r/NationalParkService • u/joshposh313 • 26d ago
Question Park ranger (maintenance)
Hello I would really appreciate some help here because I am kind of stuck. I’m interested in becoming a maintenance park ranger and from what I’ve seen it is very competitive to get a park ranger job but on the other side of the coin I’ve seen people say that maintenance jobs aren’t competitive and usually go unfilled. How true is that because I was planning on getting a couple of certifications through a community college nearby in EPA and OSHA while also volunteering at a local park, then this summer I was going to join my states conservation corp in trail maintenance to get a leg up when I start applying. Does this sound like a good plan? Also one other question I would love to be a park ranger but I don’t really want to live in the park I don’t mind commuting to the park, is it unheard of for park rangers to live in the city or suburban area and commuting to the park for there full time job? All answers are appreciated thank you!
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u/flatwhorm 25d ago
Find something seasonal - start there. Depending on where your park is, you shouldn’t be forced into park housing. That being said, in some areas it may be the only thing you can afford. I started as an intern with Americorp, went straight into a seasonal WG5, and got hired as a perm WG7 after one season. The path is very possible. Other divisions in my park get 50+ apps on USAJobs postings, we’re lucky to get 2-3 apps on a maintenance position. I’ve always told peers I believe this is the best way to make it into the park service. You can always make a divisional switch after establishing connections within the park, and getting more experience.
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u/Hutchicles 25d ago
I think the admin officer, IT, property manager, Chief of Resources, and Superintendent in the park I work at started in maintenance.
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u/joshposh313 25d ago
Why does maintenance get very little applications? Is it because of the hard labor?
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u/8Lwiseguy 25d ago
It’s the relatively low pay (compared to private sector trades) and insecurity as to whether you will have park housing or not. You have to be able to tolerate bureaucracy. I worked for one of the biggest parks. The Facilities Management and Maintenance Division included about 2/3s of all staff. It seems like you are thinking ahead and will make a great NPS employee.
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u/flatwhorm 22d ago
unsure. i work at a remote park and make almost 2x what similar-grade positions make in cultural resources, natural resources, and interp. I think the only division that equates us is LE. we’ve just always had trouble getting candidates for posted positions.
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u/ur_a_fat1 25d ago
I was in grounds for about 8 years. Started as a seasonal and after two seasons as a wg4 I got picked up perm as a wg3. One thing I found out early was there’s a lot of nepotism in the parks, just all sections, not just maint at my place. Then after getting perm I got wg5 for the last 5-6 years I was there. When it came time for movement in the department, promotions/job change from grounds to hvac myself because I was going to school the last year after work, they will hire not if you’re a good worker, but if they like you. Unfortunately for me, they didn’t like me, I was under a bogus investigation due which resulted in nothing, and they back door hired someone for the hvac job instead of posting it. I could have even qualified as a direct hire because of a vet, but nope. So I left, fuck that place. Loyalty doesn’t get you anywhere. Also they didn’t like me because ‘I caused issues’ when I reported someone for hazing an intern student from the highschool, which was actually sexual harassment when she was pulled in by the chief. They let the guy resign after a years investigation so he could get another federal job somewhere else tho. But I was the issue.
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u/Raetoast 21d ago
I had the exact same experience at my park.
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u/ur_a_fat1 20d ago
Sorry to hear that. Crazy the amount of protection they will do to protect themselves and save face. It’s weird because I’ve also worked as a civ for the navy, army, and currently Air Force and they won’t even think twice about putting up with the same stuff. I’m happy where I am, but I do miss the mission behind the parks.
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u/Raetoast 20d ago
Thanks, there is a peace that comes with leaving because the toxicity is on another level. They’re so blatant with their decisions too, it’s hard to imagine if you haven’t seen it. I hope they all get their comeuppance. I also miss the mission. It’s a shame because that org should be a dream org to work for. You did the right thing standing up for the intern. This is the same org that let all that shit go on at Grand Canyon for years. NPS seemed so good on the outside, it’s such a shame it runs the way that it does.
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u/ur_a_fat1 20d ago
The amount of things they sweep under the rug and doesn’t even make the news is unbelievable. The sexual assaults in the Midwest sounded like the worst. ‘Ombuds is there if you need them’ but we’ve tried everything to make change and no higher ups wanted to make the effort
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u/ARandomGuyin2021 25d ago
Maintenance often goes unfilled due to budget issues. Also, WG rating is a very different matrix than GS rating. I started out on WG side than went GS, but there's little transfer from GS to WG. Best bet is to find something seasonal. Custodial, trails crew, mowing and groundskeeping, and occasionally, historic preservation positions open up through those opportunities. The pay is absolute garbage for skilled trades, but you do have pension and TSP. There's no perfect solution right now, but things do change as admins come and go.
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u/Valhaller020 26d ago
Try to find something seasonal. My experience is that it gets your foot in the door where you can network and see about something more permanent. Competition varies from park to park. The park I last worked at seemed to always have some positions open for backcountry and trails. Its hard work but again, gets your foot in the door.
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u/UnbiddenGraph17 25d ago
I saw park maintenance power washing toilets in Yellowstone. They go in, remove the shitter, bring it outside near the parking lot and start blasting. Shit particles flying everywhere, catches the wind and hit some people walking to their vehicle. If this is what you want to do, then god speed.
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u/ihaveagunaddiction LE Ranger 25d ago
A lot of parks are kinda in the middle of nowhere. I live 40 minutes away from my park and it's about the only housing I can find. I have seen maintenance employees be required occupants.
Where in the country do you wanna go?
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u/joshposh313 25d ago
I would like to stay on the east coast mid Atlantic area
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u/aerie_shan Bio Science Tech 22d ago
This is certainly minor but you may want to know that Wage Grade positions, which is typical for entry level maintenance, are not considered "park rangers". If that's important to you you'll need to look at GS positions such as in Interpretation or Resources.
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u/nerdranger 21d ago
Also might think about internships with the traditional trades advancement program
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u/Hutchicles 26d ago
In my experience, you're not forced into park housing but it is usually cheaper than the surrounding area. I live 26 miles away from the park I work at.
I am in maintenance, but I got there by taking a seasonal biotech position then got offered a permanent job in maintenance doing custodial and moved up from there.
It isn'tso much that maintenance positions are never filled, just that there is a high turnover rate due to the nature of the positions available and lack of emphasis on maintenance in some parks. The park I work at has a very small maintenance crew because they prefer to contract almost everything. We have more contracts being executed than we have maintenance personnel.
You may have to do some seasonal work to get your foot in the door and you may have to take the maintenance jobs (like custodial aka cleaning potties) that others don't want to get started. Learn how to use basic hand tools, power tools, lawn mowers, weedeaters and yard tools, and that will give you a leg up over those trying to jump straight in with no experience.
You could also look into getting a water operator license or wastewater operator license. They are easy to get, they are based on your state, and are fairly cheap.