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Summary This position is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. Open to the first 100 applicants or until 01/06/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Responsibilities MAJOR DUTIES: Serves as the principal advisor to the Superintendent on all aspects of Ranger Activities. The incumbent of this position oversees Law Enforcement, and Emergency Services, the Emergency Communications Center, Wildland Fire, Backcountry Operations and Lands programs at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including the Foothills Parkway. The Chief Park Ranger serves as the Senior Park Law Enforcement Officer and directs, coordinates, and is responsible for all the activities of this major operating division. The incumbent will set work goals and ensure all employees receive required training in a timely manner; identify operational requirements and make recommendations to your supervisor regarding programming, budgeting, training, administration, and evaluation of operations; and schedule patrols to maximize visitor contact with special consideration to problem areas. The position supervises and leads complex law enforcement, all hazard, emergency medical, and technical search and rescue operations as well as provides emergency medical services to park visitors and residents. The position is responsible for all aspects of employee supervision including performance planning and appraisals, employee recognition, and employee counseling for 8 direct reports and divisional staff of approximately 60 employes. AREA/DUTY STATION INFORMATION: This position serves as the Chief, Division of Visitor and Resource Protection (Chief Ranger) at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). GRSM covers 522,427 acres, divided almost evenly between the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. We are the most visited national park in the system, welcoming over 13 million visitors in 2024. We have 10 campgrounds with a total of 1000 sites, 11 picnic areas, totaling 1050 sites, more than 100 backcountry sites, including shelters, 850 miles of trails with approximately 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail running through the park. We also have 384 miles of roads -238 miles are paved and 146 are unpaved. Elevations in the Smokies range from approximately 875 feet (267 meters) to 6,643 feet (2,025 meters) and the topography can drastically affect local weather. Temperatures can vary 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top, and clear skies lower down do not guarantee equally pleasant weather at higher elevations. Rainfall averages 55 inches (140 centimeters) per year in the lowlands to 85 inches (216 centimeters) per year at Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park. The Smokies is a temperate rainforest. There are three distinct areas within the park, Cades Cove and Little River in TN and South District which is the state of NC. Prior law enforcement experience and a current law enforcement commission, as gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent experience outside the Federal Government is a mandatory prerequisite for incumbents of this position. This is an administrative/supervisory position. 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. Must possess a Type I or higher Law Enforcement Commission. Selectee(s) will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency. 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 and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. 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. 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. *Additional Requirements located under qualifications* Qualifications Requirements Continued... 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. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. The position to which you will be appointed 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. 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 You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 4 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. Ability to lift 25 pounds. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Applicants must be at least (1) 18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (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 and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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. 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. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/06/2026-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 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 1 or higher National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission, or equivalent, by 01/06/2026. 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). Applicants for this position must possess experience gained by substantial service in a primary law enforcement position. (Experience must be documented in your Resume). More information can be found in the 'Education' section of this job announcement. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 01/06/2026. - AND - Applicants must possess the following minimum qualification by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS/GL-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 Specialized Experience at this level must include ALL of the following: 1) Performance of law enforcement duties for the protection, conservation, use, and management of natural and/or cultural resources in park areas or similar operations, which involved the application of law enforcement authorities and procedures to protect visitors and resources; 2) Providing advice to senior management on law enforcement, visitor and resource protection, and fire protection; 3) Leading/managing a division or site with a large, complex, interdisciplinary staff, including program responsibilities which include provision of fire, aviation, and law enforcement services within the organization; 4) Planning and administering law enforcement education and training programs; 5) Program management including budget development and execution, development of strategic goals and action plans, and administrative requirements; and 6) Serving as a liaison representing a law enforcement program or department with internal and external stakeholders. You must include hours per week worked. Education 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. There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement. Law Enforcement Commission: This position requires applicants to possess or be able to possess by closing date of announcement a valid Type I or higher-level National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Commission (or equivalent), which requires completing training from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Program (FLETC). 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. Additional Information 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. 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 require light-to-moderate physical effort typical of visiting park facilities and visitor use areas. Strenuous physical exertion such as hiking on steep terrain in adverse weather conditions may be required during emergencies. Strenuous exertion is required in law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, medical and related emergency activities. Duties involve performing physically rigorous assignments, oftentimes in isolated outdoor environments, frequently while exposed to severe weather conditions. Dangerous persons, many of whom are known to carry weapons, must be physically confronted, subdued, and apprehended. Prisoners must be kept under physical restraint during transport and processing. Criminal investigations often must be carried out without regard to fixed work schedules, days off, or opportunities for proper rest or nutrition. Physical fitness requirements and medical standards must be met prior to and on a continuing basis during employment, as required by current policy. Working Conditions: The work environment ranges from sedentary office work to fieldwork with exposure to severe natural elements. Work is performed in a mountainous park with fluctuations in temperatures which may range from below freezing to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and may be performed in snow, rain, and high winds and at elevations ranging from 800ft to 6640ft above sea level. Physical hazards exist in fire control, search and rescue, law enforcement, and emergency medical situations. Most of the work is performed in an office setting where interruptions for law enforcement, medical, and other emergencies are common and the emotional environment is one of high stress. Managerial demands occasionally require extended hours, both day and night, often with short deadlines.