Summary This position is located in Pinnacles National Park, in the Division of Visitor and Resource Protection. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Responsibilities Serves as the Chief Ranger at Pinnacles National Park, a national park system Unit located in central California. The position is responsible for the park's law enforcement program, wildland & structural fire programs, & emergency services through a subordinate staff of professional & technical personnel. The incumbent serves as the Senior Law Enforcement Commissioned Ranger responsible for performing law enforcement duties under provisions of applicable federal laws & regulations enacted to ensure the protection & safe use of national park resources. The Chief Ranger is a member of the parks' management team and the principal advisor to the superintendent on all matters concerning law enforcement, resource protection, security, visitor safety, emergency services, & fire management. Major Duties include: Responsible for oversight of law enforcement program involving technical understanding of laws, regulations & procedures in regard to a variety of criminal violations as they relate to the protection of park staff, visitors and resources. Serves as primary liaison with all law enforcement, emergency medical & fire agencies by developing and maintaining external partnerships. Responsible for on-the-job safety of employees. Ensures fair employment practices. Directs the overall planning & fiscal control of a total annual budget of approximately $500,000. ***REQUIREMENTS*** This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Additional requirements are listed in the "Requirements" section. Requirements 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. 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); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments and must be met by the closing date of this announcement. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. 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. Must obtain and maintain a Red Card certification within 6 months from entry on duty. Wildland firefighting and other forms of field work demand a high level of fitness to safely perform arduous, day-long work in difficult environmental conditions, including steep terrain, extreme temperatures, altitude, and smoke, and to meet unforeseen emergencies. This position requires that you pass a Pack Test, a job-related test of the capacity for arduous work. It consists of a 3-mile hike with a 45-pound pack over level terrain. A time of 45 minutes, the passing score for the test, approximates an aerobic fitness score of 45, the established standard for firefighters. Applicants shall be disqualified for appointment if they fail to meet any physical requirement. Probationary or seasonal employment is subject to termination for failure to meet the 25th percentile in each of the identified component being measured. Additional requirements are listed in the "Qualfications" section. Qualifications Requirements Continued. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime & shift work. If you are a new supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 to 10 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. 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), & 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 & obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement & you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment. Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; & also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, & mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment. Prior to appointment, the people selected for these positions must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous & physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, & 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 & 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 & reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs & shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, & must pass the agility run, bench press & 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile. Selectee(s) must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation & favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old &: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school & either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. -End of additional requirements- All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/11/2026-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 & 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 FACTOR: 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 National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent 02/11/2026. 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. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License 02/11/2026. Must possess or be able to successfully obtain and maintain Wildland Fire Fighter certification (S130/S190) within 6 months from entry on duty. Provide a copy of your Red Card with your application if you currently possess this certification. - 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-11 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. This experience includes (1) Investigating alleged violations of laws or regulations; (2) collecting evidence according to established procedures and professional standards; (3) collaborating with other law enforcement or emergency response agencies on investigations or emergency incidents; and (4) writing a variety of investigative and/or legal documents. You must include hours per week worked. Education There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level of this announcement. . Additional Information Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid & unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) & other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, & skills and can provide valuable training & experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Telework: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Physical Demands: Routine duties do not involve unusual physical requirement, but during law enforcement emergencies, firefighting and search-and-rescue operations, prolonged exposure to arduous duties under stressful conditions will occur. The incumbent is required to perform physically rigorous assignments. Required to meet physical fitness and medical standards. Working Conditions: Much of the work performed in an office setting with adequate light, heat and ventilation. During outdoor operations the incumbent is exposed to extremes of weather and climate conditions at various hours of the day and night. The incumbent may then be exposed to high-risk and potentially dangerous situations in law enforcement and emergency situations. Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance consistent with your SF_50s.