Supervisory Park Ranger (P)

This position is located in Blue Ridge Parkway, in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division.

Open to the first 100 applicants or 05/01/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

• Serves as senior supervisory federal law enforcement officer (Chief of Visitor and Resource Protection) at the Blue Ridge Parkway and ensures that law enforcement operations and personnel are in compliance with professional standards and practices, directives, policies and laws governing a federal law enforcement.

• Formulates and executes the division budget and participates in the management of the park budget. This includes determining the ability to meet operational objectives within established funding and reallocating funds with the scope of authorization to meet mission objectives.

• Contributes to short- and long-range planning and directing, executing and evaluating performance of the several programs within the division. The Chief Park Ranger is a member of the management team for the park and participates in the general management and development of planning for the park.

• Represents the park and the Service in public forums and in meetings with special interest groups. The Chief of Park Ranger is called upon the analyze issues and prepare recommendations to the Superintendent on a variety of public used and resource management concerns.

• Responsible for the safety of employees within the division and the park, as well as the visiting public.

This is a secondary-administrative law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.

S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements, but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system.

To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position.Requirements Continued...

• Prior to appointment, the person selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile. You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.

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

• Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

• If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/01/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted.

An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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.

Selective Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify:

• Must currently possess, previously held (within the past three years), or be able to obtain a valid Type I or higher National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by the entrance on duty date. More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement.

• This is a covered secondary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). In addition to the qualifying experience and/or education described above, applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent.

• AND -

Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

• EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.
  
  Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Law Enforcement or investigative work. Management, assistant, or program management and/or specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or law enforcement management of park areas or similar operations.
  
  AND providing advice to senior management on law enforcement, as well as visitor and resource protection activities and issues; providing leadership and oversight for law enforcement and visitor/resource protection operations. Organizing, planning, directing, coordinating and reviewing all visitor and resource protection programs; leading/managing a division or park with a large, complex, interdisciplinary visitor and resource protection staff; or managing a portfolio of program responsibilities which include providing law enforcement services.

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.