Below is a list of the 16 identified career fields in the
National Park Service with a short description of each. Universal Competencies are included
in this list, since they are the foundation of all careers and are critical to all employees.
They do not, however, constitute a separate Career Field.
Universal Competencies
Competencies needed across all Career Fields at all levels of work by every employee;
they are obtained through personal education and experience, through Service orientation
and mission renewal training programs, and through interaction with peers, teams, and
supervisors.
A multidisciplinary career field serving both non-clerical adminstrative personnel
and office support positions located throughout the Service; includes a wide variety
of administrative skills in budget and finance, personnel, acquisition, and
property.
An interdisciplinary career field focusing on the tools and techniques necessary
for appropriate planning, preservation, interpretation, protection, and maintenance of
an extensive and diverse colleciton of cultural resources; includes employees working
in anthropology, archeology, cultural landscapes, curation, historical architecture,
and history. (This Career Field is closely linked with the Natural Resources Stewardship
Career Field.)
A group of specialized skills for special situatiions, including fire prevention and
pre-suppression, structural and wildland fire management, aviation management and
use, and incident command systems (diaster preparedness and emergency operations).
A specialized career field that concentrates on specialized techniques for
preservation and maintenance of historic properties, including preservation techniques,
preservation philosophy, and application of historic crafts and materials, as well as
long-term programs like the Preservation & Skills Training (PAST) Program.
A multidisciplinary career field addressing the programmatic areas of Computer
and Communications Technologies focusing on the implementation and support of new
technologies and software applications; Resources-Related Computer Systems like
the Geographic Information System (GIS); and Technical Information Storage &
Retrieval including Library services.
A broad career field that includes employees who deliver traditional interpretive
programs in parks; who develop school curricula that integrates park themes into local
educational programs; and who work closely with cooperating associations in parks.
A specific career field for employees having law enforcement duties including
U.S. Park Police; encompasses federal law and regulations, human relations, patrol
operation, resource protection, and criminal investigation.
A multidisciplinary career field covering over 80 classification series in all
technical trades and crafts (Wage Board positions) as well as technical programs
for associated professional tracks (like facility managers); includes standard
maintenance programs, vocational training courses, craft and professional licensing
programs, and development of specialty maintenance programs.
An interdisciplinary career field focusing on the tools necessary to protect
and maintain natural resources; techniques for resource identification, evaluation,
and monitoring; general ecosystem management and compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental law and policy. (This Career
Field closely links with the Resource Stewardship: Cultural Resources.)
An interdisciplinary career field for employees responsible for organizational
and employee development, training and instruction, education, and equal opportunity.
An interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary career field including Planning & Facility
Development Support (environmental assessment, public involvement); Design & Construction
(site and structural specifics such as regulatory requirements and licensing provisions);
and Technical Support to Planning, Design, & Construction.
A diverse career field for employees such as recreation planners working primarily in
technical assistance programs external to the Operations of the NPS, including Rivers &
Trails and Conservation Assistance; Long-Distance Trails Studies; National Register of
Historic Places; Historic American Building Survey and Historic American Engineering Record;
Land &Water Conservation Fund; and Archeological Public Education & Outreach.
A career field that affects all employees through compliance with health and safety
regulations and for specialists who deal with life/safety issues, Occupational Safety
& Health Act (OSHA) regulations, inspections and evaluations of employees and visitor
facilities, and accident and Office of Workers Compensation Program (OWCP) claims.
A career field encompassing a wide variety of occupational series that do not lend
themselves to an easily identifiable niche, including Concession Management; International
Affairs; Lands Management; Legislative Affairs; Public Affairs; Writing/Editing.
An interdisciplinary career field involving all career fields that include the crucial
responsibilities of directing and guiding the work of others in achieving unit and
organizational supervision and management; and of expanding employees' abilities to
visulize self and group potential, create environments that increase personal and organizational
abilities, and work effectively in teams.
A multidisciplinary career field that includes responsibilities such as special park use
and recreation use management; Emergency Medical Services (EMS); search and rescue; backcountry
and wilderness management; accessibility management; and application of sociologic and economic
data to park situations.
