Park Ranger I/II-Parks - County of Riverside
Riverside, CA 92501
About the Job
T he County of Riverside seeks candidates to fill positions throughout Riverside County. A list of eligible candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies.
The County of Riverside's Regional Park and Open-Space District has an opportunity for a Park Ranger I or II based out of Hidden Valley Wildlife Area (Riverside) and will patrol the Open-Space reserves on foot or in 4x4 vehicles . Under supervision, the Park Ranger position will patrol Open-Space reserves, enforce county ordinances, and perform park maintenance. Additional duties will include habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and community outreach.
The department seeks candidates who possess:
- Park operations experience related to Park Ranger, Park Attendant or Park Maintenance positions
- Coursework in Fire Science, Science, Conservation, Biology, Environmental Science, or landscape management
- Experience engaging with the public in a professional manner to educate and enforce County ordinances and park regulations with the goal of voluntary compliance
- California Class A Driver's license
- The ability to operate small to heavy equipment from weed trimmers to large tractors
- Knowledge of safe herbicide application practices
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office and GIS applications
Days, weekends and holidays. Working shifts are usually on a rotation based on department needs.
The Park Ranger I - Parks is the entry level classification in the Park Ranger series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager level position. Incumbents are assigned a variety of maintenance, technical, and operational duties, and receive training in park policies and procedures, and state and County laws and ordinances. Incumbents work under close supervision and their work is initially subject to detailed and frequent review, which lessens as they become more experienced.
Incumbents are expected to progress to the Park Ranger II level upon meeting the minimum qualifications for the higher level and satisfactory job performance.
The level at which the position will be filled is at the Department's discretion and contingent on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
Park Ranger I
$40,812.93 - $54,182.54 Annually
Park Ranger II
$ 44,109.94 - $58,616.06 Annually
Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District is a nationally accredited agency who strives to be the regional leader in improving lives through people, parks, places, and programs. Their mission is to acquire, protect, develop, manage, and interpret for the inspiration, use, and enjoyment of all people, a well-balanced system of areas of outstanding scenic, recreational, and historic importance.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Explain park policies, rules, regulations, and County ordinances; oversee the registration of park visitors, the collection of fees, the issuance of camping permits, and the assignment of the general public to various camping areas within the parks.
• Participate in custodial duties and the maintenance and cleanup of park structures and grounds; work with park maintenance personnel on minor construction, maintenance, repair, and improvement of park structures, facilities, and grounds.
• Answer public inquiries and complaints concerning park operations and maintenance.
• Provide assistance in emergency situations; maintain fire prevention standards and practices as established by the State Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention and the United States Forest Service.
• Patrol park areas to promote an orderly and congenial atmosphere among park visitors, and to resolve problems; issue warnings and citations under appropriate laws or ordinances for non-compliance of park regulations, and if needed, utilize law enforcement agencies to achieve compliance; may make appearances in court.
• Patrol open-space, wildlife habitat reserves, and conservation land to communicate and ensure compliance with park regulations, laws, and ordinances; work with maintenance personnel to maintain signs and access controls.
• Plan and participate in habitat creation and restoration; assist in the planning of prescribed burns with County, state, and federal fire agencies.
• Monitor and participate in court referral/ work release programs.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Park Ranger I
$40,812.93 - $54,182.54 Annually
Experience: Two years of interacting with the public that included conflict resolution and customer service or customer support. (College coursework from an accredited college or university in public administration, park or recreation management, forestry, botany, environmental science, or a closely related field to the assignment may substitute for the required experience on the basis of 30 semester or 45 quarter units equaling one year of full-time experience.)
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of natural resources conservation, park management, and general law enforcement; principles and practices of first aid and safety; methods and materials used in park interpretive programs.
Ability to: Read, interpret, and enforce appropriate laws and regulations in accordance with County policy; maintain records and prepare clear, complete, and concise reports; speak and write effectively; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the public and other employees.
Park Ranger II
$ 44,109.94 - $58,616.06 Annually
OPTION I
Education:Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in public administration, park or recreation management, forestry, botany, environmental science, or a closely related field to the assignment.
OPTION II
Experience:Three years of working in the operations, maintenance, development, or protection of a park, forest, or public recreational or historical area. (College coursework from an accredited college or university in public administration, park or recreation management, forestry, botany, environmental science, or a closely related field may substitute for up to three years of the required experience on the basis of 30 semester or 45 quarter units equaling one year of full-time experience.)
OPTION III
Experience:One year as a Park Ranger I with the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District.
ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of:Principles and practices of natural resources conservation, park management, and general law enforcement; principles and practices of first aid and safety.
Ability to:Read, interpret, and enforce appropriate laws and regulations in accordance with County policy; train subordinates in park and open-space procedures; maintain records and prepare clear, complete, and concise reports; speak and write effectively; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the public and other employees.
ALL Requirements for Park Ranger I/II
Assessment: Candidates will be required to take a general abilities assessment prior to being considered for any Park Ranger I position.
Physical Requirements:
Standing - daily
Frequent walking and hiking in uneven terrain - daily
Crawling/kneeling - weekly
Manipulation of small objects and equipment - weekly
Physically able to transport heavy objects, long distances, over rough terrain, on foot - bi-weekly
Frequent manipulation of objects and equipment
The position requires extensive hiking, prolonged kneeling/bending, ability to lift or carry 60 pounds or more, and move or manipulate objects/equipment. Due to the area of work and where it is being conducted, new hires will be potentially be exposed to living and dead wild and domestic animals and noxious plants including: rattlesnakes, bees/wasps, mountain lions, dogs, poison oak, and stinging nettle.
This position requires frequent exposure to inclement weather conditions (e.g. excessive heat, cold, rain etc.). Exposure to wild animals occurs incidentally.
License/Certificate:Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License (valid California Class A Commercial License is preferred).
Within 12 months of employment, incumbents must possess valid certificates in First Aid, CPR/AED, Basic Water Rescue issued by the American Red Cross or YMCA, and have successfully completed PC 832.
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For those positions designated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as safety-sensitive, applicants are required to complete a DOT mandated alcohol and drug-screening. (A positive test or refusal to test during the past two years will disqualify an applicant from consideration for County employment). Reference checks from former DOT regulated employers are also required. Applicants must submit a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving record prior to hire.
Employees in safety-sensitive positions are subject to DOT alcohol/drug testing in the following situations: random, reasonable suspicion/cause, return-to-duty, and post-accident.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Degree Verification:
Prior to the closing date, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES )or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/ .
Veterans' Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here (Download PDF reader)
What's Next?
This recruitment is open to all Applicants.
Applicants who are currently County of Riverside employees may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of the applications received.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.
Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted.
For specific questions regarding this position, contact Sonya Portillo at sportillo@rivco.org .
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
- Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
- Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
- Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.
A new member is defined as any of the following:
CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)
Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.
SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.
DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.