Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) local hiring authority (16 USC 3198). Any U.S. Citizen who has acquired special knowledge or expertise regarding the natural or cultural resources of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, by reason of having either lived or worked in or near the unit may apply. See Qualifications section for eligibility requirements.

The typical season for this position is May - September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is May 2026.

You will work as a Park Ranger (Interpretation) representing Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Serve as a professional, punctual interagency team member; provide visitor information on public lands, services, and safety; maintain brochure stock; and respond to emergencies using CPR/First Aid knowledge.
• Handle Alaska Geographic educational sales, including Point of Sale transactions, register management, and evening deposits.
• Represent Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, advising on access, boundaries, policies, hazards, and promoting stewardship and safety.
• Conduct backcountry orientations, ensure visitor compliance with safety policies, manage registrations, issue bear containers, and maintain inventory.
• Develop and deliver formal and informal interpretive programs on park significance, Arctic ecosystems, and resources.
• Support interagency interpretive projects and events, including guided walks and creative programs.
• Operate audio visual equipment as needed.
• Participate in daily cleaning of the visitor center.
• Assist with off-site interpretation, field work, and other duties as assigned.

• Serve in an acting capacity when the lead is out of the office.
• Mentor and support lower graded employees, interns and volunteers.
• Maintain accurate visitation counts and assist with monthly reporting.

The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources.

Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations.


Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.

• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.

• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.

• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.

• You will be required to obtain/maintain First Aid and CPR certifications after entrance on duty, training will be provided.

• You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

• You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.

• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.

• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to five nights per month.

• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 03/17/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.

-AND-

To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraph.

Areas considered "near" Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and/or the eleven resident zone communities are Alatna, Allakaket, Ambler, Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles/Evansville, Hughes, Kobuk, Nuiqsut, Shungnak, Wiseman/Coldfoot.

-ALSO-

The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies:

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents, responses to the questions in the assessment). If your application package does not clearly reflect having lived / worked within the area of consideration, does not clearly reflect special knowledge of the natural and/or cultural resources of the park or preserve, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/17/2026:

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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