National Grasslands Visitor Center Manager (Visitor Information Specialist GS /11)

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1 National Grasslands Visitor Center Manager (Visitor Information Specialist GS /11) The National Grasslands Visitor Center Hosted by the Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands Wall, South Dakota The purpose of this Outreach Notice is to determine interest in a position as the National Grasslands Visitor Center Manager. We are looking for an energetic person to provide continued leadership in the development and maintenance of internal as well as external partnerships, and the delivery of information and public education services at the National Grasslands Visitor Center (NGVC). This is a high-visibility position that truly epitomizes face of the Forest Service to our diverse visitor base and our local communities. Additionally, the NGVC Manager also serves as the key coordinator and communicator with the 20 National Grasslands and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, which are represented by the NGVC. The

2 Grassland units represented are located in 13 states. In addition, the incumbent may be responsible for interpretive master plan implementation, exhibit planning, program administration, public affairs, and conservation education outreach for the center. The National Grasslands Visitor Center shares a compound with the Wall Ranger Station Wall Ranger District (WRD), Buffalo Gap National Grassland of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (NNFG). The NNFG is the host unit of the National Grasslands Visitor Center. The NGVC is a national asset for the Forest Service The NNFG anticipates filling one GS /11 Visitor Services Information Specialist position. The position responsibilities include: Develops specific portions of annual program of work specifically related to recreation and interpretive program facilities and visitor information activities to meet the needs of a wide range of resident, non-resident, and international visitors. Providing public affairs coordination for the site which includes outreaching to tourism entities, advertising, reviewing press releases, and attending local events as a representative of the 20 National Grasslands and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. Participates in planning short-term operating budgets for visitor services program resources, such as personnel, supplies, and materials. Provides budget inputs and projects staffing needs to senior management for planning purposes. Assists in determining the allocation and use of resources required for accomplishing program objectives. Administers the maintenance program for a visitor center including minor facility repairs and exhibits. Continue partnership efforts for the visitor center and the District. Serve as a liason for the District by understanding describing the various programs of work and partnership needs. Maintains cooperative relationship with interpretive association. Participates in determination of products and materials that could be sold. Establishes controls for sales operations and tracks inventories. Schedules, coordinates and delivers educational programs. Assists in the daily management of visitor services staff, including visitor contacts, sales, cleaning, and maintenance workers. Works with all district employees to ensure efficient volunteer coordination, recruitment, and implementation. Serves as the Recreation Staff for the Wall Ranger District providing assistance in program management and implementation. National Grasslands Visitor Center PROFILES Our National Grasslands Visitor Center is considered a Forest Service national asset as it represents the 20 National Grasslands and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNTP) of the Forest Service. The NGVC is scheduled to be open daily from Memorial Weekend through September 30 th. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday the remainder of the year.

3 The NGVC was constructed in 1992 and is moving into its next phase in the visual as well interpretive landscape. An Interpretive Master Plan (IMP) inventory (phase 1) was completed for the 20 National Grasslands and MNTP. Phase 2 of the IMP, when funded, would include development and implementation of IMP recommendations concerning exhibit upgrades that incorporate interpretive messages from all national grasslands and MNTP. The NGVC and the Wall District have a Service First agreement with the two National Park Service units, Badlands National Park and Minuteman National Historic Site, located near Wall. This partnership has improved the services provided by our three units to local, national and international visitors and has improved NGVC visitation numbers significantly. District and Forest Wall Ranger District has a permanent staff of eight employees and administers the eastern half of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, comprising approximately 267,500 acres of mixed and shortgrass grass prairie with intermingled badland formations. Our District also hosts one of the largest complexes of black-tailed prairie dogs and the most successful reintroduction of the endangered black-footed ferret on public land. The Buffalo Gap National Grassland land ownership pattern is public land with private land intermingled. Badlands National Park (BNP) and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (MMNHS) are within the proclaimed Wall Ranger District boundary and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is along our southern border. A Service First agreement between the Forest Service and Park Service was signed and is providing BNP, MMNHS and NGVC/WRD the ability to develop and deliver diverse, integrated programs. The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands are situated across two states and include five Ranger Districts and one Nursery. Fall River Ranger District and Wall Ranger District share management of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland across southwestern South Dakota. The Ft. Pierre National Grassland is managed by the Ft. Pierre Ranger District and is situated in southcentral South Dakota. The Pine Ridge Ranger District includes the Nebraska National Forest and Oglala National Grassland in the northwest corner of Nebraska. The Bessey Ranger District includes a portion of the Nebraska National Forest in west-central Nebraska and the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest in north-central Nebraska. The Bessey Nursery is co-located with the Bessey Ranger District at Halsey, Nebraska. Wall, South Dakota LOCATION The position is located at the Wall Ranger District in Wall, South Dakota. Wall is a full-service community with a population of approximately 820. It is located 55 miles east of Rapid City, South Dakota, on Interstate 90 and is about 400 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado, and 400 miles west of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wall offers four churches, ten motels, two banks, one medical clinic affiliated with Rapid City Regional Hospital, a dentist, a full service grocery store, public library, weekly local newspaper, and many tourism businesses. The public school building for grades K-12 was constructed in

