Park Ranger

Douglas County, CO is hiring a full-time Park Ranger responsible for daily operations, maintenance, and stewardship of parks. Key duties include providing customer service, performing maintenance tasks, monitoring safety, and managing park access. The position requires a high school diploma or GED, and a degree in a related field is preferred. The salary range is $55,364 to $83,046, with comprehensive benefits offered.
Park Ranger

Employment Type: 0 – Full-time Regular

Pay Range: $55,364.00 – 83,046.00

Location: Highlands Ranch, CO

Overtime Exempt: N

Elected Office / Department: DEPT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Park Ranger is a technical and professional position responsible for all areas of daily operations, maintenance, and stewardship of properties within the Division of Parks, Trails, and Rueter-Hess (“Parks”). The primary responsibility of this position is to provide positive customer service and recreational experiences through operational and maintenance duties.

Generally, the hiring range is $55,364-$69,205 annually. Qualifications, education and experience as it relates to the position will be taken into consideration when determining hiring salary.

Douglas County offers an excellent comprehensive benefit package including but not limited to: Medical/Dental/Vision/Retirement. For a more detailed overview please view the full Employee Benefit Guide.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.)

Recreation Operations, Maintenance, and Stewardship
• Provide public access through proper gated areas, parking management, and checking park use reservations and permits.
• Use a variety of equipment to perform routine maintenance.
• Seasonally clear snow with a shovel or equipment.
• Ability to perform strenuous labor for the entirety of the assigned shift.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute projects by organizing work, following priorities, meeting deadlines, and following up on assignments.
• Collect relevant data and prepare technical documents, reports, and presentations.
• Attend related meetings, training sessions, and conferences.

Recreation-Centered Customer Service
• Perform customer service functions such as checking in reservations and inspecting watercraft for aquatic nuisance species.
• Interact effectively with the public by greeting visitors, explaining park rules and regulations, giving directions, and providing assistance.
• Resolve visitor complaints and take public suggestions to provide a quality experience.
• Support recreation, special events, and volunteer opportunities.
• Operate within the limits of the position.

Recreation Safety
• Monitor properties, facilities, trails, and similar park areas (via foot, bicycle, motorized vehicle, and boat) to promote public safety and ensure proper use of the property.
• Promote public safety through proactive interactions and routine patrols Prepares for and responds to recreational emergency situations and rescue operations.
• Educate the guests about the recreational opportunities and park rules.
• Perform other duties as assigned

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Performs work under general supervision.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Does not directly supervise other employees. May provide guidance and training to staff or volunteers, as requested.

INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT: The ability to use experience and knowledge to make appropriate decisions. Work is performed under general supervision and within general guidelines, requiring a high degree of innovation, proper judgment, and discretion.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in recreation management, natural resources, recreation, wildlife biology, or a related field is preferred.
• Six months of maintenance experience in a park setting is preferred.
• Two (2) years of related experience is required.
• A combination of education, experience, and certifications may be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:
• Knowledge of various types of fisheries, wildlife, and domesticated animals is preferred.
• Methods and techniques of providing safe recreation experiences is preferred.
• Follow occupational hazards and related safety precautions is preferred.

Skills:
• Proper use of the English language, correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling when communicating verbally and in writing.
• Microsoft Office Suite, upload and manage data, ArcGIS, cloud-based services, GPS devices, and a cellular phone is preferred.
• Analyze, interpret, and implement legal, scientific, and technical journals, documents, reports, and statutes.

Abilities:
• Demonstrate strong customer service skills.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and productive working relationships.
• Apply common-sense understanding to interpret and carry out a variety of instructions in written, verbal, or diagram form.
• Communicate orally and in written form with professionalism and accuracy.
• Remain calm during stressful situations and emergencies.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS:
• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License upon hire, with complying insurance. A review of motor vehicle records is required at the time of hire and periodically throughout employment.
• First Aid and CPR/ AED certifications within 30 days of hire.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Physical Work Environment: Work is generally performed outdoors in various weather conditions and in a typical office environment. This position is classified as essential and requires the incumbent to remain available via mobile cellular device/email during and after typically scheduled business hours. Work is often performed in potentially dangerous situations involving criminal acts, problems or dangerous wildlife, and fire and medical emergencies. The incumbent will work irregular hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, and in inclement or hazardous weather.

Physical Demands:
• Ability to perform strenuous labor for up to 8 hours a day.
• Incumbents must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds with assistance and/or the use of proper equipment.
• Frequently must walk or bike over uneven, rough terrain, either pushing, pulling, or carrying equipment for long distances.
• Be able to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, climb and descend ladders, and inspect work sites.
• Exposure to chemicals, mechanical and electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes.
• Requires fine motor dexterity to adjust and maintain power equipment.
• Operate a variety of tools, equipment, and motor vehicles.
• Requires the ability to assist injured visitors.

Equipment and Materials Directly Used:
• Operate a variety of county vehicles, including a motorized boat.
• Power tools, ladders, hand tools, and similar.
• Typical office equipment such as computer, phone, fax/copy machine.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Closing Date: 4/11/2025 5:59PM MST. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

The job details outlined in this posting may represent a modified summary of the full job description. For a full copy of the job description CLICK HERE to view our job classifications.

In the event of an emergency/disaster in or near the County, all County employees are expected to make every effort to be available to assist the County Manager, Elected/Appointed Officials and Department Directors to ensure the continued operation of any and all necessary County functions. This may mean being available to perform additional duties and hours beyond what is normally required. In the event that an exempt employee does work more than 40 hours a week in support of County operations during an emergency, such employee may receive overtime or other appropriate wage compensation in accordance with existing County policies or at the discretion of the County.