Summary

This position will serve Grand Canyon National Park in the Office of Communications, Partnerships, and External Affairs (OCPE). The position may be duty-stationed at Grand Canyon, AZ, Flagstaff, AZ or St. George, UT (for displaced North Rim staff).

Open to the first 50 applicants or until 07/31/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Location will be negotiable after selection.

Duties

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Program Management - The Deputy Chief assists the Chief of OCPE in the leadership and management of the park's interdisciplinary communications, partnerships and external affairs team. This includes the oversight of complex environmental, social, and outreach programs of varying complexities and national significance. The Deputy Chief directly supervises division staff and provides leadership direction to division staff and assistance to senior management on resource management matters.

Resource Stewardship - Incumbent works with the division chief and park leadership on national scope issues, with a focus on Colorado River, external developments and implications for park resources, values, and recreational uses. Incumbent assists park leadership in outreach and stakeholder engagement for complex environmental, social, and cultural issues related to park protection and environmental stewardship. Incumbent may represent GRCA on inter-agency groups on issues such as Colorado River management, uranium mining, protection of the park's air and water quality, and understanding and mitigating the impacts of millions of visitors to one of the nation's premiere national parks

Supervision - Incumbent plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. Incumbent assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Incumbent evaluates work performed by employees, provides guidance or instruction to employees on work and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions; hears and resolves complaints from employees. When necessary, the incumbent works with employees on improvements to performance plan elements, identifies developmental and training needs of employees, and finds ways to improve production and increase the quality of the work directed in conformance with performance standards and work plans.

Communication and Outreach - The incumbent works with public affairs and information specialists to plan, evaluate and execute strategic communication approaches for GRCA to promote and expand the reach and impact of messaging. This includes reviewing politically sensitive public relations programs, periodically interacting with elected officials and staff relative to issues of local, regional, and national interest. Such interest promotes outside inquiry, requiring the park staff to maintain regular contact with Congressional staff. Because of the economic impacts of the park, considerable political, local governmental and tourism interests engage frequently with park management.

External and Intergovernmental Relations - Incumbent works with park leadership to assist in establishment and furthering of relationship with external stakeholders and elected officials locally, regionally, and nationally. Coordinates VIP visits, with a focus on elected officials and community leaders. Works with divisional staff to develop materials related to park projects and programs to inform VIPs of the range and complexity of issues.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• 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.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home a few 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.
• Supervisory Probationary Period: Selectees who have not previously completed a supervisory probationary period, will be required to serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period for this position.
• 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

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.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/31/2026-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 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 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.

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-13 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience as a GS-12 grade level performing the following: (1) Knowledge and experience in issues surrounding water management issues, climate change and public communication; (2)ability to translate complex scientific information, such as environmental issues affecting the Colorado Plateau and/or Colorado River, into clear and accessible communications for diverse audiences; (3) understanding of the complexities of public policies and community engagement related to NPS mission and working with non-federal partners and other governmental entities, including local, state and tribal governments; (4) knowledge and skill at working with environmental issues and the implications for long-term sustainability of unit resources; and (5) knowledge and skill applying tact and diplomacy to accomplish goals and implement policies.

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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary 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.

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).

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.

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.

Physical Demands: Most of the work is sedentary but also includes actions requiring periods of moderate to heavy physical stress, work within the backcountry, as well as mentally taxing situations.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in the office and in the field. Fieldwork may take place in dangerous territory and involve access by foot over in hospitable desert terrain. Winter temperatures below zero and summer temperatures over one hundred degrees may be encountered. some projects require exposure to potentially dangerous conditions such as helicopter operations, surveys in light airplanes, and boat trips through the Colorado River. Stormy weather can often be encountered.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, submission of ALL 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 in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performan