The Ambassadors will help visitors and staff to have a safe and more convenient ride as they utilize the RoadRunner Shuttle Bus Transportation System in the park. More specifically, the Bus Ambassadors will:

• Act as safety ambassadors on the shuttle bus system, to provide visitors with safety information about the park;
• Address questions and concerns visitors might have about their visit to JOTR;
• Provide general information about Joshua Tree National Park;
• Inform visitors about how to use the shuttle bus system before entering the park;
• Provide additional information on boarding, exiting, and returning to their vehicles; and
• Provide information regarding transit times and bus connection schedules.

This position offers experience working with NPS professionals on public lands and will aid in preparation for a career in visitor services and communication. Those seeking workforce development experiences for the purpose of public benefit should apply.

Ability to completion of a Department of Interior background investigation. Those with fully adjudicated Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigations (BI) are encouraged to apply.

Timeline: 

• Five to Six-month appointments beginning October 2018;
• Weekend and holiday work required;
• 30-40 hours per week depending upon bus schedules.

Location:

Joshua Tree National Park encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in southern California, 2- to 3-hour drive from Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Joshua Tree National Park is of special management concern, lying in the transition of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Aside from the outdoor recreation opportunities and natural wonders within the park, Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Mojave Preserve, as well as Lake Mead and Spring Mountains National Recreation Areas are nearby and afford a diversity of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, mountain biking and rock hounding to fishing, boating and skiing/snowboarding.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education or related coursework and commensurate field experience, desired but not required;
• Experience providing visitor services, environmental education, outreach and/or interpretation;
• Proven ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience including NPS and GBI staff, partner organizations, and the public;
• Ability to speak English and Spanish conversationally, desirable but not required;
• Experience living or working in, and/or knowledge of Mojave Desert (preferable) or desert ecosystems and natural/cultural resources, desirable;
• Knowledge of guiding principles of recreation, cultural or natural resource management, desirable;
• Motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, and possess good organizational skills;
• Ability to work independently or cooperatively as part of a team focused on accomplishing goals and mission of the NPS and GBI;
• Capable of completing activities involving prolonged periods of standing, lifting and moving heavy items weighing 30 pounds or more, and regularly walking/driving between other offices/facilities;
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, and be in overall good physical condition; prior experience working in the desert southwest, or similar desert climates, desirable; and
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license.

Successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let you know in your application.