PARK RANGER

Anticipated Starting Salary: $55,929.95

• Position Number:
• Location: Statewide
• Job Series: Park Law Enforcement – Career Path
• Classification: Park Ranger
• Class Code: SPL
  03P
• Pay Grade: LES
  03
• Salary Range: $55,930 - $82,776

The Park Ranger serves as a certified law enforcement officer responsible for maintaining public safety, enforcing state laws and park regulations, and protecting natural, cultural, and historical resources within Arkansas’s state parks. Park Rangers engage with the public, respond to emergencies, and support recreational and conservation goals through both enforcement and educational outreach.

• Patrol park grounds, facilities, campgrounds, trails, and waterways to ensure public safety and security.
• Enforce Arkansas’s traffic and criminal statutes, park‑specific rules, and applicable Arkansas Game and Fish laws, including making arrests, issuing warnings, and issuing citations.
• Respond to emergencies such as medical events, accidents, lost persons, wildlife encounters, or criminal activity, providing appropriate action or assistance.
• Conduct preliminary investigations of crimes, accidents, or incidents within park boundaries.
• Serve as a friendly, knowledgeable public contact, providing guidance, information, and education on park features, rules, and safety protocols.
• Act as health and safety officer for park events or support law‑enforcement duties as assigned for events.
• Assist or lead public programming for health, safety, or security needs.
• Monitor natural and cultural resources for signs of damage, misuse, or illegal activity, collaborating with resource‑management staff.
• Maintain accurate records and reports of patrol activities, incidents, arrests, and safety hazards, completing daily logs, evidence documentation, and case‑related paperwork.
• Assist with park operations including traffic control, campground compliance, and support during high visitation periods or special events.
• Participate in search and rescue efforts or emergency evacuations as needed.

• Formal education equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in park management, outdoor recreation, criminal justice, criminology, or a related field; or two years of college coursework plus two years of relevant experience. All related education and experience may replace these requirements, except for certification or licensure.
• Must pass a full background investigation meeting the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training requirements.
• Must possess, or be able to complete, Arkansas law enforcement certification training in accordance with ACA
  12‑9‑106.
• All ADPHT uniformed law‑enforcement positions are designated Safety Sensitive; subject to random drug testing and prohibition of medical marijuana use.
• Must be a certified law‑enforcement officer in the State of Arkansas.

• Strong verbal communication skills for public interaction and enforcement.
• Ability to defuse tense situations and manage conflict calmly and effectively.
• Sound decision‑making under pressure in potentially hazardous or dynamic conditions.
• Excellent observational and situational awareness skills.
• Commitment to ethical conduct, impartiality, and public trust.
• Displays a high standard of personal accountability and integrity.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other rangers, law‑enforcement, park staff, and state agencies.
• Adaptability to changing weather, visitor volume, and emergency scenarios.

• 24‑hour duty calls, with ability to traverse rough terrain and work varied shifts including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Work in inclement weather and carry a firearm while on duty.

Must be a certified law‑enforcement officer in the State of Arkansas. Other job‑related education or experience may be substituted for all or part of these basic requirements, except for certification or licensure, upon approval of the Qualifications Review Committee.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.