Summary

The incumbent serves as the senior advisor and Chief of Staff to the Park Superintendent (SES) and Deputy Superintendent, serving as the principal advisor and staffer for a wide variety of highly complex issues, congressional coordination, special projects, and programs, and as a key member of the parks' senior leadership team.

Duties

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• Serve as a senior advisor and principal assistant to the Superintendent for a broad array of key management issues, including the parks' enabling legislation, implementation of strategic priorities, and other special mandates, which are otherwise highly visible, politically sensitive, or unusually complex.
• Work closely with key stakeholders, representatives of other state, local, and federal agencies such as the Office of the Solicitor and the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.
• Develop action plans to execute strategic priorities.
• Supervise and evaluate work performance of a Management Assistant (GS-12) and Digital Communications Specialist (GS-12).
• Perform work and coordinate with senior park staff on issues that cross divisional boundaries, are politically sensitive or complex, and significantly affect the long-term management of the park.

For more information about the park please visit: Yellowstone National Park

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.

• Driver's License: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Time-in-Grade: 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.
• Financial Disclosure Report: A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...

Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year Probationary Period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

This Probationary Period 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.

Supervisory Probationary Period This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/10/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized 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 periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. 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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-14 grade level, you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

Experience: Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in Federal service that is directly related to the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Must have specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level, defined as experience serving as a principal advisor to senior leadership within a large, complex public lands or natural resource management organization; leading or coordinating organization-wide initiatives involving highly sensitive or high-visibility issues that span multiple organizational boundaries; and applying comprehensive knowledge of public land management principles, policies, and operations to inform and influence strategic and operational decision-making. You must include hours per week worked.

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

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

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.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.

Physical Demands: Work is often sedentary, although there is walking, bending and climbing associated with field visits. Operation of a motor vehicle is required on an incidental basis. This position is authorized to wear the NPS uniform. The incumbent may attend meetings and events for which the uniform is preferred.

Work Environment: Work is generally performed in an office setting, with visits to the various park sites and partner office locations. Assignments may require visits to backcountry areas and involve moderate risks or discomforts. Walking between sites happens regularly. Observance of safety precautions is required.

Telework: 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.

Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, You must submitALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals, ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance consistent with your SF_50s.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A 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.

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Eligibility 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.