A new web page has been launched on the external NPS website (click here), regarding seasonal employment with NPS. It may also be reached directly from the Centennial "button" on the front of the NPS external website. It includes a 1-800 telephone number for applicants.
On this same website is a link (click here) to a listing of all of the seasonal positions advertised centrally. The listing is updated daily.
Since it's inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Today, the National Park Service encompasses more than 370 sites across the United States and in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. There are parks of great natural beauty and grandeur, such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone; parks that preserve the nation's cultural and historical treasures, as Mesa Verde and Gettysburg Battlefield; and parks of significant national beauty along seashores, lakeshores, and riverways, providing opportunities for outdoor activities, such as Assateague Island and Lake Mead. The National Park Service is a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior.
Every year, millions of people from the United States and abroad visit our national park areas. To protect park resources and to serve the public, the National Park Service employs a permanent workforce and an essential temporary workforce. Whether permanent or temporary, employees have the opportunity to learn more about the National Park Service and its mission.
Temporary jobs are very competitive. The number of applicants is usually far greater than the positions available every year, particularly at larger, well-known parks. Some positions are filled by experienced temporary employees who have worked previously for the National Park Service.
Most temporary positions require irregular hours of work, including weekends, holidays, and evenings. Entry-level grades for National Park Service temporary positions generally range from the GS-4 to the GS-7. For current salary information, refer to the vacancy announcement for the position and park to which you are applying.
Procedures for Applying for Temporary Employment:
1. Applicants may apply for employment year round.
2. Positions covered under this system are:
a. Park Ranger (Interpretation) GS-5 and GS-7
b. Park Ranger (General) GS-5 and GS-7
c. Park Ranger (Law Enforcement) GS-5 and GS-7
d. Park Guide GS-4, GS-5, and GS-6
e. Visitor Use Assistant GS-4, GS-5, and GS-6
f. Biological Technician SG-4, GS-5, GS-6, and GS-7
3. All applications must be postmarked before the closing date of the announcement.
4. Applicants may apply to any and all park opportunities.
5. Applicants may update their application at any time day or night as long as it is before the closing date of the announcement.
6. Applicants only have to answer the CORE questions section of the application once.
7. Applicants must answer the SPECIALTY questions for each position to which they are applying.
For further information, contact the Seasonal Employment Program at 202.208.5074.
Positions that involve law enforcement duties generally are restricted to persons at least 21 years old, must be in excellent physical condition and required to have a valid driver's license. Background checks and physical medical screening will be performed.
NEW - Prior to employment, it is a National Park Service requirement that the candidate pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) at the 25% level. For information concerning the PEB. go to the following link:
