So as if this winter hasn’t been strange enough with limited traveling and my best friend diagnosed with cancer, I also have no job at Grand Canyon this summer. It’s complicated.
View northeast from Moran Point South Rim Grand Canyon
I should be starting work today with training on the South Rim. But no.
The job announcement came out January 12th for Park Ranger Interpretation at Grand Canyon. This is sort of like a classified ad for the gov, all done online of course. I immediately applied for a GS-07 seasonal position on the North Rim. Basically the same job I’ve been doing for ten seasons as a GS-05 for a little more money and called a “lead”. Towards the end of March my supervisor wanted to know if I planed to return for the 2018 summer season. Well of course. But my name didn’t show up on the cert (list of qualified applicants) for my usual GS-05 position. But that’s OK because I can be picked up as a rehire. So we think. But this does prompt me to look into why I didn’t show up on either cert. Are you confused yet?
Last light seen from the North Rim Lodge
After several emails with folks from the regional Human Resources office I am reminded that I didn’t reapply for my GS-05 job, just the GS-07 which I was “highly qualified” for but the park decided not to fill the position. Only they did fill the position and I wasn’t on that cert either. WTF? I’ve asked for a review on this.
Then the ‘rehire’ process began. Due to a new interpretation to old rules the National Park Service (NPS) audited my work history for the last 20 years looking to see if I worked more than the ‘1039’ hours (six months) that is maximum for seasonal employees. If I did, I loose my rehire rights. I waited 2 1/2 weeks thinking I’d be safe as I’ve never worked more than one season a year for NPS since 2002.
Last light on Mount Hayden and beyond from Point Imperial North Rim
If a position requires more than six months the job should be full-time permanent, and I agree with that. NPS has been dodging that one for a long time. Some people choose to work two seasons per year in different parks. The jobs are competitive and permanent jobs have been difficult to impossible to get. Only in the last couple years has it become easier for seasonal employees to apply for permanent jobs through the a new act and be able to get health benefits at a reasonable price when working.
However, I mostly didn’t want to be permanent and work all year. I like being a seasonal and felt fortunate to work six months and then play/take six months off. But I do need to work at least half the year to accommodate my budget. My plan was to work two more summers at Grand Canyon which celebrates 100 years as a national park in 2019, and then at least think about retirement at age 66. Of course as a seasonal Park Ranger I don’t really retire I just don’t go back to work again.
Last light on Wotan’s Throne from the Wedding Site at Cape Royal North Rim
Bottom line, I have no job at Grand Canyon. Seems the auditor discovered I worked seven months at Oregon Caves in 2004. I really don’t know how that could be and have requested a review. If you’re not totally confused by now let me know because I am.
Of course, I’m not the only one who was caught off-guard by this new interpretation of the rules but it is inconsistent across the country in different regions. After commenting on a NPS employee Facebook page I was contacted and interviewed by Cronkite News Arizona PBS. Glad to see some media picking up on this.
Monsoon inversion swirls around Brahma Temple from North Rim Lodge
I am sad about this and yet it could be considered a blessing in disguise. Right now I’m care-taking my friend Berta to the best of my ability, however it is not a new future career. I am not usually first on the list of people-nurturers, and Berta will agree with that. This is different. Should be an interesting summer.
Sunset from Cape Royal North Rim
Rangers get paid in sunsets
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