Student Trainee (Park Guide)

Summary This position will have multiple work schedules: Full-time schedule during the summer months and a part-time schedule during the school year. Temporary appointment not-to-exceed one year but may be extended each year without further competition, if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements under the Pathways Internship program and funding is available. Although rare, Interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment. Responsibilities Jewel Cave National Monument is located west of Custer, SD, in the Black Hills. Custer has a population of about 2,000, and includes amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, a medical clinic and emergency room. For additional amenities, Rapid City, a city of about 70,000 people, is about an hour north of the park. For additional information contact – Aimee Murillo: AimeeMurillo@nps.gov 605-673-8330 or Lindsay Oleson: LindsayOleson@nps.gov 605-673-8314 This position offers front-line interpretive experiences involving guided cave tours, nature hikes, interpretive patio talks, on-site youth programs, and occasional special events. This position is also involved in leading strenuous Historic Lantern Tours and working remotely in the Jewel Cave Historic Area. Candidates also perform roving interpretation in high visitor use areas, such as ticket kiosk locations, trail overlooks, and picnic grounds. The position also works an information desk and responds to direct and indirect visitor questions, suggestions, and constructive feedback. Candidates provide assistance with the day to day direction of the overall interpretive operations, as well as are responsible for opening and closing visitor facilities. The position works closely with fellow park guides, visitor use assistants, interns, and volunteers to ensure a successful activity schedule. The employment opportunity may involve: specific administrative task/work assignments and a variety of activities and assignments, and working with technical, administrative and professional staff in support of office programs and activities to gain practical work experience. This position provides guide services to visitors. The work involves giving talks, interpreting natural and historic features, answering questions, guiding tours, and providing miscellaneous services to visitors. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Pathways Agreement: Pathways participant agreement is required. Driving: You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued drivers license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued drivers license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to 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 discloses all valid drivers licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State drivers license.. Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. Work Schedule: You may be required to work overtime. Minimum age: 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. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/01/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the 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 qualified specialized experience. To be eligible for this Pathways position you must: Be enrolled in a degree seeking program. Be enrolled on one half (½) time basis. Have a minimum 2.0 grade average. Attending an accredited education institution. Provide transcripts with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Be enrolled for the next semester/quarter following the period of this vacancy. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: Possess at least six (6) months of General Experience and six (6) months of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-03 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).. General Experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized Experience is experience that involved oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups. Examples of specialized experience could include but are not limited to Park Guide or tour leader; docent; museum or observatory guide; teaching assistant; or other similar work. (Excess specialized experience can be substituted for general experience; but excess general experience cannot be substituted for required specialized experience.) You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Have successful completed of at least two years of education above high school (60 semester hour or 90 quarter hours) which included at least 12 semester hours of directly related courses, such as in American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education, or communications. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, I have 3 months of general and 3 month of specialized experience or 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirements for this position and grade level) combined with one year of education as outlined above (50% of the education required to qualify), which included at least 6 semester hours of related courses such as American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education or communications (50% of the directly-related courses required). Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. 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. Education To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. You will NOT be considered under Pathways unless you provide supporting information from your school. Documentation may be provided in letter format from your academic advisor, school counselor, admission office, etc. to prove enrollment OR it may be provided in the form of several official documents from your school such as a copy of your official transcripts and a copy of your class schedule for next semester. Copies of documents from your school website are acceptable if they contain all relevant information as listed above. Letters from advisors or other school officials must be on school letterhead. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Pathways Requirements: If selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Agreement which specifies the conditions of your emplyment as weve indicated in this job announcement. You must continue to meet the Pathways Program requirements throughout the duration of your appointment. To verify that you do, we will require proof of your continued enrollment and good standing each semester or grading period throughout your internship. Failure to do so will result in termination of your internship and employment. Physical Demands: The work requires standing for long periods of time, walking for long distances, climbing and descending steep inclines, bending, and lifting moderately heavy items. Mental stress and physical fatigue occur due to high volume of personal contacts, occasional emergency responses, and repetitive nature of interpretive programs. Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors resulting in exposure to a variety of weather conditions. Telework: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. Although rare, Interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment.