Park Guide
: Job Details :

SummaryThis position is located in Mammoth Cave National Park, in the Interpretation & Visitor Division.This position has a mixed work schedule based on the varying workload, and your work schedule is subject to change from part-time to full-time to on-call as workload dictates.Open to the first 100 applicants or until 12/09/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.Learn more about this agencyHelpOverview* Accepting applications* Open & closing dates11/25/2024 to 12/09/2024This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more* Salary$39,576 - $51,446 per year* Pay scale & gradeGS 5* HelpLocation1 vacancy in the following location:* Mammoth Cave, KY* Remote jobNo* Telework eligibleNo* Travel RequiredNot required* Relocation expenses reimbursedNo* Appointment typePermanent* Work scheduleMultiple Schedules* ServiceCompetitive* Promotion potentialNone* Job family (Series)* 0090 Guide* Supervisory statusNo* Security clearanceNot Required* Drug testNo* Position sensitivity and riskModerate Risk (MR)* Trust determination process* Credentialing* Suitability/Fitness* Financial disclosureNo* Bargaining unit statusNo* Announcement numberSE-1628-MACA-25-12599974-MP* Control number820002100HelpThis job is open to* Federal employees - Competitive serviceCurrent or former competitive service federal employees.* Internal to an agencyCurrent federal employees of this agency.* Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)Federal employees who meet the definition of a surplus or displaced employee.* Land and base managementCertain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.Clarification from the agencyClarification Statement: Current Career/Career Conditional Federal Employees of the Department of Interior (DOI); CTAP eligibles; LMWFA; non-competitive DOI Merit PromotionVideosHelpDutiesMajor Duties:Research, develop and present interpretive programs including evening programs both on and off-site. Lead crawling tours through rugged off-trail cave environments and communicate safe caving techniques. Crawling, climbing, and squeezing through small cave passages are required. Implement resource and protection messages. Provide visitor orientation to park resources. Deals with visitors from various socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Collect appropriate fees at an entrance station, visitor center, campground and/or other visitor contact stations following established guidelines for handling funds and property (e.g., park passes). Must be able to deal with emergency situations. Position requires night, weekend and holiday work. Maintains current certification in CPR and Standard First Aid.Area/Duty Station Information:Position Location: Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave, KY.Area Information:Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the beautiful farm country of south-central Kentucky. Housing in the area is plentiful and reasonably priced. Medical attention is available in close proximity and the major metropolitan areas of Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN are approximately a 1 1/2-hour drive from the park. The people are friendly, local and regional culture and history are fascinating, recreational opportunities are many. The city of Bowling Green, KY is approximately 35 miles from the park with an estimated population of over 60,000. Also, the city of Glasgow, KY is approximately 19 miles from the park with an estimated population of 14,200. Please visit for area information.HelpRequirementsConditions 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 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 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.* This position has a mixed work schedule based on the varying workload, and your work schedule is subject to change from part-time to full-time to on-call as workload dictates.* If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.* You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.* Employee is required to enter cave environment, which, might include tight spaces, variant temperatures, radon exposures, and cave animals including bats.QualificationsREQUIREMENTS CONTINUED:* 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.All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/09/2024-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.To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must posses at least one of 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-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: oral presentations of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentations to groups. Examples of specialized experience also may include: Park Guide or tour leader; naturalist; environmental educator or teacher, or other similar work. You must include hours per week worked. You must include hours per week worked.* OR-EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four years of education above high school (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, such as American History, science, public speaking, parks and recreation, education or communications. You must include transcripts.* OR-Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours completed in excess of 60 semester hours, and divide by 60. Multiply the resulting decimal by 100. Then take the number of months of full time experience and divide by 12 months. Multiply the resulting decimal by 100. 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.EducationTo 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.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 informationA 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.This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.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. The work also requires crawling, climbing and squeezing through small cave passages. 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. Work is often performed in a cave environment where there is exposure to radon.CTAP/ICTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).Read more* BenefitsHelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.You will be evaluated on the following competencies:* Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning* Interpersonal Skills* Oral Communication* QTMATE* Technical Competence* Technology ApplicationIn order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a Questionnaire that Measures Applicants Technical Expertise. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.* BenefitsHelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.* Required DocumentsAs a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/09/2024.* Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Your resume must clearly show how long your have held each grade in a federal position.* Complete All Required Assessments.* Merit Promotion Eligibility Documentation such as:* Federal employees or former federal employees must submit a copy of their latest or last SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action reflecting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service, shows position title, series, grade and an additional SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held, if not reflected on your latest SF-50. Examples of acceptable SF-50s include: Promotion, Within Rate Increases (WRI/WGI), or Appointment SF-50s. Do not submit an Award SF-50. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. Your last Federal performance appraisal plan for your last position must reflect a rating of Fully Successful or equivalent. If the SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess the one-year time-in-grade, as required by this announcement. In this instance, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one-year* Veterans Preference Documentation (e.g. DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter as appropriate)* Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.* Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:* Veterans Preference Documentation:* If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.* If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.* If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-###-#### to establish proof of disability.* Performance Appraisals and Awards:*

All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If submitting a performance appraisal not dated within the last18 months, a statement as to why it is the most recent must be submitted. If no performance appraisal is available, applicants must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).* College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.* Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position.* Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.* How to ApplyTo apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/09/2024. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.* Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.* Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting Start Application. * Click here for USAJobs Help with How to create an application * To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: * Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS.* Select documents you want included in this application.* Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.* Select if you want to include your demographic information.* After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select Continue to Agency Site. * Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.* Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.* Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.* Review and Submit Application.* While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting + next to the job title for this position.* You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.* To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select + next to the job title for this position. Select Update Application for this job.* Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.Agency contact informationJessica ArmentaEmail ...@nps.govAddress Mammoth Cave National ParkP O Box 7Mammoth Cave, KY 42259USLearn more about this agencyNext stepsOnce the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.* Fair and TransparentThe Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.* Criminal history inquiries* Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy* Financial suitability* New employee probationary period* Privacy Act* Reasonable accommodation policy* Selective Service* Signature and false statements* Social security number requestHelpRequired DocumentsThe following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/09/2024.* Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Your resume must clearly show how long your have held each grade in a federal position.* Complete All Required Assessments.* Merit Promotion Eligibility Documentation such as:* Federal employees or former federal employees must submit a copy of their latest or last SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action reflecting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service, shows position title, series, grade and an additional SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held, if not reflected on your latest SF-50. Examples of acceptable SF-50s include: Promotion, Within Rate Increases (WRI/WGI), or Appointment SF-50s. Do not submit an Award SF-50. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. Your last Federal performance appraisal plan for your last position must reflect a rating of Fully Successful or equivalent. If the SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess the one-year time-in-grade, as required by this announcement. In this instance, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one-year* Veterans Preference Documentation (e.g. DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter as appropriate)* Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.* Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:* Veterans Preference Documentation:* If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.* If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.* If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-###-#### to establish proof of disability.* Performance Appraisals and Awards:*

All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If submitting a performance appraisal not dated within the last18 months, a statement as to why it is the most recent must be submitted. If no performance appraisal is available, applicants must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).* College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.* Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifi