Seasonal Outdoor Recreation Planner (project Coordinator)

Outdoor Recreation Planner

The Outdoor Recreation Planner serves as a key member of a multidisciplinary planning team at Chesapeake Gateways, contributing to the development, evaluation, and coordination of park planning projects and recreation initiatives. This position involves conducting research, analyzing data, and preparing planning documents that support the protection and enhancement of natural, cultural, and recreational resources.

Responsibilities:

GS-07: Gathers and organizes data related to recreation resources, visitor use, and environmental factors. Performs routine tasks as part of a planning team, contributing to broader projects led by higher-graded planners. Prepares initial drafts of planning materials, correspondence, and reports for review and revision by senior staff. Attends public meetings or hearings to observe and assist, but does not lead discussions or represent the agency independently.

GS-09: Independently manages portions of complex planning efforts, including developing objectives, timelines, and tracking progress. Analyzes land use, demographics, recreation trends, and environmental data to inform planning decisions and recommendations. Writes substantive portions of planning and compliance documents, including environmental assessments and project charters. Maintains working relationships with federal, state, and local agencies, civic groups, and the public to exchange information and gather input. Attends and participates in public meetings, presenting planning information and facilitating discussions on noncontroversial issues.

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. Minimum Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 18 years old or 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-02/02/2026-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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess 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 such as: 1) Ability to deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns. 2) Analysis and evaluation of outdoor recreation interests, habits, and needs of diversified groups, and the means for meeting those needs. 3) Evaluation of land or water areas for their recreation and related potential use, such as wildlife reserve. 4) Preparation or review of plans and programs for natural resource utilization and recreation area development. 5) Solution of administrative, intergovernmental, socioeconomic, and other problems involved providing adequate recreation opportunities while preserving, restoring, and enhancing the quality of the outdoor environment. You must include hours per week worked.

OR EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 1 full year of graduate level education or I have a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. You must include transcripts.

OR Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess 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-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: 1) Ability to deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns. 2) Analysis and evaluation of outdoor recreation interests, habits, and needs of diversified groups, and the means for meeting those needs. 3) Evaluation of land or water areas for their recreation and related potential use, such as wildlife reserve. 4) Preparation or review of plans and programs for natural resource utilization and recreation area development. 5) Solution of administrative, intergovernmental, socioeconomic, and other problems involved providing adequate recreation opportunities while preserving, restoring, and enhancing the quality of the outdoor environment. You must include hours per week worked.

OR EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. You must include transcripts.

OR Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The percentages must total at least 100. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible.

If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

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.

ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS: This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

TEMP NTE Less Than 1040 - 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 3