Park Ranger

Responsible for safeguarding City parks and surrounding areas, facilities and participants in City parks. Work includes the opening and securing park amenities for participant use, and enforcing all park rules, regulations and City ordinances. Performs the necessary maintenance tasks to ensure clean, safe and user-friendly parks. Actively communicates with participants in parks, and city facilities. Responsible for the enforcement of all park rules, regulations, and City ordinances. Performs scheduled rounds to each park site to oversee park activities during the evening, weekend and holiday operations.

Interacts with picnic groups, playground participants, and sports leagues on a regular basis, while promoting a positive and professional environment. Responsible for personally checking park permits in all picnic shelters throughout the City. Works closely with youth and adult sports leagues to coordinate field reservations and use. Performs minor first aid and follows through with proper emergency procedures in the event of a serious incident. Maintains a work log, and performs maintenance checks on park, playground, and facilities to ensure all equipment is safe for use. Professionally adept at handling large groups of people, even in difficult situations. Operates light vehicles, and other equipment as needed. Performs regular maintenance tasks in parks as necessary. Checks all facilities after hours to ensure that each building is secure. Punctuality and regular attendance are essential functions of this position. Must work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or GED. Must possess at least (6) six months of experience working in a government agency or with the general public in a Parks & Recreation setting, with at least one year of experience preferred. An Associate’s Degree in the Parks & Recreation field or law enforcement or an equivalent in related park service experience is preferred. First Aid and CPR Certifications, or the ability to receive each certification within one year of employment, are required. Requires some knowledge of playground and park equipment; municipal recreation and parks operations procedures including but not limited to the rules, regulations, and ordinances. Ability to perform light maintenance tasks as required; and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public and co-workers. Must have exceptional verbal communications skills; the ability to recognize and handle difficult situations involving groups of people; the ability to oversee and secure parks and facilities; and the ability to communicate with diverse groups and organizations, adults, seniors, and children. Knowledge and understanding of a parks reservation system, including issuance of permits for picnic shelters, is preferred. Must be able to work outdoors on a regular basis, and in variant temperatures. Ability to use small hand tools to make repairs as necessary is required. Must possess a valid State driver’s license with good driving record. If the driver’s license was issued from a state other than Florida, a State of Florida driver’s license must be obtained before date of hire.

Eligibility List Criteria:

An eligibility list, which shall be valid for a maximum of six months, or until the list is abolished, whichever comes first, shall be formed based on applicants who meet the minimum qualifications. Candidates on the eligibility list will be given consideration for each vacancy. Veterans’ Preference shall be awarded, pursuant to Florida Statutes.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk, talk, sit, hear, reach with hands and arms, and use hands to finger, handle, feel, rake, and operate objects and tools or controls. The employee must frequently lift/move 25 lbs. and must occasionally lift/move up to 100 lbs. The employee is sometimes required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crawl and crouch. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical equipment. The employee is exposed to outdoor weather conditions, which may be wet or humid. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes, toxic and/or caustic chemicals. The noise level is usually loud, with the office areas moderately loud.

Application Deadline:

Applications are available and will be accepted until 5:30 PM, Monday, October 23, 2006.

APPLICANT SELECTED FOR HIRE MUST SUCCESSFULLY PASS PHYSICAL

DRUG TESTING AND BACKGROUND CHECK

NOTE TO APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Applicants with disabilities who will need special accommodations for testing must advise Human Resources not later than one (1) week prior to scheduled testing, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.