Park Ranger

POSITION PURPOSE / IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION

The Park Ranger position is responsible for providing public safety and natural resource protection through education and enforcement at Standley Lake Regional Park and Wildlife Refuge and the City of Westminster Open Space, within the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department. This position assists with the supervision of the seasonal and hourly employees and coordinates and delivers seasonal staff training, responds to the emergency medical and law enforcement situations, assists with projects and performs routine park maintenance. Additional responsibilities include providing visitor services, patrolling park areas in vehicles, by boat, bicycle and on foot, enforcing park rules and guidelines, ensuring compliance with the Aquatic Nuisance Species program (ANS), providing information and education to the public, and supporting nature and outreach events or efforts.
The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CULTURAL VALUES/GENERAL COMPETENCIES

The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: Westminster’s purpose is to provide core services and foster economic resilience to give our community the opportunity to thrive. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – Pride – Integrity – Responsibility – Innovation – Teamwork).
This position supports the goals of the Parks, Recreation, and Libraries Department, which enhances the quality of life for all Westminster citizens by providing diverse leisure, recreational, and informational services and resources; and acquiring, developing, and maintaining first-class parks, facilities, open space, and trails.
Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity, and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

• Work independently as well as with others
• Demonstrate knowledge of safe powerboat operation, park maintenance and upkeep as well as general maintenance skills, general park practices and techniques, first aid and rescue practices, wildlife management, and familiarity with local vegetation
• Provide informal interpretation and orientation for park visitors in the nature center, ranger stations, and while patrolling in the park and open spaces
• Objectively handle a wide variety of public contact situations
• Deal with emergency situations with prompt, calm, common sense action and potentially serve as the initial contact for accident reporting and emergency assistance
• Learn applicable municipal codes and pertinent park regulations
• Effectively navigate all aspects of RecTrac including POS, reporting and rental functions

JOB SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

• Supervises seasonal and hourly Park Rangers, trainees, park and nature center attendant staff
• Coordinates and delivers training to hourly and seasonal employees
• Ensures compliance with Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) control program, which includes inspecting paddle craft for ANS detection, and instructing seasonal and hourly staff
• Enforces park rules and regulations, including, but not limited to:
  • Patrols park areas in vehicles, UTV’s, e-bikes, boat and on foot
  • Provides excellent customer service and handles difficult customer interactions
  • Issues citations and summonses as needed
  • Monitors and secures park boundaries, maintains and repairs fences, and keeps maintenance reports on park facilities
  • Maintains records, prepares daily reports, and performs other administrative tasks
• Performs routine general maintenance on park vehicles, patrol boat, bicycles and other equipment
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, provide proof of a safe driving record, and maintain a safe driving record for continued employment
• Ability to effectively utilize computer applications and technology related to the work
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides information to the public
• Collects fees
• Performs general park maintenance including winterization/summerization of park facilities and equipment
• Participates in rescue and first aid activities
• Protects the park ecosystem, including vegetation and wildlife
• Actively promotes the safety of park visitors and stewardship of park resources in all interactions
• Performs snow removal when necessary
• Assists with nature education programming and interpretive programs

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS/PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications

Required:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• An accredited two (2) or four- (4) year college or university degree in Parks, Recreation, Natural Resources or related field
• A minimum of one (1) year of Park Ranger or equivalent combination of Park Ranger experience and education in Parks, Recreation, Natural Resources or related field
• Ability to obtain State of Colorado Stage II Inspector and Decontaminator Certification for Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) within six (6) months of hire
• Ability to obtain Taser Training and Certification within six (6) months of hire
• Valid driver’s license and maintenance of safe driving record

Preferred:

• Supervisory experience
• Law enforcement experience
• Experience with vehicle plowing and boat operation
• Experience in rescue or emergency medical field
• CIG (Certified Interpretive Guide) certification
• Volunteer Coordination experience

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.

Physical Requirements

Due to the nature of work, the ability to swim and sufficient physical stamina and strength are needed for:

• Frequent sitting to perform designated office tasks and to survey park for hazards and potential problems from a vehicle; constant standing and walking over uneven terrain in all weather conditions to address hazards and potential park violations with public; occasional running to address emergency situations
• Frequent squatting, bending, kneeling, balancing on a patrol boat, reaching overhead and below shoulder, and twisting to perform park maintenance and other related duties; occasional crawling and climbing to perform various park duties
• Frequent light and firm grasp to safely use tools and equipment; constant fine manipulation and handling to perform maintenance and other duties
• Occasional stepping up and/or down from vehicles and stairs; constantly actuate mechanisms to safely operate vehicles and heavy equipment; normal near and far acuity to observe park for potential hazards and maintenance issues, and hearing to communicate with public, groups, and staff
• Frequent lifting and carrying of up to fifty (50) pounds to move and place water buoys and other equipment and supplies; constant pushing and/or pulling of up to twenty-five (25) pounds, frequent pushing and/or pulling of fifty (50) pounds

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is constantly performed indoors and outdoors with constant exposure to extreme temperatures. Position performs related duties and maintenance year-round at a highly public, municipal park. This is a highly active, visible position within a multi-use municipal park, where periods of high activity and stress may exist.

Required Materials and Equipment

Operates a four-wheel drive vehicle, pick-up truck with or without trailer, tractors for mowing operations, 150 HP 19-foot powerboat, two-way radios to communicate by voice to other lake personnel, cash register, telephone, oxygen bottles, other first aid equipment, personal computers, fax machine, and other standard office equipment. Earplugs, face masks, goggles, waders, and bulletproof vests may be used at times.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
• Drug screen
• Physical
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States