JOB SUMMARY: This position is located in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, in the Interpretation Division. The primary purpose of this position is to interpret resources to convey national significance; connect visitors to personal relevance; facilitate shared learning; inform the public for compliance, safety; support management of natural and cultural resources of national heritage; and enhance mutual understanding for individual and social benefit. MAJOR DUTIES: MAJOR DUTIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: Independently research, develops, and offers high quality interpretation that is audience centered and meets NPS 21st century standards. Independently provide informative information and informal interpretation for visitors, especially at a visitor center desk, while balancing park operations and ensuring it all runs effectively, including register sales, information requests, and possible emergencies. Develops and presents a variety of interpretive programs including orientation talks, conducted walks, and demonstrations to a variety of general public audiences or school groups. Initiates or assists with development or revision of interpretive materials, such as brochures, guidebooks, handouts, exhibits, and social media. Collaborates with partners and stakeholders, such as state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community groups, to advance the mission of the park and to promote public awareness and support for its programs and resources. Engage the public through presenting a series of formal structured programs (e.g., walks, talks, tours, presentations, demonstrations, events, and virtual interactions) and informal contacts/conversations with the public. Create, facilitate, and support opportunities for audiences to understand national significance and personal relevance through intellectual and emotional connections to resource meanings and their current context. Coordinate the operation of a visitor facility and/or information desk; develop daily work schedules that include tours of duty and location of assignments for the supervisor's approval. Assist in helping others learn through formal or informal methods; train, mentor, coach, and evaluate interpretive programs and products conducted by lower-level interpreters, critique these activities, and recommend individual or program improvements. Work with internal and external customers to assess, address, and resolve visitor concerns; identify effective customer service practices and facilitate a collaborative, proactive, and welcoming work environment. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. PARK RANGER INTERPREPTATION: The employees of the National Park Service care for special places that are the heritage of all Americans. Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of this country's outstanding natural, historical, and recreational resources. Park ranger - interpreters connect people to parks. They play a key role in ensuring that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park experience, help visitors decide how to spend their time in the park, and inform them about the wonders that await their discovery. Park ranger - interpreters are specially trained to engage the public so that each park visitor can find a personal connection with the meanings and values found in the places and stories of that park. They help visitors explore the many dimensions of parks by introducing them to a variety of perspectives. By providing the opportunity for visitors to care about the places they visit, they promote stewardship and the opportunity for those visitors to care for park resources. National parks are among the most remarkable places in America for recreation, learning, and inspiration. The work done by park ranger-interpreters through effective interpretive and educational programs encourages the development of a personal stewardship ethic and broadens public support for preserving and protecting park resources, so that they may be enjoyed by present and future generations IMPORTANT: Click the 'Apply for this job' button to view a complete job description.