Summary

This position serves as the Deputy Superintendent for Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, with shared oversite responsibilities for Fort Davis National Historic Site and the Blackwell School National Historic Site.

Duties

Help

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Determines strategic direction, goals, and objectives for Big Bend National Park and Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.
• Responsible for all aspects of management of the park through subordinate staff including planning and programing, public relations, administration, resource management, safety, interpretation, visitor services, and facilities maintenance.
• Fosters and maintain external relationships and partnerships, such as with community organizations, Native American tribes, elected officials, stakeholders and partners.
• Builds coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and non-profit and private sector organizations to achieve common goals.
• Ensures compliance with all federal laws and National Park Service (NPS) policies, ensuring that the park's financial and other resources are used strategically and effectively to meet NPS objectives.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.

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 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.

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 - 10/06/2026-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.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

To qualify for this position at the GS-0025-14 grade level:

Specialized Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as experience that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties of a Park Manager (Deputy Superintendent). Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience may include, but are not limited to the following: management, assistant or program specialist work involving development and implementation of complex, controversial, and/or sensitive policy related to protection and conservation of park areas or similar operations; directs programs and work through direct and indirect supervision; or other similar work. 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

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

First time hires to the Federal Government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Government housing may be available.

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: Physical demands range from sedentary work to frequent assignments that require field visits by vehicle and extended walking or carrying light items (up to 25) pounds over rough desert or mountain terrain or travelling by raft or canoe on a wild river. At times, assignments must be performed under stressful conditions involving short deadlines for several simultaneous projects. Working long days or traveling to attend meetings is common. Mentally stressful and taxing situations are frequently present.

Work Environment: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomfort, which require normal safety precautions typical of places such as air-conditioned offices, meeting and training rooms, and commercial vehicles. Travel may be frequent and involves the normal risks and discomforts of automobile or air transportation. In-park travel may involve discomfort and risk of difficult 4-wheel driving, backpacking, or traveling by canoe or raft. During periods of fieldwork the employee may be exposed to a variety of weather, elevations, and other environmental factors. Environmental conditions at Big Bend can be extreme, (10 to 1115 degrees F.,

Telework: The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Expand Hide additional information

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

Help

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.

Review our benefits

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.