Recreation Ranger

State of Montana • Columbus, OH

3d

About The Position

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.
The Recreation Ranger position is a lead staffer within a geographic unit of State Parks, Fishing Access Sites, Wildlife Management Areas, and river corridors who assists the unit’s Recreation Manager with operations at the sites for the purpose of providing administrative, operational, recreation, visitor use, natural, cultural, and historic resource management. This position provides essential services and addresses tasks as they arise, such as visitor contacts, rule compliance, fee collection and remittance, interpretation and education, and other duties as assigned.
This position frequently patrols FWP sites for rule and fee compliance. Explains and interprets rules, policies, and laws to the public. Assists FWP Wardens and other law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations within the park and Fishing Access Sites. Investigates and documents offenses and incidents in accordance with agency policy. Informs visitors on preserving and mitigating impacts on historical, cultural, natural, and recreational resources. Understands enforcement authority and jurisdictional thresholds and who to call for assistance for a wide variety of situations. Recreation rangers assist in use monitoring and identifying recreational use trends within their assigned area. Recreation rangers provide front-line customer service to the public and diffuse recreational use conflicts. Rangers identify maintenance needs among sites and perform light maintenance duties and assist in other maintenance related projects as identified.
The Recreation Ranger is supervised by the Recreation Manger and provides direction for other staff and volunteers. In the absence of the Recreation Manager, the incumbent may be assigned acting Recreation Manager responsibilities. A Ranger may be assigned to multiple geographic units or be called upon to assist with, collaborate on, or share operational functions of another geographic unit as circumstances require.

Requirements

• Applicants should have a background in natural resources, recreation, and cultural resources with knowledge of recreation management and familiarity with natural and cultural resource management principles.
• They must be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in a concise and interpretable manner, with department employees, the public, user groups, and other agencies.
• Rangers will need to have proficiency in the safe handling and operation of site-specific modes of transportation, such as pickup trucks, cars, boats, bicycles, and ATVs.
• They will need to have or attain knowledge of the laws, policies, and regulations under which the agency and each site operates.
• Rangers should have the ability to manage conflicts among visitors and user groups.
• They must behave ethically and appropriately when serving visitors.
• The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in park and or recreation management, archeology, geology, or related fields.
• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

• Assists the unit’s Recreation Manager with operations at the sites for the purpose of providing administrative, operational, recreation, visitor use, natural, cultural, and historic resource management.
• Provides essential services and addresses tasks as they arise, such as visitor contacts, rule compliance, fee collection and remittance, interpretation and education, and other duties as assigned.
• Patrols FWP sites for rule and fee compliance.
• Explains and interprets rules, policies, and laws to the public.
• Assists FWP Wardens and other law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations within the park and Fishing Access Sites.
• Investigates and documents offenses and incidents in accordance with agency policy.
• Informs visitors on preserving and mitigating impacts on historical, cultural, natural, and recreational resources.
• Assists in use monitoring and identifying recreational use trends within their assigned area.
• Provides front-line customer service to the public and diffuse recreational use conflicts.
• Identifies maintenance needs among sites and perform light maintenance duties and assist in other maintenance related projects as identified.
• Provides direction for other staff and volunteers.
• May be assigned acting Recreation Manager responsibilities.
• May be assigned to multiple geographic units or be called upon to assist with, collaborate on, or share operational functions of another geographic unit as circumstances require.

Benefits

• Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance.
• Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays.
• This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level