About This Position
These positions are located at the Fairbanks Alaska Lands Information Center, in the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. This is an open continuous announcement with an established initial cut-off date of February 25, 2026. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the initial cut-off date. Please see "Next Steps" for additional information. Anticipated season dates: April through October Government housing is not available.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/03/2026-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. 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: You must possess at least six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience for a total of one year of experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-3 level in the federal government (obtained in either the public or private sectors). General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Experience may include, but are not limited to: selling merchandise, collecting and accounting for fees or other monies, greeting visitors, disseminating information, providing directions, or other work which required dealing with people on a recurring basis and that indicates the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of this position. 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. Some examples of specialized experience could include park guide or tour leader, naturalist, environmental educator or teacher, or other similar work. You must include the number of hours worked per week within your resume. -OR- EDUCATION: You must have successfully completed two years of education above high school (60 semester hour or 90 quarter hours) which included at least 12 semester hours of related courses, such as in American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education or communications. You must include a copy of your transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience: You must have an equivalent combination of education and experience. For example, I have 6 months of general or 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 related courses required). You must include a copy of your transcripts and include the number of hours worked per week within your resume. -OR- To qualify for this position at the GS-05 level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-4 level in the federal government (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include 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 park guide or tour leader, naturalist, environmental educator or teacher, or other similar work. You must include the number of hours worked per week within your resume. -OR- EDUCATION: You must have at least four years of education above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education or communications. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours; 45 quarter hours; or the equivalent in a college or university. You must include a copy of your transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience: You must have an equivalent combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent), in excess of the first 60 semester hours earned towards your degree which included related courses such as American history, science, public speaking, parks & recreation, education or communications, and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent in order to meet this description. You must include a copy of your transcripts and include the number of hours worked per week within your resume. 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.
Major Duties
The Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center, located in Fairbanks, is an interagency visitor center that represents nine state and federal agencies and provides information and education on all public lands in Alaska. It serves as a centralized point of information for the local residents and the visiting public about public lands, resources, and recreational opportunities in Alaska. It is located in the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center along with their partners, the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Tanana Chiefs Cultural Programs. As a GS-04 Park Guide, duties may include: Staff information counter in a visitor center. Answering questions on a variety of subjects. Guiding small groups and providing services to visitors. Present limited and repetitive pre-established talks including introductions to films, map talks, and static exhibit interpretation. Orient hikers to conditions and equipment needs. Interpret park values for visitors with varying interests and backgrounds. Guide small parties (up to 20 people) on short walks. Issue backcountry registrations. Collect cash and other payments in high volume sales operation following established accountability guidelines for handling government funds. As a GS-05 Park Guide, duties may include: Performs duties including programs that require application of broad subject-matter knowledge of the Alaska Public Land Information Center. Guide large groups (up to 50 people) on longer walks or programs Provide a wide range of services to park visitors. Orient and explain current park events and warn of safety hazards. Give talks using pre-established guidelines that require application of broad subject-matter knowledge of the features of the site which include detailed and specific interpretation and explanation of the outstanding features of the site. Greet and answer a wide variety of visitors' questions. The questions themselves arise from observations of the features themselves; from the demonstrated major interests of visitors, or the nature of the talks Guide interpretive talks on site may include up to 50 people while telling the story of events which took place there, and how those events related to the particular historic situation. May also provide walking tours through the large exhibit hall and on the grounds of the Morris Thompson Center. Research topics for interpretive presentations and special programs using various resources and develop the outline for presentation. Provide a range of services such as information concerning the NPS, surrounding areas of interest, the area's recreational opportunities, public orientation and explanation of current park events, and inform visitors of potential safety hazards. Collect cash and other payments in high volume sales operation following established accountability guidelines for handling government funds. These positions may collect and account for money. Positions with fee collection or government money handling duties may require a higher background check than the non-fee positions. Hourly Rate Pay Range by Grade: GS-04 steps 1 to 10: $19.73 to $25.64 per hour + COLA GS-05 steps 1 to 10: $22.07 to $28.69 per hour + COLA An additional 1.49% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the pay for the Fairbanks duty station. Pay is subject to review and adjustment.
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. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. Please do not submit a copy of your driver's license at this time. 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, or overtime. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Must be able to lift 25 pounds. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
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. 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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
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. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. 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: Education and Training Interpersonal Skills Manages and Organizes Information Oral Communication Technology Application In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation less than 18 months old, 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 less than 18 months old, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
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. 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. 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.
How to Apply
To 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 04/03/2026. 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12863857 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. Documentation for Public Land Corps (PLC) eligibility: You must provide the following with your application package: (1) a completed PLC Participant Work Hours Verification form and (2) Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Based on PLC Service showing you completed a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC. In addition, the documents must show that the most recent PLC project was completed within the last 2 years and if appointed to a position, it must not exceed 2 years after the completion of the incumbent's last PLC project. 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. Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire. PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/03/2026. 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.Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications 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. Your last Federal performance appraisal plan for your last position must reflect a rating of Fully Successful or equivalent. Veterans Preference Documentation (e.g. DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter as appropriate) 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 1-800-827-1000 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 last 18 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. Noncompetitive or Special Hiring Authority. Applicants who are eligible to be considered based on a Noncompetitive or Special Hiring Authority (i.e. Schedule A, VRA, former PLC member, certain Military Spouses, 30% or More Disabled Veterans, etc.) must submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Seasonal Park Guide position at National Park Service?
The salary range for this position is $20 - $29/hr. This is a GS-4/5 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Seasonal Park Guide job located?
This position is located in Fairbanks, Alaska. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/03/2026-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 positi...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Apr 3, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-4/5 mean?
GS-4/5 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.