Park Ranger

The Park Ranger, under occasional supervision, provides responsible and professional park operations/security work in Parks and Recreation.

• Opens and closes site and prepares park for daily use.
• Acts as park security; monitors park for security and safety problems; observes visitor behavior; and locks and unlocks doors and gates. Enforces park rules and regulations.
• Assists with the issuance of visitor use permits and passes, collects fees and charges; accounts for and makes deposits of revenue as necessary.
• Orients park visitors; transports individuals to area locations for services; provides hikes and tours for park visitors.
• Performs park operations, which includes customer service and operation of facilities (i.e. campground, camp store, concession stand, pontoon boat tours, miniature golf, etc.).
• Serves as information station for all park patrons.
• Assists in the planning, designing, and implementation of school programs, campground recreation programs, day camp, educational programs, etc.
• Engages in a variety of maintenance task (i.e. inspecting, maintaining, repairing, and cleaning of facilities, and landscaping, trash and litter removal from park grounds).
• Completes various projects, such as trail construction, building projects, lake maintenance, etc.
• Applies pesticides under the supervision of a licensed operator.
• Assists in the training of new full-time and seasonal employees.
• Trains and monitors seasonal staff throughout the Park; reports updates to the supervisor as necessary.
• Performs office and clerical work, taking reservations, answering phones, operating cash register, and selling fishing licenses.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

High School Diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma (GED), experience in conservation work or park operations. A Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• First Aid, AED, and CPR

Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

This position may be subject to a fingerprint background check. Per NC General Statute 153A-94.2(b), applicants for a position of employment required to work with children in any capacity will be required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record.

Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management, Natural Resources Management, Cultural Resource Management or a related field and three (3) years of experience within a parks & recreation department working with staff, citizens, and public agencies or businesses and one (1) year of supervisory/managerial experience.

First Aid, AED, and CPR.

CDL with combination endorsement

Certificate of attendance to The Ranger Institute

Certificate of attendance to one Trail Maintenance School

Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

Experience with NC Wildlife rules and regulations.

- Experience with maintenance of grounds and multi-purpose use trail systems.

Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment and machinery including cash registers, calculators, snack bar equipment, radios, blowers, clippers, mowers, saws, chainsaws, sprayers, tractors, computers, vehicles etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert a moderate amount of force constantly, and up to 80 pounds of force occasionally, to move objects.

Moderate work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Moderate Work.

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the need to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs.