Senior Ranger

The Position

The current vacancy for Senior Ranger in the Water Department locatedat the Loch Lomond Recreation area located at 100 Loch Lomond Way in Felton. This is a full-time position with benefits.The eligibility list established from this recruitment may be used to fill other Senior Rangervacancies during the life of the list. The eligibility list established from this recruitment is valid for up to one year from the date established unless the list is extended or abolished by the Human Resources Director.

Join Our Team as a Senior Ranger! Are you passionate about environmental conservation and public service? The City of Santa Cruz is seeking a dedicated individual to lead our efforts in maintaining and protecting our precious water resources, recreation areas, and open spaces. As a Senior Ranger, you'll play a vital role in ensuring compliance with regulations, providing top-notch visitor assistance, and leading a team of enthusiastic Rangers. If you're ready to make a positive impact on our community's natural treasures, apply now!

For information about the Santa Cruz Loch Lomond Recreation Area:

https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/water/watershed/loch-lomond-recreation

Under general supervision of the Water Department, the Senior Ranger acts in a lead capacity to assigned staff with the regulatory enforcement, operations and maintenance of City Water Department facilities, recreation and open space, riparian license and watershed areas. Provides information and assistance to the public and City contractors; performs basic maintenance and repairs; patrols assigned areas to insure compliance with laws, rules and regulations; provides first response emergency services. Monitors and leads the daily and ongoing activity of Ranger I/IIs, temporary employees and/or volunteers; supports environmental monitoring and interpretive programs and performs related duties as assigned.

Recruitment # 24-084

Selection Timeline: (The following process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Human Resources Director.)

• On Thursday, 05/02/24 recruitment will close. All application materials must be received by the Human Resources Department by 5:00 pm; postmarks are not accepted.To apply, submit:

• Application - online application only. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out the application form completely. Click the Apply button to begin the online process.

• Response to supplemental questions - will be a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Any work experience described here must also be included in your employment history on the main application.

• Week of 05/06 and 05/13/24:Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates will be notified of their status in the recruitment once all applications have been reviewed.

• Week of 5/20 and/or 5/27/24: Interviews will be tentatively scheduled. The examination process will include an interview and may include a written and/or performance exam.

Typical Duties

(May include, but are not limited to, those duties listed below).

• Assists the Chief Ranger with the planning, scheduling, assigning and review of work of staff.

• Acts as a lead worker to assigned staff.

• Assists the Chief Ranger with administrative tasks such as record keeping, report writing, budget preparation and timecard preparation.

• Requests expertise, services, supplies and equipment from other City departments and outside agencies as needed; works in cooperation with these departments and other agencies.

• Assists the Chief Ranger in evaluating staffing needs, and assists in training in such areas as enforcement, maintenance, safety, emergency procedures, interpretation, and career development.

• Provides a uniformed presence and may patrol watershed, recreation, riparian license, and open space areas.

• Educates and provides assistance to visitors, and ensures compliance with rules and regulations; as a public officer issues citations related to violation of the Municipal, United States Coast Guard and California State Fish and Game codes.

• Responds to citizen complaints, administers conflict resolution when appropriate, writes incident reports; contacts appropriate law enforcement agencies for assistance, as necessary.

• Provides first response emergency services within established response areas, including administering emergency medical aid, and completes incident reports; may perform fire watch activities, and may provide fire suppression support upon request from the local fire agencies; may assist with emergency response operations outside of established response areas.

• Constructs and maintains parks and open space facilities, such as buildings, picnic areas, signs, irrigation systems, turf, trails, fuel breaks, fences, gates and grounds; plans and constructs exhibits; may place orders for equipment, materials, and services; performs maintenance and repair work on facilities and structures, including minor carpentry, plumbing and painting; may clean restrooms and empty trash receptacles; may operate and maintain various types of power tools, construction equipment and vehicles, including tractors, tractor accessories, trailers, fire equipment, vessels and reservoir maintenance equipment.

• Assists with resource management within watershed, recreation, open space, and riparian license areas by performing tasks such as aquatic or terrestrial invasive species control, fuel management, boat inspections, and erosion control projects; maintaining roads, trails, and fire breaks; observing and reporting environmental hazards, such as slides, erosion and disease and insect activity in trees, etc.

• Conducts vegetation management tasks including trimming and removal of vegetation, felling, limbing and bucking of downed trees, invasive weed removal and other related activities.

• Learns the natural history of the area and applies this knowledge when performing park maintenance, operations, interpretive and protection duties.

