Championing Wilderness Infrastructure: Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist at Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is renowned globally for its deep blue waters, dramatic volcanic cliffs, and pristine Pacific Northwest wilderness. Beneath this breathtaking natural beauty lies a complex infrastructure network that requires meticulous oversight, robust leadership, and expert technical direction. The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking an exceptional leader to step into the role of Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist (GS-13). Located in the heart of Oregon's Cascade Mountains, this permanent, full-time competitive position represents a career-defining opportunity for a facilities expert capable of steering a massive operations portfolio in one of America's most treasured ecological landmarks.

This role is not merely an administrative assignment; it is a critical stewardship mission. The chosen candidate will spearhead the conservation and maintenance of both historic architecture and contemporary facilities, ensuring that millions of annual visitors can experience Crater Lake safely and sustainably. If you are a seasoned leader with a proven history of overseeing multi-disciplinary craftspeople, executing complex asset management strategies, and managing infrastructure projects, this career pathway invites you to make a lasting impact.

About the Agency: The National Park Service and Crater Lake

Operating under the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service is charged with a dual mandate: preserving the natural and cultural resources of the United States while providing for their public enjoyment. Crater Lake National Park, established in 1902, stands as a crown jewel of this system. Featuring the deepest lake in the United States, the park spans over 180,000 acres of old-growth forests, rugged volcanic peaks, and high-elevation environments.

The Maintenance Division at Crater Lake is the backbone of the park’s day-to-day survival. Operating a park at an elevation exceeding 6,000 feet introduces extreme environmental variables, including heavy snowfall, high winds, and rapid seasonal transitions. This makes the management of physical assets exceptionally complex. From winterizing historic stone lodges to keeping major thoroughfares clear of snow, the Division relies on strategic facilities management to fulfill the agency's primary mission.

Key Job Responsibilities & Portfolio Management

As a member of the park's elite facility management team, the Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist acts as a central decision-maker and strategic planner. The duties associated with this GS-13 position are broad, requiring a sophisticated balance of administrative acumen and hands-on operational leadership:

• Personnel Leadership: Serve as the strategic team leader for more than 50 permanent and career-seasonal employees. This diverse workforce comprises highly skilled craftsmen, heavy equipment operators, utility systems operators, and maintenance mechanics.
• Asset Portfolio Stewardship: Direct operations across a massive facility footprint. Your responsibility includes managing 79 buildings, 45 employee housing units, 94 miles of wilderness and interpretive trails, 7 miles of unpaved access roads, and 77 miles of paved public highways.
• Utility Systems Management: Ensure the continuous operation and compliance of critical municipal-grade utilities, including 3 distinct potable water systems and 4 complex wastewater treatment facilities.
• Capital Project Planning: Identify, structure, and prioritize multi-year capital improvement projects. This involves intensive cross-divisional coordination and serving as the primary liaison for Federal Highway Administration initiatives and complex contractor-led construction ventures.

Core Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this GS-13 position, candidates must demonstrate a high level of specialized experience. There is no provision to substitute academic education for experience at this grade level.

Specialized Experience Criteria

Applicants must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, acquired in either the public or private sector. This experience must demonstrate:

1. Program Management: Experience directing a comprehensive maintenance program for complex facilities, such as large office buildings, hospitals, recreational facilities, military installations, or industrial complexes, including developing robust preventative maintenance schedules.
2. Contractor Surveillance: Proven skill in overseeing construction and restoration operations executed by private contractors, including reviewing technical drawings, blueprints, and project specifications for feasibility, while ensuring strict compliance with safety and federal requirements.
3. Cost Estimation and Execution: Practical experience estimating raw material and labor costs for diverse building projects (ranging from simple single-story structures to complex multi-story structural steel or reinforced concrete buildings), directing physical work crews, and coordinating with funding organizations.

Qualifications and Profile Comparison

Metric / Requirement	Standard Expectation	Preferred Attributes
Minimum Grade Level	GS-13 (GS-12 equivalent specialized experience required)	Demonstrated leadership in mountain or extreme-weather locations
Team Size Supervised	Over 50 multi-disciplinary staff members	Experience handling Union-represented craft workforces
Portfolio Scope	79 buildings, 77 paved miles of road, complex utility systems	Background in historic preservation and remote systems management
Physical Demand	Occasional backcountry travel and steep-terrain inspections	Ability to hike up to 20 miles in varied high-elevation weather

Salary Overview & Financial Incentives

The position offers a highly competitive compensation structure under the General Schedule (GS) system.

• Salary Range: $106,437 to $138,370 per annum (GS-13).
• Recruitment and Relocation Incentives: Depending on candidate eligibility and agency discretion, a recruitment or relocation incentive may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
• Student Loan Repayment Program: Selectees may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Benefit (SLRB), designed to assist with qualifying academic debt.
• Enhanced Leave Accrual: Candidates with related non-federal or military service may receive creditable service for leave accrual, allowing them to earn annual leave at a faster rate from their first day of service.

Federal Benefits Package

Employment with the National Park Service includes a premier package of federal benefits designed to support long-term wellness, retirement security, and work-life balance:

• Retirement Security: Coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) three-tiered retirement plan, which includes a defined benefit pension, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% automatic and matching agency contributions.
• Health and Wellness: A wide array of health insurance plans (FEHB), dental and vision benefits, and long-term care options.
• Work-Life Balance: Comprehensive annual leave (vacation) and sick leave programs, alongside 11 paid federal holidays.
• Telework Flexibility: The duties of this position are suitable for partial telework, allowing the selectee to split time between park facilities and an approved telework location, subject to supervisory approval.

Strategic Application Tips

Applying for a federal position requires strict adherence to technical parameters. Neglecting these rules will result in your application being automatically disqualified:

1. Enforce the 2-Page Resume Rule: Your federal resume must not exceed exactly two single-sided pages. Staffing offices will not review any content past page two.
2. Formatting Specifications: Use a minimum 10-point font for all body text and maintain at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides to prevent text truncation.
3. Quantify Your Experience: For every job listed, you must clearly state the starting and ending dates of employment (Month/Year), full-time or part-time status, and the exact number of hours worked per week.
4. Omit Excluded Elements: Do not upload Adobe Portfolio files, and ensure your resume contains zero photographs. Applications featuring photos will be instantly rejected to prevent hiring bias.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there educational substitution for the GS-13 level?

No. This position requires hands-on specialized experience. Educational degrees cannot be substituted for the one year of GS-12 equivalent experience required for this role.

What are the environmental conditions of the job?

Crater Lake experiences intense seasonal weather. The incumbent must be prepared to conduct inspections in extreme winter weather, navigate steep, rugged mountain terrain at high altitudes, and occasionally walk up to 20 miles in the backcountry.

Is a driver's license required?

Yes. Candidates must possess and maintain a valid state-issued driver's license throughout their entire tenure of employment to operate government vehicles.

Will I be required to wear a uniform?

Yes. As an official representative of the National Park Service, you will wear the agency’s legendary uniform and adhere to official appearance standards. A dedicated uniform allowance is provided.

Stepping into the role of Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist at Crater Lake National Park is more than a career advancement—it is a commitment to protecting one of the world's most beautiful landscapes. By combining your strategic facilities expertise with hands-on leadership, you will secure the structural integrity of this iconic park for generations to come. Review the official instructions, format your resume with care, and submit your application before the closing date of August 18, 2026.