Park Manager (Superintendent)

Summary

This position serves as the Superintendent of three National Park Service units, duty-stationed at Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) rate of 11.88% is authorized for this location.

This position is also open to public under announcement CAHT-[redacted]4-DE-MH. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

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We seek leaders who excel not only at managing parks and public lands, but at leading other leaders. Today's Superintendents are expected to lead beyond the boundaries of a single park by investing in, coaching, and empowering senior managers and fellow Superintendents, creating the conditions in which accomplished leaders can thrive, exercise sound judgment, and deliver exceptional stewardship and public service. Successful candidates serve as multipliers of leadership capacity-fostering collaboration across organizational boundaries, navigating the complexities of leading experienced executives with diverse perspectives and authorities, and building high-performing organizations grounded in accountability, integrity, and trust. They cultivate enduring partnerships, ensure decisions are lawful and mission-focused, and inspire confidence among employees, partners, gateway communities, Tribal Nations, and the American people.

The incumbent serves as the Park Manager of three National Park Service units, which make up the St. Croix National Park Group (Group): Christiansted National Historic Site (CHRI), Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve (SARI), and Buck Island Reef National Monument (BUIS). Group headquarters is located at CHRI in the heart of Christiansted, St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. Each of the three park sites has separate authorizing legislation.

The incumbent directs the operation of the park units within the Group, providing leadership and organizational skills, planning, and supervision, through a staff of front-line supervisors and subordinates, directing the Administration, Visitor and Resource Protection, Interpretation and Education, Natural and Cultural Resources, Commercial Services. and Facility Management Branches.

As the Park Manager (Superintendent) you will perform the following major duties:

• Direct and supervise the full range of planning, organizing, development, control, and evaluation of operations and management programs of the St. Croix National Park Group.
• Represent the National Park Service (NPS) in primary communications with members of Congress, Federal, State, and regional and local officials, public and private organizations, and the general public.
• Oversee and manage natural and cultural resource protection of the parks to ensure the preservation of resources and implementation of land protection initiatives.
• Manage visitor and resource protection programs, providing overall direction for law enforcement functions and the Interpretation and Visitor Services Program.
• Manage large and complex park facility management and maintenance programs to maintain and preserve structures, landscapes, and/or monuments.
• Responsible for identifying, obtaining, and directing financial and human resources necessary to accomplish the mission of the park.
• Provide leadership to the parks and partners to uphold the NPS vision in a complex and continuously changing environment.

Requirements

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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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• DRIVER'S LICENSE: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• UNIFORM: You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
• FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period. This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period. Please see "Qualifications" section for more information.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/03/2026-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.

QUALIFICATIONS:

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

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Park-related or similar land management 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 include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations;
• Management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area;
• Directs park-related or similar land management programs and work through direct and indirect supervision.

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.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: 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. This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

COLA INFORMATION: A Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) rate of 11.88% is authorized, based on location, and is subject to annual review and adjustment. *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range (Step 1).

Park/Government housing is not available for this position.

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the selectee lives outside the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation.

Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).

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.

AREA INFORMATION:

Located on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Christiansted National Historic Site, Buck Island Reef National Monument, and Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve together protect an extraordinary blend of Caribbean history, culture, and natural resources. Christiansted NHS preserves the historic Danish colonial town and its waterfront, offering a window into the island's past. Just offshore, Buck Island Reef NM features one of the most celebrated marine environments in the Caribbean, renowned for its pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and world-class snorkeling. Salt River Bay NHP & EP encompasses sites of archaeological, ecological, and historical importance-including Indigenous cultural areas, colonial landing sites, and rich mangrove and marine habitats.

The park headquarters is located in the town of Christiansted, a community known for its walkable historic district, working waterfront, and diverse local businesses. St. Croix has a population of approximately 50,000, providing residents and employees with access to a wide array of amenities including medical centers, K-12 schools, the University of the Virgin Islands, shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, churches, and recreational facilities. Two major towns-Christiansted and Frederiksted-anchor the island, and additional neighborhoods such as Northcentral, Northwest, and East End round out the residential landscape.

Most desired services-including hospitals, specialty healthcare, airports, and large retail options-are available within a short drive of park headquarters. Housing on St. Croix varies widely by location, ranging from historic in-town residences to hillside and coastal neighborhoods.Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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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.