Temporary and Seasonal Jobs with the National Park Service

Since its founding in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of the country’s outstanding natural, historical and recreational resources.  Today, the NPS encompasses more than 391 sites across the United States and in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

Every year, millions of people visit our beloved national park areas.  To meet the needs of visitors and help manage and protect park resources, the NPS hires approximately 10,000 temporary and seasonal employees annually.  While temporary positions are available in a range of career fields, most jobs available are in the following categories: 

Some seasonal positions are advertised and filled centrally (click here for info or call
1-888-279-9193).  Many others are advertised directly by NPS Human Resources Offices around the country.  Either way, all of our job openings can be found on USAJobs, the official job site for the United States Federal Government.  Just go to USAJobs, click on Basic Search and type in “NPS” to find a complete listing of our job opportunities and application procedures.  Hint: Check back often, as new positions open regularly.

For internship information, please click here.

Seasonal Jobs with the National Park Service

VISITOR USE ASSISTANT
As a uniformed employee of the National Park Service, you serve as a front-line representative of the agency and frequently you are the first and only contact the visiting public has with an NPS employee.  You work at an entrance station, visitor center, campground or other visitor contact station, collecting fees and providing answers to visitor questions about recreational opportunities, interpretive services, and concession facilities and services.  You distribute maps and brochures, provide directions through the park and inform visitors of potential safety hazards.  As you’re responsible for collecting fees and following accountability guidelines for handling government funds, you must pass a required background investigation.  You operate an electronic cash register, perform open and closing shift functions to verify money collected and stock sold.  Other duties may include a variety of visitor services such as traffic control, radio dispatching or back-country patrols.

PARK GUIDE
Would you like to practice your public speaking skills?  As a uniformed employee of the National Park Service, you deliver interpretative programs to educate visitors.  You independently present a variety of talks and briefings and respond to visitor questions.  Your presentations are generally short and concern park orientation and visitor safety.   You explain the area’s natural, cultural and/or historic resources, recreational opportunities, concession facilities and services, availability of campgrounds and hiking trails.  You provide information on current park events, projects, and policies, as well as updates on issues affecting the natural, historical and/or cultural preservation of the area.  Park guides work in or near the park visitor center or visitor contact station, and at auditoriums, campgrounds, trails, or in the field.  Other duties may include visitor services such as fee collection, traffic control, back-country patrols, and administrative tasks.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN
You have a direct impact on managing the resources of our National Parks by collecting essential field data.  You collect samples and record all data collected.  You work in the field, laboratory, or typical office setting.  You install, operate and maintain tools, traps, and sampling, monitoring, photographic, and laboratory equipment.  You use a variety of computer programs to compile, store, and report data and resource management information, including natural science research and long-term monitoring projects.  You also maintain and organize computer databases and prepare correspondence, reports and other documents.

PARK RANGER
Do you like working directly with the public?  As a park ranger for the National Park Service, you (1) interpret and explain park resources to visitors; (2) facilitate visitor enjoyment of the park and its resources; (3) help ensure visitor behavior that protects park resources and gain friendly compliance with the laws and rules for safe use of the park; and (4) encourage visitors to develop a sense of stewardship of park resources. You research and present interpretive programs, and present a variety of formal and informal programs including orientation talks, environmental education programs, conducted walks, demonstrations and campfire programs. You tell visitors about park facilities and resources such as visitor centers, campgrounds, historical sites and auditoriums.  Other duties may include gathering information for reports, compiling statistical data, assisting with search and rescue efforts or helping to combat wild-land and structural fires.

SEASONAL MAINTENANCE POSITIONS
Maintenance work is vital to the safe and efficient operation of our parks. Throughout the country, park units call on trades and crafts personnel to maintain and construct trails, roads, housing, visitor facilities, utility systems, signs, furniture, and so on. As a maintenance worker, you perform skilled and semi-skilled work in a variety of trades: trail maintenance work is frequently conducted out-of-doors and normally requires the ability to lift heavy objects in a variety of terrains.