Job Information
National Park Service Visual Information Specialist (Seasonal) in Luray, Virginia
Summary These temporary/1039 positions are located at Shenandoah National Park, in the Division of Interpretation and Education to support public outreach through multi-media projects. Responsibilities These positions serve as a visual information specialist to support Shenandoah National Park public outreach through multi-media projects. Duties include: Assists with the production of short movies for the general public that convey the park's key messages to the public effectively. Films, edits, prepares, and catalogs video of the park and park-related events. When given the objectives and audience of potential products, makes suggestions leading to a decision about the appearance and content. With direction from the IS, creates a product in keeping with interpretive principles and standards while fulfilling the objectives of the requester. With direction from the supervisor, selects or produces visual media materials to be used in products. Considers size, reproducibility, and overall visual appeal of the total project and makes selections that interpret or clarify the concepts and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the intended message. Coordinates staff review of products, consolidates comments, and, with IS and/or VIS determines what changes to incorporate and edits. Obtains video and images as needed for projects as well as to add to the park's video and image libraries. Keeps appropriate documentation of all. Produces print media with the instruction and guidance of the supervisor. Helps maintain the park's website through the NPS Content Management System. Maintains effective communication with park staff in all workgroups and at all levels. Participates as a team member on all visual media projects. Assists with troubleshooting technical issues with software, equipment, and the NPS Content Management System. Maintains an inventory of site bulletins, updates digital files to the specifications of the Government Printing Office, and prepares necessary paperwork when reorders are necessary. Keeps abreast of industry standards and new technology in media and makes recommendations about purchases and potential uses of new media. Constantly and consistently develops personal knowledge of the park's history and resources, as well as NPS standards and mission and uses that knowledge to develop products that will facilitate intellectual and emotional connections between visitors, (both actual and virtual) and the resources and messages of Shenandoah National Park. POSITION LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia, approximately 90 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. The park consists of approximately 197,000 acres of land, including 80,000 acres designated as wilderness. Home to over 300 species of animals including black bears, white-tailed deer, owls, eagles, peregrine falcons, snakes, and Shenandoah salamanders as well as over 1,400 species of plants, Shenandoah National Park provides a variety of ecosystems along the mountain range. The Park offers biking, scenic driving along the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive, rock climbing, over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, horse trails, and some of the best night skies in this part of Virginia. Annual visitation is around 1.3 million, which has direct and extensive economic impact on the surrounding area (eight counties and nine municipalities). The Park hosts multiple special events and festivals throughout the year and draws more visitation in the fall to view the changing leaves. The park's natural, cultural, and recreational resources are of vital interest to local and regional businesses, political leaders, conservation and outdoor recreation organizations, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Luray offers basic amenities such as stores and restaurants. Larger cities within two hours include Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Winchester, Culpeper, and the Washington D.C. area. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Government housing may be available. Uniform: 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 travel overnight away from home. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. 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-03/17/2025. 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities that involved visual communication of information or the application of the principles of artistic design, assisting in planning the preparation and use of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and other art work, charts, diagrams, dioramas, maps, slides, overlays, and other kinds of visual material for use in communicating information through visual media/means. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester hours) of graduate study with course work in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, photography, visual communication, website design, or other fields related to the position; --OR-- attained superior academic achievement in a bachelor degree program with course work as described above.. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example: six months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement), and one-half year (9 semester hours) of graduate level college study as described above (50% of the qualifying education). Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. 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 accredited institution 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 education completed in foreign colleges or universities 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. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS). If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM. Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Physical Demands: The work is normally sedentary and requires long periods of stationary work at a computer work-station. Work may require moderate physical exertion fabricating exhibits and signs, working from ladders, and lifting and working with maintenance staff installing signs and exhibits. Field visits may be necessary for on-site inspection of phases of the production of a visual product. Occasionally must lift moderately heavy objects and operates hand tools and power tools such as hammers, levels, rivet guns, saws, drills, etc. Working Conditions: Work is normally performed in a typical office setting, however, when work is performed outside the office, it may be in field environments or at dirty, dusty, cold, hot, wet or some otherwise uncomfortable locations indoors and outdoors, where the exhibit or display is located. Work involves moderate risks or discomforts such as working with power tools. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.