4 2005. The school district has recently received several state awards of the quality of their educational program. It also has a very active and competitive sports program. While Wall supports an airport, the commercial airline service is available at Rapid City Regional Airport, 50 miles to the west. Major employers in or near Wall are Golden West Telecom, the infamous Wall Drug Store, the Wall School District and Badlands National Park. The Badlands National Park headquarters are 40 minutes southeast of Wall. Rental apartments range from $300 to $500 per month; prices for rental homes start around $500 per month. Homes to purchase range from $75,000 and up, with the average cost of a family home being between $100,000 and $120,000. There is no state income tax in South Dakota; however, property taxes are approximately $2,000 annually on a $100,000 house. Temperatures are moderate, though seasonal. The average January temperature is 30 o F and an average July temperature is 87 o F. Average annual precipitation is 15 inches, and average annual snowfall is 31 inches. Elevation is 3,300 feet above sea level. Recreation facilities in Wall include a school operated fitness facility, golf course, trap range, a city park and outdoor pool, and two private campgrounds. Outdoor opportunities on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland and surrounding area include hunting mule and whitetail deer, antelope, sharp-tailed grouse and fishing at numerous stock ponds. Wall is within an easy drive of Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and is immediately adjacent to Badlands National Park and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Only an hour away, the Black Hills National Forest offers many hiking trails, and two downhill ski areas. The Black Hills area provides a wide range of recreation opportunities. Hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, boating, swimming, skiing (water & snow), snowmobiling, and other activities are available in the immediate vicinity. For more information on the Wall community, contact the Wall Chamber of Commerce at or by internet at: Rapid City, South Dakota Rapid City, with population of over 90,000, is the major population and retail center for the region. It is a full service community with a Regional Hospital, Regional Eye Clinic, National American University, scores of local and national chain restaurants, 90 churches, two public high schools, four middle schools, seventeen elementary schools, and several shopping malls. It is the cultural center for the region with active art, entertainment and sporting venues. Ellsworth Air Force Base and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are also located here. For more information on the Rapid City community, check the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce internet site at:

5 OUTREACH RESPONSE If interested in this position, please respond by April 9, 2014 by filling out and returning the attached interest form. Hard copies of the attached form may be mailed to the Wall Ranger District and NGVC, PO Box 425, Wall, SD Attention, Nadia or Alan. Those desiring further information, can contact: Nadia Eisenbraun, Acting NGVC Manager, Phone , or Alan Anderson, District Ranger, Phone , JOB APPLICATION - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT This is a permanent position. The vacancy announcement for this position will be posted on the U.S. Government s official website for employment opportunities at Those who wish to be considered for this position must apply to the vacancy announcement. Those who respond to this outreach will be notified of the vacancy announcement. All applicants who have correctly applied to the announcement, and are found to be qualified, will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.