Park Ranger (Protection)

Job Opportunity at Lava Beds National Monument

This position is located in Lava Beds National Monument, in the Division of Visitor and Resources Protection. This is a Career-Seasonal position and subject to release and recall procedures. A permanent career-seasonal position includes all the benefits of permanent employment but does not provide employment on a full year-round basis. The selectee will be in a non-pay status for 2 weeks / 1 pay period during their first service year in this position from late November to early December.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a senior uniformed, commissioned field law enforcement officer in Lava Beds National Monument and Tule Lake National Monument. This is a non-supervisory law enforcement position in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. As a Commissioned Ranger, you will be responsible for performing law enforcement duties including detection, investigation, apprehension, and prosecution under applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted to insure the protection and safe use of National Park resources. You will also educate, interpret, and inform visitors about resources, conservation, laws, and regulations. Collateral duties may include field training, emergency medical services, special response, technical rescue, and helicopter rescue.

Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and 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 and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, 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 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. This position is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement, and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment. Selectee will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency. Selectee must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Lava Beds National Monument, located in northeastern California, lies just 12 miles south of the Oregon state line. Established in 1925, the monument spans 46,692 acres of rugged volcanic terrain, featuring over 900 lava tube caves, dramatic cinder and spatter cones, lava flows, and pit craters. Lava Beds also administers Tule Lake National Monument, established in 2008, which preserves 37 acres of profound historical significance. Both sites operate under concurrent jurisdiction, offering a unique blend of natural and cultural resource protection. Lava Beds highlights the dynamic history of the Modoc War of 1872-73, one of the most significant Native American resistance efforts in U.S. history. In contrast, Tule Lake tells a powerful civil rights story as the site of a World War II Japanese American incarceration camp.

As a commissioned law enforcement ranger, you'll join a dedicated team responsible for visitor safety, resource protection, emergency medical response and search and rescue operations. Rangers operate in a remote, high-desert environment, often working independently and making critical decisions in dynamic and sometimes unpredictable situations. The park has a moderate caseload and has a steady variety of incidents that keep the work engaging and meaningful, without being overwhelming. Take-home vehicles may be available for law enforcement staff, and park housing may be offered depending on availability. This position is ideal for those who thrive in challenging environments and are passionate about public service, history, and conservation.

Requirements :

U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Subject to pre-employment physical and drug testing. Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required. New employees of the Department of the Interior must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of net pay within 30 days of entrance on duty. 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. Must be able to lift 50 pounds. You may be required to occasionally travel overnight away from home. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain / maintain a government charge card with travel and / or purchase authority. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

Qualifications :

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12 / 19 / 2025-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 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized 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. 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.

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 National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by entrance on duty. Must currently possess or be able to obtain a National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification by entrance on duty. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 12 / 19 / 2025. 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.

Additional Information :

For more information about this position, please contact : Ryan Deacy, Chief Ranger Ryan_Deacy@nps.gov