Parks, Lakes & Trails Ranger - Temporary

POSTING TYPE:
Open competitive

DEPARTMENT:
Sheriff’s Office

HOURS:

Various

HIRING RANGE: $21-$23/hour (DOQ)

LOCATION:

Various Throughout Dakota County

UNION:
None

CLOSE DATE: 4:30pm on 11/25/2025

The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office is seeking individuals who are passionate about the outdoors and are committed to protecting, preserving, and ensuring a safe and respectful experience for visitors in Dakota County Parks. This position offers the opportunity to work for a highly regarded, progressive organization that supports your career development. As a Park Ranger, you will gain experience across various areas of public safety and collaborate with surrounding agencies to enforce county ordinances throughout the park system.

Dakota County Sheriff's Office is a place where you can build a career for a lifetime. We will support you and give you meaningful challenges within a culture grounded by personal growth and well‑being. We believe in collaboration, growth, diversity, and stability. We hold each other accountable and expect everyone to take an active role in problem‑solving and building a culture of hard work and respect.

We believe in serving the members of our community by listening, engaging, and collaborating to solve problems with dignity and respect. Applicants for this position will be self‑starters, honest, ethical, engaging, and hold high moral standards. This candidate will be open to change, seek to solve problems, and strive to provide the highest level of customer service possible.

• Duties 1 through 6, 9 and 10 are essential functions.
• Ability to work effectively under minimum supervision.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and employ effective courses of action.
• Ability to communicate positively and effectively with the general public.
• Ability to operate motor vehicles, including ATVs, UTVs, boats, and snowmobiles safely under a variety of climatic conditions.
• Ability to swim.
• Ability to pass a physical examination.

• High school diploma or G.E.D. within 6 months of hire date and at least 18 years old by the time of appointment.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Currently enrolled in an accredited law enforcement program by the fall of 2025; or recently completed an accredited law enforcement program.

• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Strong social skills.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities.
• History of safe driving.

This position works within the Dakota County Park System, on Dakota County Trails, within Dakota County Service Centers and on Dakota County waterways. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in an environment with a variety of climatic conditions and uneven geography. Duties involve lengthy periods of keeping position while operating equipment, standing, walking, twisting, balancing, pushing, pulling, and reaching in all directions.

Physical demands include lifting up to 25 pounds frequently and lifting or moving supplies and equipment occasionally. Potential exposures may include changing weather conditions, uneven and/or slippery surfaces, working at heights, noise, operating machinery, sharp edges, vibration, fumes, odors, dust, gases, and hazardous materials.

The examination/selection process for this classification will consist of a rating of your training and experience from the application materials submitted. The top‑scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.

Dakota County Human Resources
www.dakotacounty.us
Main Number
(contact 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday)