Supervisory Park Ranger; Protection

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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.

• Serves as the principal advisor to the Superintendent on all aspects of Ranger Activities.
• Oversees Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, the Emergency Communications Center, Wildland Fire, Backcountry Operations and Lands programs at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including the Foothills Parkway.
• Directs, coordinates, and is responsible for all activities of the major operating division.
• Sets work goals and ensures all employees receive required training in a timely manner.
• Identifies operational requirements and makes recommendations to supervisor regarding programming, budgeting, training, administration, and evaluation of operations.
• Schedules patrols to maximize visitor contact with special consideration to problem areas.
• Supervises and leads complex law enforcement, all hazard, emergency medical, and technical search and rescue operations and provides emergency medical services to park visitors and residents.
• 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 employees.

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. It is the most visited national park in the system, welcoming over 13 million visitors in 2024. The park has 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.

There are 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). Temperatures can vary 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top. Rainfall averages 55 inches (140 centimeters) per year in the lowlands to 85 inches (216 centimeters) per year at Clingmans Dome. The Smokies is a temperate rainforest, and the park is divided into three distinct areas:
Cades Cove and Little River in Tennessee and South District in North Carolina.

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.

• 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.
• 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.…