Student Trainee (Park Guide)

These positions are located in Lincoln Home National Historic Site, in the Interpretation Division. For information on othe duties of the position contact Tim_Townsend@nps.gov

You must live or attend school within the local commuting area (50 mile radius of Springfield, Illinois) to be considered for this position.SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed in historic structures with unalterable barriers to full accessibility.

Give Talks:

Provides pre-established talks normally following a prescribed outline and requiring application of broad subject-matter knowledge of the features of interest peculiar to the site. Such talks include detailed and specific interpretation and explanation of the outstanding features of the site from the standpoint of scientific or historical interest, the background of events leading up to the natural feature or phenomenon, the facts, events, personalities and circumstances. In addition, the talks provide general information about other sites of public interest; facilities for public use; pertinent rules and regulations; and other matters designed to stimulate a sense of appreciation and thus encourage protection and preservation of the scenic, scientific or historic features.

Answering Questions:

Answers a wide variety of visitor questions. The questions encountered arise from observation of the features themselves; from the demonstrated major interests of visitors, or the nature of the talks. The answers to these questions require explanation and description of the background of the events leading up to the natural or scientific development and the introduction and discussion of an extensive body of facts, events, personalities, and circumstances.

Guiding Parties:

Guides very large groups (of up to 50 people) in situations where: the physical limitations of the area or facility being explained make it difficult to accommodate the party; the work situation is such that there is potential danger of serious accidents or injury or other emergency situations. If guiding a group of people along a fixed route the guide must keep the group together; maintain a pace which the group can keep up with and still conform to prescribed schedules; know the routes and any shortcuts which can be taken if necessary or desirable.

If stationed at a point of visitor' concentration the guide must conduct visitors through the building/site, telling the story of the events which took place there, how those events related to the particular historic situation. When the need arises, the guide must take measures to maintain order in the parties, prevent crowding or damage to historic sites, and take appropriate action in case of emergency until relieved.

Providing High Quality Service to Visitors:

Provides a wide range of services to visitors, including assistance with lost articles, car trouble, and first aid; and provides information about weather conditions, highway routes, park and concessioner facilities, and prices. In performing this duty the guide is responsible for providing current, accurate information concerning the NPS and other surrounding areas of interest, explaining the area's recreational opportunities, including NPS interpretive services, and concession-operated facilities and services.

Additionally, provides public orientation and explanations of current park events, and informs visitors of potential safety hazards. Overall is attentive and helpful to visitor needs and questions, providing a positive and high-quality experience to visitors.

Miscellaneous Duties:

• Performs crowd control at entrances and visitor center

• Gathers information from reporting parties concerning accidents/incidents within the park area and notifies appropriate personnel

• Performs miner maintenance duties to ensure a clean, safe work area

• Serves on one or more task and event-oriented teams

• Maintains property inventory

• Operates and maintains audio-visual equipment and inventory of same

• Collect parking fees and performing Park pass sales

AREA INFORMATION

Government Housing is NOT available.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Springfield (population of 111,000) is the state capitol and is located approximately 200 miles south of Chicago and 100 miles north of St.

Louis, Missouri. Amenities are typical of a Midwestern city and include a wide variety of educational and cultural opportunities, as well as professional, commercial and health services. The climate is cold in the winter and hot and humid in summer.

Government housing is not available but a variety of housing options are available for rent or purchase in the local area. Housing costs are some of the lowest in the country. Additional information about Lincoln Home National Historic Site can be found the park's website (http://www.nps.gov/liho) and information about the Springfield area can be found at https://www.springfield.il.us/All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/10/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of General Experience and six (6) months of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-03 level for a total of one year of experience.

General Experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized Experience is experience that involved oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups. Examples of specialized experience could include but are not limited to Park Guide or tour leader; naturalist; environmental educator or teacher; public speaking; customer service or other similar work. (Excess specialized experience can be substituted for general experience; but excess general experience cannot be substituted for required specialized experience.) Your resume must include hours worked per week.

• OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two years of education above high school (60 semester hour or 90 quarter hours) which included at least 12 semester hours of directly related courses, such as in American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education, or communications. You must include transcripts.

• OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of general or specialized experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify), which included at least 6 semester hours of related courses such as American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education or communications (50% of the directly-related courses required) would be considered qualifying.

The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Your resume must include hours worked per week. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level.

Specialized experience is experience that involves making oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups. Examples of specialized experience could include Park Guide or tour leader; museum or observatory guide, docent, naturalist; environmental educator or teacher; teaching assistant; or other similar work. Your resume must include hours worked per week.

• OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four years of education above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, such as American history, science, or public speaking.

You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating credit hours to qualify based on education.

A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected.

• OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements.

Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described in A above (50% of the experience requirement), and 3 years of college study from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified in B above (50% of the related coursework required). The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts indicating credit hours to qualify based on education.

A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected. You must include hours per week worked on your resume. Your resume must include hours worked per week. You must include 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.