Recreation Ranger

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

 Please remember to attach the required documents Cover Letter and Resume listed in this announcement. Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on December 3, 2023. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site. 

Special Information:
Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary.  Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays.   This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association). 

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation. 

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

This position assists the recreation manager at state parks, fishing access sites, and wildlife management areas within defined geographic areas in FWP Region 2 (west-central Montana). This requires planning for and working at various recreation sites within the Bitterroot District. The Recreation Ranger may work and travel in some instances in poor weather and travel conditions. This position will require a willingness to work periodically during irregular hours, some weekends, and occasional holidays. 
The position is full-time permanent positions within Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division. This position will be based at Travelers' Rest State Park in Lolo (about 8 miles south of Missoula) located in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. Montana Fish Wildlife and Park lands in the Bitterroot are: two Wildlife Management Areas, approximately twenty Fishing Access Sites and three State Parks, including one National Historic Landmark and one National Register site. Travelers' Rest State Park includes a visitor center that is open year-round. 
This recruitment process will require applicants to complete the State of Montana Employment application, provide a one-page cover letter describing interest in the position(s) and skills for the work, and a resume. 
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 2 is in west central Montana. The region currently manages ten state parks, fifteen wildlife management areas, and more than 75 fishing access sites. The largest community in the region is Missoula, with a growing population exceeding 75,000 (over 120,000 in the greater Missoula area). Missoula is home to two major hospitals, the University of Montana, and an international airport. The region is a mix of wide-open valleys and free-flowing rivers set against majestic mountain ranges. There is a rich indigenous history that is embraced by FWP Region 2 staff. River recreation on the Bitterroot, Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers is a significant pastime, with diverse opportunities for float or wade angling, floating on inner tubes, whitewater and scenic floating. The region has several mountain ranges with unique flora, fauna, and geology blending into prairie and agricultural land in the valleys. In addition to the lands managed by FWP, there are hundreds of thousands of acres of additional public lands (USPS, BLM, city, county and NGO) in the area. The diversity of landscapes and transitions offer a wealth of recreational opportunity for exploring, hiking, skiing, camping, floating, sightseeing, fishing, hunting, skiing, birdwatching, picnicking, bike riding, wildlife viewing, ATV riding, snowmobiling, and boating to name a few. 
Missoula is a cultural and commercial center for the region, supporting activities such as indoor and outdoor concerts, live theatre venues, many personal interest organizations, festivals, and art walks; there is something for many interests. The area is within 3-4 hours of both Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks and also offers sites of national significance such as the National Bison Range, Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, historic Stevensville, Flathead Lake, Travelers' Rest, Lolo Trail, and Nez Perce Trail National Historic Landmarks and the Ice Age Flood National Trail.

Job Duties:

The Bitterroot Recreation Ranger is a lead staffer and assists in all aspects of non-maintenance operations at State Parks, Fishing Access Sites, Wildlife Management Areas (recreation management only), and/or river corridors assigned. This work primarily encompasses broad administrative duties, visitor use, natural, cultural, and historical resource management activities. Except for maintenance functions, this position assists in daily site and program operations, visitor contacts, rule compliance, fee collection and remittance, interpretation, and education at assigned sites. The Recreation Ranger will oversee the enterprise items for the gift shop in the visitor center and will assist in visitor center operations. The Ranger provides resource stewardship in a proactive manner, providing recommendations to the Recreation Manger based on visitor use patterns, staff, and resource conditions. This position assists the manager in the supervision of seasonal staff with direction, training, and evaluations when assigned. 
Nestled in the Bitterroot Valley is the Bitterroot River. This busy river corridor is popular among anglers and day users. The Recreation Ranger would have responsibilities to monitor river use, on and off the water. The Ranger would assist the manager in tracking hazards, and visitor use patterns at specific Fishing Access Sites, commercial and non-commercial alike.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Core Competencies

Teamwork

This competency describes a person's ability to work with others, collectively pursuing a common goal regardless of personal preferences. It is the ability to cooperate with all team members, valuing each one's insight and skills. Demonstration of this competency is seen in the following:

         Works effectively with individuals and groups; pursues universal solutions.

         Collaborates with others to understand and meet the public's needs.

         Shares workload with other team members; goes the extra step to insure successful completion of work unit goals.

         Constructively resolves disagreements by negotiating mutual, acceptable solutions.

         Accepts and provides constructive feedback in working relationships.

Public Service

This competency delineates a person's willingness to serve the public, to acknowledge that the citizens of Montana are our customers in addition to protecting the State's resources. This encompasses a person's attitude towards the public and the way that they treat the public in their daily professional life. Demonstration of this competency is seen in the following:

         Demonstrates commitment to serving the public interest.

         Recognizes the public's concerns as meaningful and valuable.

         Responds positively and constructively to issues voiced by the public.

         Makes decisions that benefit the public even if the decision is unpopular.

         Puts the public's needs ahead of personal interests.

People Skills

This competency illuminates a person's ability to get along with others in a productive and positive manner. It encompasses a person's ability to demonstrate awareness for others feelings and concerns, and their capability of building stable, helpful work relationships. Demonstration of this competency is seen in the following:

         Maintains positive working relationships with coworkers, the public, and other agencies.

         Gains cooperation from others when appropriate.

         Demonstrates trustworthiness in professional relationships.

         Treats people with respect, courtesy, and fairness.

         Maintains focus, emotional control and maturity in work-related situation

Continual Improvement

This competency describes a person's willingness to actively pursue opportunities for betterment in their professional knowledge and experience. It gets at their desire to see change and growth not only in themselves, but in the work processes they contribute to. Demonstration of this competency is seen in the following:

         Identifies current opportunities for development and acts to take advantage of them.

         Shows interest in one's professional development and capitalizes upon opportunities.

         Takes initiative to continuously improve professional knowledge and skills.

         Recognizes inefficient/ineffective processes and offers/promotes alternative solutions.

         Demonstrates a willingness to learn and try things new ways.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in park and or recreation management, archeology, geology, or related fields. Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.