entry on Duty: October 2026 Open to the first 50 applicants. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the 08/19/2026 to be considered.

Duties

• This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year. It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work. The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 to secure wintering habitat for migrating waterfowl and to provide a public hunt program that aligns with state and national conservation efforts. Today the refuge serves to restore oak woodlands, pastures and wetland habitats while providing the perfect environment for state and federally protected species such as Columbian white-tailed deer, Sandhill cranes and other wildlife. Staff work with partners to offer the community a diverse set of recreational and engagement opportunities that connect people with the land and build collaborative stewardship. The primary duties of this seasonal Park Ranger position is to work to ensure that the daily operations of the waterfowl hunt program are run with efficiency while maintaining and strengthening collaborative relationships with the hunting community and other visitors. By staffing of the hunter check station during hunt days this position is able to provide excellent customer service, provide information to new and returning visitors, collect data on waterfowl harvested, and showcase the compatibility and contribution that hunting plays in refuge and wildlife management. This position works to maintain hunting facilities, program operations and monitors hunt area conditions during hunting and non-hunting days up to 40 hours each week on a "1st 40" schedule. Hunting hour vary throughout the season and can be up to 15 hours in length on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This position provides opportunities to expand experience in both community engagement and biological skills. Additional duties may include: Develops and presents a variety of interpretive programs including orientation talks, conducted, walks, and demonstrations to a variety of general public audiences or school groups. Initiates or assists with development or revision of interpretive materials, such as brochures, guidebooks, handouts, and exhibits. Assist with preparing and conducting on-and off-site environmental education programs for a variety of audiences. Initiates or assists with development or revision of environmental education materials. Assists with recruitment and training of candidates for a volunteer program and assists in developing volunteer work projects and schedules for visitor services. Assists with the management of wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education and/or interpretation as described in the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 and with secondary recreational uses such as camping, picnicking, berry picking, boating, and horseback riding in support of one or more of the primary uses. Physical Demands: The work involves frequent on-site visits requiring some physical exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven or rocky terrain; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, or similar activities. May be required to operate or travel as a passenger for long distances in on- and off-road vehicles and light aircraft. The work requires average agility and dexterity. The employee must have the ability to work occasionally under pressure and tight deadlines. Work Environment: The job requires both office and outdoor work. Offices and visitor centers are adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of the outdoor work. The work may require the wear of protective clothing and some employees may be required to carry a firearm for protection from hostile wildlife.