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Park Ranger

Summary

Under direction, performs a variety of duties involving the enforcement of land use laws and regulations and serves as a Peace Officer under the California Penal Code. Performs a variety of routine general maintenance for District parks and open space areas and facilities; ensures areas and facilities are available for use and consistently maintained in a safe and clean condition. Provides resources and information to patrons; and performs related work as required.

Supervision Received And Exercised

Receives direction from higher-level supervisory staff. Leads and directs lower-level staff and volunteers.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Park Ranger is responsible for performing duties involving the enforcement of land use laws and regulations, serving as a Peace Officer under the California Penal Code; performing general maintenance tasks; and providing resources and information to patrons. Performance requires ability to work independently with initiative and discretion within established guidelines. This classification is distinguished from the Chief Ranger in that the latter has overall administrative and operational responsibility for open space programs and services.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

  • Performs a variety of duties involving the enforcement of land use laws and regulations and serves as a Peace Officer under the California Penal Code.
  • Patrols assigned area to ensure safe and proper use of park and open space areas and facilities.
  • Performs a variety of routine general maintenance for District parks and open space areas and facilities; ensures areas and facilities are available for use and consistently maintained in a safe and clean condition.
  • Provides resources and information to patrons.
  • Implements, monitors, and enforces relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; issues verbal warnings or citations in the capacity of a Peace Officer under the California Penal Code.
  • Performs resource management tasks, including, but not limited to, identifying, controlling, and removing invasive plants and animals, and identifying habitat concerns; installs habitat enhancement features.
  • Prepares marketing and educational material, and conducts a variety of programs, tours, and other organized activities of a recreational or interpretive nature.
  • Operates and maintains a variety of vehicles, tools, and equipment, such as, emergency patrol vehicles, enforcement tools and restraining devices, power saws, brush cutters, sprayers, mowing tractors, all-terrain vehicles, and various tools required for enforcement, patrol, construction, and maintenance duties.
  • Adheres to fire prevention policies; provides support for controlled burns and various emergency services, such as wildland fire suppression, search and rescue, and medical response; controls traffic and monitors affected areas to ensure the safety of the public and staff as needed.
  • Cares for animals used in interpretive programs, including feeding, cage cleaning, and health monitoring; captures sick or injured animals for transportation to wildlife rehabilitation facilities; facilitates euthanasia for fatally wounded or ill animals; relocates potentially hazardous wildlife; disposes of dead animals.
  • Performs administrative tasks, such as attending and scheduling meetings, preparing reports, and maintaining records.
  • Attends trainings, workshops, and classes related to job duties.
  • Assists with District special events as needed.
  • Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

  • High School Diploma or GED, supplemented by two years or 60 units of college level coursework in natural sciences, recreation, law enforcement, or a related field;
  • Two years of relevant experience in park enforcement.
  • Any combination of training, education, and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge of:

  • Principles, practices, and procedures of park law enforcement, emergency medical response, fire suppression and prevention, and search and rescue.
  • Principles and practices of resource management, including weed management and habitat restoration.
  • Safe and proper use of equipment and devices used in enforcement activities, such pepper spray or other chemical agents, batons, and restraining devices.
  • Methods and techniques used in the operation, repair, and maintenance of park and open space areas and facilities.
  • Operational characteristics of a variety of tools and equipment.
  • Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
  • Basic wildlife, vegetation, and geographic features found in District parks.
  • Relevant natural and cultural history.
  • Outdoor recreation skills related to camping, biking, hiking, and horseback riding.
  • Methods and techniques of wildland resource protection and restoration.
  • Local wildlife, flora, and fauna in assigned geographic locations.
  • Methods and techniques of capturing and transporting domestic and wild animals, as well as their care and maintenance.
  • Relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
  • Speak effectively in public.
  • Principles and practices of recordkeeping.
  • Principles and practices for providing high level of customer service.
  • Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
  • Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications.

Ability to:

  • Perform emergency medical aid, fire suppression, search and rescue, and other response and prevention activities.
  • Perform a variety of general maintenance and repair work.
  • Understand, interpret, and apply all relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
  • Provide natural, cultural, and historical interpretive programs.
  • Speak effectively in public.
  • Safely and effectively use, operate, and maintain tools and equipment.
  • Read, interpret, and apply technical information from maps, manuals, drawings, specifications, layouts, blueprints, and schematics.
  • Maintain accurate records and reports.
  • Independently organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
  • Demonstrate strong customer service skills and establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships.
  • Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.

Licenses and Certifications:

  • At time of appointment, and maintained throughout employment possession of:
    • California Driver’s License, with a satisfactory driving record,
    • American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED certification,
    • California Penal Code 832 certification.
  • Completion within one year of hire and maintain certification throughout employment:
    • Emergency First Responder or higher certification,
    • Basic Wildland Firefighting certification.

Physical Demands

Must possess: mobility to work in various parks and open space areas; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform medium to heavy physical work, to work around machines, to climb and descend ladders, to operate a variety of tools and equipment, and to operate a motor vehicle; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen and to distinguish colors; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone or radio. Frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards. Finger dexterity needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard and/or calculator and to operate tools and equipment. Incumbents in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and inspect work sites. Incumbents must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds or heavier weights with assistance and/or the use of proper equipment.

Environmental Elements

Incumbents work in both indoor and outdoor environments with moderate to loud noise levels. May work in controlled temperature conditions, cold and hot temperatures, or inclement weather conditions. Exposure to a variety of plant and animal species. Incumbents will interact with individuals in interpreting and enforcing rules, policies, and procedures.

Working Conditions

Incumbents may be assigned an on-call and irregular work schedule, including weekends, early mornings, evenings, and holidays.

Pre-Employment Conditions

  • Department of Justice fingerprint clearance.
  • Medical exam and drug testing clearance.

Classification Details/History

Date Adopted: 5/31/17 Job Code: 7455L/PT453 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Supersedes: Park Ranger dated 12/10/14 & 3/14/07