Park Ranger - Community Safety

Position Summary

Park Ranger – Special Duty Assignment open to King County Parks Career Service Employees who have completed their initial probation. This recruitment may also establish a pool of qualified candidates for future Special Duty Assignment Park Ranger vacancies within the Parks Division over the next six months. Two (2) positions will be filled for an anticipated duration of 12 months.

Work Location:

Central Maintenance Facility, 3005 NE 4th St, Renton, WA 98056.

• Full‑time, 40 hours per week.
• October – April:
  Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM.
• May – September:
  Wednesday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM.
• Flexible scheduling may occur based on business needs.
• Shift work within a swing‑shift period; overtime eligible under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

• Maintain a positive and welcoming presence to park users on foot or bicycle, providing education on park rules, policies, codes, and laws to support voluntary compliance with Park Rules.
• Promote safe use of parks and foster an inclusive environment for all visitors.
• Partner closely with the Ranger Supervisor and other Parks employees to support stakeholders, events, planned activities, and emerging issues.
• Operate motor vehicles and bicycles safely on diverse terrains on a daily basis.
• Document interactions with the public daily using computer databases, keeping team, supervisor, and stakeholders updated.
• Respond to park code violations, incidents, and emergencies; coordinate with emergency services when needed.

• Work in all weather conditions, walking, hiking, and biking on uneven terrains for multiple hours per day.
• Ride a non‑electric mountain bike for the entire shift without accommodations.
• Safely drive a vehicle and potentially tow mobile message boards, speed limit devices, or other park safety devices.

• Previous Park Ranger experience or at least one (1) year of outdoor education experience or leading volunteer events in parks or environmental settings.
• Demonstrated customer service/public‑facing experience, answering questions, providing guidance, and interacting effectively with the public.
• Conflict resolution skills; ability to de‑escalate tense situations and find common ground.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite and related software or databases for daily reports, work program development, and communication.
• Strong documentation skills for incident reports and communication of issues to relevant authorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with diverse communities, especially under stressful public encounters.
• Ability to work collaboratively with various teams and agencies, including during urgent or emergency circumstances.

• Valid Washington State driver’s license.
• CPR/AED and wilderness first aid training completed within the first six months of employment (county‑paid).

• Fluency in multiple languages or experience using translation tools.
• Training in de‑escalation techniques.
• Experience working in a public service setting.

• Customer Focus:
  Build strong customer relationships and deliver customer‑centric solutions.
• Complexity Management:
  Synthesize complex information to solve problems effectively.
• Collaboration:
  
  Build partnerships and work collaboratively to meet shared objectives.
• Conflict Management:
  Handle conflict situations effectively with minimal disruption.
• Engagement:
  Create a climate that motivates others to perform at their best.
• Situational Adaptability:
  Adjust approach in real time to meet changing demands.

Union Representation:
This position is not represented by a union.

Duration:
Positions are temporary, 12‑month assignments starting on a mutually agreed date.

King County is a diverse community that prioritizes equity, racial and social justice as a foundational expectation for all employees. Employees are expected to apply these principles in all aspects of their work.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions.