Summary

This position serves as the Superintendent for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve and will be duty-stationed in one of the following locations in Alaska: Copper Center, Fairbanks, or Anchorage.

Please see "Additional Information" section for Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) information.

This position is also open to public under announcement CAHM-[redacted]2-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 Superintendent serves as the senior line officer for Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve, providing leadership, direction, and oversight for all park operations. Under the general guidance of the Regional Director and direct supervision by the Deputy Regional Director, the incumbent manages planning and development; land acquisition and protection; public relations; and the preservation, interpretation, maintenance, and administration of one of the most complex and expansive parks in the National Park Service. This position requires broad leadership, strategic decision making, and operational expertise to ensure the continued protection, integrity, and accessibility of Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve-one of the largest and most complex parks in the nation.

Daily Duties:

• Lead a multidisciplinary workforce responsible for public use management, resource stewardship, education and interpretation, fiscal and human resources management, visitor services, safety, partnerships, public affairs, and park development.
• Oversee the protection of nearly 10 million acres of designated wilderness and the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark.
• Represent park's interests across a wide range of governmental, Native Alaskan, community, and land management forums.
• Direct a major park program that includes administration of roughly $10 million annually and management of permanent, seasonal, and volunteer personnel.
• Represent the National Park Service on subsistence and ANILCA (Alaska National Lands Interest Conservation Act) related matters.

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.
• 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.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• WORK SCHEDULE: You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
• TRAVEL: You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period. For more information regarding Probationary Periods, please see "Qualifications" section below.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/24/2026-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-15 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-14 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 other, similar land management experience may have been in technical, administrative, resource management, 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;
• Tribal land management to include Alaska Native corporations experience;
• Directs 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.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

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).

A Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) rate is authorized. COLA is based on location and is subject to annual review and adjustment.

• The duty locations of Fairbanks, Alaska and Anchorage, Alaska have a COLA rate of 1.49%.
• The duty location of Copper Center, Alaska has COLA (Cost-of-Living Allowance) rate as listed under "Other Alaska" of 3.00%.

First time hires to the federal government normally start at the Step 1 rate.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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

All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.

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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.