Education Specialist

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens; Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP). Open to the first 50 applicants or until whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of four years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

The National Park Service retains the right to extend the duration of this appointment after selection and/or appointment, based on changes to the regulation governing the number of years term appointments may last. This change, which may be made at the agency's sole discretion and without further competition, shall not be construed or interpreted as the granting of a right to a selectee or employee to such an extension. No extension to a term appointment shall be granted to a selectee/employee to an amount of time that exceeds the maximum number of years authorized under any present or current regulation, unless such regulation expressly allows such action.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Plans, develops, coordinates, presents, and evaluates education programs, within or outside the organization's boundaries, as part of overall education strategy, and consistent with the strategic goals and interpretive themes. Considers appropriate methods for reaching large student groups of various ages that visit from around the world. Prepares written reports, statistics, and correspondence related to the education programs to verify program objectives and obligations are met. Assists with writing grants for funding educational programs; and also develops and coordinates archive of educational materials for organization use. Designs and develops curriculum materials for specific grade levels to facilitate pre-visit classroom preparation, provide meaningful follow-up activities, or offer materials for students unable to physically visit the organization. Evaluates all curriculum materials for appropriateness to audience, effectiveness, and consistency with academic standards. Develops print and digital materials for education programs, including writing, editing, and production of curriculum, brochures, student and teacher handouts, workshop announcements, bulletins, directives for teacher orientation, teacher guides, assessment and evaluative materials, promotional information and public relations materials. Assists in planning, organizing, and presenting training workshops, often in collaboration with partner groups, for teachers, school officials, and curriculum coordinators. Workshops prepare teachers for field trip logistics, train teachers to conduct classroom activities, support organization interpretive themes, and promote stewardship of resources.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, s directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call weekends and holidays. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. You will be required to complete a one-year trial period. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/27/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR)
Completed a bachelor's or higher degree that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to this position.
-OR-
Completed a combination of education and experience. Courses equivalent to a major in educations, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course study described above.

Minimum Qualifications:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience for GS-09: (1) Plans, develops, coordinates, creates, and presents interactive curriculum-based programs, specific to different age groups, as part of the organization overall education strategy, and consistent with the strategic goals and interpretive themes of the park. (2) Develop print and digital materials for education programs. (3) Plans, develops, coordinates, creates, presents and evaluates activities designed for different age groups consistent with the strategic goals and interpretive themes of the organization. (4) Collaborates and communicates with partners, educators and administrators from school districts within the area. (5) Develops and manages partnership agreements and work plans including train coaches and direct staff on the presentation of educational program activities. You must include hours per week worked on resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following fields: education, communication, natural resource management, natural sciences, marine biology/sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, social sciences, wetlands ecology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. (Two years of graduate education is 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours). You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. I have completed courses equivalent to a major in education, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in A above. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and (27 semester hours or 41 quarter hours) of directly related graduate level college study in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education). You must include transcripts.

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

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

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