Park Manager (Superintendent)

National Park Service

$85K — $100K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of leadership experience in park or conservation management
  • Specialized experience at the GS-13 federal level or equivalent
  • Demonstrated ability in policy development and implementation
  • Experience in managing public resources with a focus on preservation
  • Strong skills in managing diverse teams and fostering collaboration

Responsibilities

  • Oversee park administration and management programs
  • Lead visitor services and public relations initiatives
  • Manage maintenance and cultural resources management
  • Ensure visitor protection and safety
  • Administer land acquisition and development plans
  • Cultivate partnerships with local communities and organizations
  • Empower senior managers and fellow superintendents

Benefits

  • Access to a comprehensive federal benefits package
  • Potential for park or government housing
  • Eligibility for paid travel and relocation expenses
  • Opportunities for telework with supervisor approval
  • Credit for volunteer experience toward qualifications
Full Job Description
Summary

The incumbent will serve as the Superintendent for Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Fredericksburg, VA.

This position is also open to public under announcement NE-1612-FRSP-[redacted]2-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

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The incumbent carries out a management program for the park which includes administration, public relations, interpretation and visitor services, maintenance, natural and cultural resources management, visitor protection, and an active land acquisition and development program.

In addition, the incumbent is responsible for managing an 85-acre easement over George Washington's Boyhood Home at Ferry Farm in Stafford County, VA, a part of George Washington Birthplace National Monument.

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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/13/2026-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 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. 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; and/or
  • 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.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

Park/Government housing may be 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).

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

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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.

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.

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