National Park Service company profile

Park Ranger (Protection)

Job Location

Denver, CO, United States

Job Description

This announcement is intended for applicants who have prior sworn law enforcement experience and who qualify to attend the NPS Basic Academy Bridge Training Program in lieu of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Land Management Police Training (see Qualifications section). For position and park related questions, please contact: LE_Recruitment@nps.gov



Location: Denver, Colorado, United States

Posted Date: 11/13/2025

Job Requirements

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION: NPS Basic Academy Bridge Training Program and Field Training & Evaluation Program (FTEP) Information - If selected, you are required to attend and pass the 4-week Bridge Training at the Albright Training Center, South Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ (location subject to change). Housing and per diem will be provided. You will be employed and paid by your park while attending training. Upon Bridge Training completion, you must complete and pass the required FTEP. FTEP may or may not occur at your employing park. Failure of the Bridge Training or FTEP may result in termination of employment or a requirement to attend a full basic academy. If your Police Training Program is not eligible for the NPS Basic Academy Bridge Course, you will be required to attend and complete the FLETC, Land Management Police Training. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work from approximately 6-9 months (or more depending on the park) and you will be in a non-pay status for approximately 3-6 months (or less depending on the park). Non pay status is dependent on the location of the position being hired. NOTE: Not all available positions are career-seasonal positions; both full-time (all year employment) and career-seasonal positions are available. QUALIFICATIONS: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/27/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2-page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the 2-page 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 of qualified 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. In addition to the standard Park Ranger (Protection) qualifications listed below, If you would like to be considered for this option, the applicant must be conversationally fluent in at least one of the following languages, and support within your resume. You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional language in your application. Spanish Some parks on this announcement may require Park Ranger (Protection) to be certified in Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) duties will be less than 20% of the time. If you would like to be considered for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) you must provide your certification in your supporting documents at the time of application. (Note: You will still be considered for this position without EMT certifications. These are additional designations applicants can be considered for by parks that require it). You will NOT be rated ineligible if you do not possess the optional certifications in your application. Mandatory Requirements for Park Ranger (Protection): 1. Selective Placement Factors: Applicants must meet ALL of the following to qualify: This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 11/27/2025. Applicants must have worked in a sworn officer position within the last 3 years AND successfully completed a Police Training Program certified by, sponsored by, or approved by, a local, state, tribal, or Federal agency, or by the military, OR must have successfully completed a Police Training Program certified by, sponsored by, or approved by, a local, state, tribal, or Federal agency, or by the military within the last 3 years. 2. Applicants must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: GL-07 level: A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing law enforcement work as a sworn officer with a Federal, state, tribal and/or local agency, OR the military, that included oversight and assistance of a senior law enforcement officer. -OR- B. Education: You must possess one full academic year of graduate education directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- C. Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): SAA is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade-point average, or 3) honor society membership. Specific requirements are: 1) Class Standing: Upper third of graduating class based on completed courses; 2a) Grade Point Average: 3.0 or higher as recorded on official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education; 2b) based on courses completed during the final full 2 years of curriculum; or 2c) 3.5 or higher based on average of courses completed in the specific major field of study; or 3) Honor Society Membership: Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society listed in the Association of College Honor Societies, Booklet of Information, and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision).-OR- D. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. GL-09 level: A. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GL/GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as independently performing law enforcement work as a sworn officer with a Federal, state, tribal and/or local agency, OR the military. -OR- B. Education: You must possess 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the occupation (see Education section - related education; one year of full time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours). -OR- C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Specialized Experience - MUST include hours per week worked in your resume. If qualifying with related education, see Education section. 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.

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Posted

November 13, 2025
UID: 849968200-gj5

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