NPS EMPLOYMENT FACT SHEET
For permanent employment, federal agencies generally fill positions by using either of the following methods:
To apply for the internal merit promotion vacancy announcements, candidates must be a current or former permanent employee of the Federal government (be a ÒstatusÓ candidate), or an eligible candidate for a special appointment such as Veterans Readjustment Authority (VRA), returning Peace Corps volunteer, 30% disabled veteran, severely handicapped, or Outstanding Scholar.
For internal and external jobs, you must apply for specific vacancies. You may locate vacancy announcements by accessing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Internet Website at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov. Select Current Job Openings and then Agency Job Search. Then, in the keyword box, type in Interior and bit return. The National Park Service can be found by scrolling approximately halfway through the alphabetical list; continue to scroll down the screen and hit Submit. An alpha list of jobs will be displayed. NPS vacancy announcements for seasonal Park Ranger, Park Guide, and Visitor Use Assistant positions (filled on a year round as needed basis) are located at the very end of the list under Nationwide and Worldwide Job Announcements. Vacancy announcements may be sorted by Federal agency and by bureau within the agency; by series; by job type; or, alphabetically. Within each of these categories, the vacancies may be further sorted geographically and by area of consideration (all sources or status employees only). The site also provides answers to frequently asked Federal employment questions via delivery of Employment Info Line fact sheets as well as access to electronic and hard copy applications. When you apply for a job, be sure to follow the directions on the vacancy announcement. General information about NPS employment may be accessed in the NPS website at http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/jobs.htm
A variety of employment-related topics and forms can be obtained by calling OPM' s Fedfax system, using a touchtone telephone or fax machine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fedfax is available at the following numbers: Atlanta (404) 331-5267; Denver (303) 969-7764; Detroit (313) 226-2593; San Francisco (415) 744-7002; Washington, DC (202) 606-2600. Fedfax does not offer any job listings, but provides a variety of employment-related topics and forms on issues such as student programs, reinstatement eligibility and veteran's preference.
For temporary employment, most employment opportunities are seasonal, for the periods from early spring to fall or fall to spring. Each park has the authority to recruit for temporary positions such as Motor Vehicle Operator, Maintenance Worker, Biological Science Technician, Visitor Use Assistant, Laborer, and Office Automation Clerk (and others). You may find out about vacancies by directly contacting the Park you are interested in being employed at.
In addition to Parks' individual temporary recruitments, a centralized year-round recruitment process is used to fill seasonal Park Ranger (GS-0025 series), Park Guide (GS-0090 series), and Visitor Use Assistant (GS-0303 series) positions. The announcements for these positions opened June 14, 1999 and will remain open for an indefinite period of time. (See page 1 of this letter for instructions on how to locate these vacancy announcements.) The positions will be filled year round on an as-needed basis. You must apply by using the seasonal employment Internet web site: http://www.sep.nps.gov. Please follow the "How to Apply" instructions, and fill out the required special form(s). For further details, see the "Seasonal Work with the National Park Service," or phone the Washington Seasonal Employment Unit at 202-208-5074.
Many students ask about intern programs with the parks. There are no formal intern programs, but you may contact parks about possible opportunities for volunteer work or employment. Information on student employment programs may be received by using OPM's FedFax service described above.
We hope this information is helpful, and wish you success in your employment endeavors.
Favorite Web Sites
Office of Personnel Management http://www.opm.gov/
USAF (Wage Areas) http://www.cpms.osd.mil/wage/scheds/afusa.htm
USAJOBS http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/