• Develops interpretive flyers, programs and exhibits concerning natural history, operations, and resource management practices in open space lands; develops and conducts interpretive talks and hikes on natural history and/or water resource topics for park visitors, local schools and the public.

• May provide general information about the recreation area, watersheds and Water Department operations to the public; may be responsible for monitoring facility rentals, and related record-keeping; maintains supplies and inventories.

• Assists with resource management by observing and reporting environmental hazards, such as slides, erosion, and disease and insect activity in trees; recommends removal of hazardous trees and eradication of undesirable flora; performs open space maintenance operations and natural resource management projects.

• May act as liaison and/or representative at interagency ranger trainings, meetings and conferences.

• Receives and processes purchases, fees, fines, or other transactions; sets up cash drawers and operates cash registers and/or point of sales equipment (POS); prepares receipts, balances money received and prepares deposits; reconciles purchases and user fees with daily receipts, staffs park store and kiosk.

• Performs other related duties that may be reasonably expected as part of this classification.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires: prolonged sitting, standing, and walking on pavement and/or uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping and making repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties. The position also requires both near and far vision when patrolling parks, inspecting work and operating assigned equipment. The need to lift, carry and push tools, equipment and supplies weighing up to 80 pounds is also required. Additionally, the incumbent in this position works outdoors and in all weather conditions, including rain, heat and cold. The job duties may expose the employee to blood-borne pathogens, certain types of insect and rodent borne disease, dermatitis caused by poison oak, fumes, dust, air contaminants, stinging insects, mountain lions, feral pigs, and rattlesnakes. The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to climb ladders, use power and noise producing tools and equipment, drive motorized vehicles and construction equipment, and respond to emergency situations to provide rescue assistance or fight fires. The incumbent may be required to respond to after hours emergency call outs.

Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications for Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the following:

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent; and

• The equivalent of two years of public contact experience interpreting rules and regulations and some experience performing maintenance and interpretive tasks.

• An Associate degree in environmental studies, human or health services, forestry or a related field may substitute for one year of the required experience.

Knowledge:

• Excellent customer service skills.

• Principles of leading, scheduling, training and review of staff.

• Record-keeping and basic computer use.

• The use of various hand and power tools to perform grounds keeping, basic carpentry, and general maintenance.

• Occupational hazards and safety practices and procedures related to park and facility maintenance.

• Mathematics, including addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, percentages, and unit conversions.

• Natural resources management and natural history.

Abilities:

• Interact courteously and effectively with members of the public and fellow City staff.

• Prepare, develop and lead interpretive talks and hikes for park visitors.

• Interpret, apply, and explain procedures, rules, regulations, and codes, including state and local ordinances and codes associated with areas of assignment.

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; make oral presentations.

• Assist with the coordination, and evaluation for assigned staff and volunteers; monitor work activities to ensure safe work practices, work quality and accuracy.

• Assist with the training of employees.

• Effectively lead assigned staff.

• Make sound decisions within established guidelines; respond appropriately in potentially hazardous or emergency situations.

• Follow verbal and written instructions.

• Work as a member of a team.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all city departments.

• Read, interpret and record data accurately; maintain manual and computerized record keeping systems.

• Meet the physical demands of ranger work, including the performance of heavy manual labor and patrolling on foot.

• Accurately process cash and credit transactions.

• Perform basic mathematical calculations quickly and accurately.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness to wear a uniform.

• Willingness to perform call-back.

• Willingness to work irregular shifts, holidays and weekends.

Licenses and Certificates:

• Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license.

• Possession, and continued maintenance of, Title 22 First Aid for Public Safety Personnel and CPR certification by the end of the probationary period.

• Evidence of completion of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) PC832 Arrest & Control training.

• Possession of a Grade D1 Water Distribution Operator or Grade T1 Water Treatment Operator certificate issued by the State of California State Water Resources Control Board within two years of hire.

• Possession of California Boater Card within 6 months of hire.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• College level coursework in natural resources management, forestry, environmental science, or a related field.

• Ability to speak Spanish.

• Pertinent and proficient knowledge of City of Santa Cruz Municipal Code, county and state codes, Downtown Ordinances, and California Fish and Game and United States Coast Guard codes.

• Possession of POST Certified PC832

• Possession of Standard First Aid and CPR

• Principles and practices of wildland fire prevention and control.

Career Ladder

• Chief Ranger

• Senior Ranger

• Ranger I/II

• Ranger Assistant