What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer Park Ranger Lead position at City of Bellevue, WA?

Salary : $22.11 - $30.51 Hourly

Location : Bellevue, WA

Job Type : Seasonal

Job Number : 25-00021

Department : Parks and Community Services

Division : PCS Parks NatRes

Opening Date : 01 / 21 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the "Hiring Process" section below to learn more.

Job Summary

Do you enjoy mentoring staff, engaging with people, answering questions, walking trails, and spending time outdoors? The Assistant Park Ranger Lead is a seasonal position with Bellevue Parks & Community Services Department's Natural Resource Division. This role involves supporting Seasonal Park Rangers by providing training, assigning tasks, and offering guidance throughout the program. In addition to leadership responsibilities, the Assistant Park Ranger Lead will interact with park visitors, remind them of park rules, patrol and secure parks and facilities in the evenings, and assist with various programs and staffing needs. This position is highly customer-facing and involves daily public engagement. The role reports to the Lake Hills Greenbelt Park Ranger.

The program runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with training sessions scheduled in May. Work hours average 40 hours per week, with shifts from 8 : 00 AM-4 : 30 PM and 3 : 30 PM-midnight. Rangers operate as a team to patrol parks, walk trails, lock gates, and restrooms, and interact with visitors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Have a comprehensive understanding of the City of Bellevue Park Ranger Program Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies.
Conduct daily park patrols on foot, by bicycle, and using a city vehicle. Duties include gate and restroom lockups and facility closures.
Review end-of-shift logs, data collection, reports, and record-keeping for accuracy and professionalism.
Mentor Seasonal Park Rangers and provide guidance when the direct supervisor is unavailable, typically during evenings and weekends.
Assist with the training and onboarding of new Seasonal Park Rangers.
Deliver exceptional customer service to park visitors, providing information about park rules, programs, facilities, and natural resources.
Educate visitors about park rules and regulations, inspect trails and facilities, issue notices for rule violations, and clean litter within park properties.
Respond promptly and effectively to emergencies within the park system.
Support Natural Resource facilities, visitor centers, the Ranger Station, Bellevue Marina at Meydenbauer Bay, and other sites as needed.
Assist with interpretive programs, including nature walks, education sessions, facility tours, canoe trips, workshops, and special events.
Manage tasks such as opening / closing facilities, answering phones, greeting visitors, conducting surveys, scheduling, monitoring rentals, cleaning transient camps, and keeping facilities clean and organized.
Oversee and distribute program marketing materials, such as updating kiosks, distributing brochures, and managing website content, under the direction of the Summer Park Ranger Program Supervisor.
Communicate professionally and courteously with all park patrons and city staff.
Participate in team meetings and training sessions as required.
Provide administrative support and assist with programming needs in other Parks & Community Services Department areas as needed.

Qualifications

Must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Worked at least one prior season as a City of Bellevue park ranger or similar position.

Strong customer service skills, including written and oral English communication, and the ability to address the public in a courteous, diplomatic, and professional manner is essential.

Completion of at least two years of college in natural resource management, environmental education, or other closely related field or two years of similar previous experience preferred.

Computer skills with experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, Google Drive, and mobile applications.

Ability to employ excellent customer service skills in explaining and tactfully providing park rules and regulations.

Ability to keep organized, current, and accurate patrol logs / reports, activity and incident reports, etc.

Experience in presenting natural history, environmental interpretation, and other public outreach programs desired.

Previous experience working in the public sector.

Ability to load / unload and ride a bicycle and walk as assigned area dictates, example : use bike or foot patrols where conditions call for a closer look or more park patron contact.

Must be able to safely drive, park, backup, and otherwise safely maneuver a standard sized pickup truck.

Must be willing to work non-traditional hours, including weekends, evenings, and holidays.

Must be able to work with minimal supervision and make decisions independently.

National Criminal History check is required on all applicants.

Required to possess a valid Washington driver's license by date of hire. Must have and maintain a good driving record according to City standards. Current original drivers abstract required at time of interview.

Ability to obtain or currently hold Lifeguard Certification.

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work involves walking, talking, driving, riding a bike, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work involves driving or riding in a City vehicle for up to eight hours per day to access patrol sites.

The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and / or carry up to 50 pounds.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.

Work may periodically require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and / or crawl.

Employee must be willing and able to work outside in all weather conditions, including hot weather, rain and snow.

Supplemental Information

Definition of a Seasonal Employee :

Must be pre-approved by Human Resources to ensure compliance with the legislation.

Regularly scheduled to work up to 40 hours per week for which the customary annual employment is six months or less.

Customary" means that the nature of the position typically lasts for six months or fewer and that the period of employment begins at approximately the same time each year.

NOTE : Will be considered full-time and eligible for medical coverage if hours average 30 hours per week or more over a 12-month measurement period (or 130 hours per month).

HIRING PROCESS

The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.

We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage, unless otherwise stated in the job description.

Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.

All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.

Some positions may require completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment

Some positions may require obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue, you'll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is : Exceptional Public Service, Stewardship, Commitment to Employees, Integrity, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. You'll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. It's what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838 or If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.

Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.

Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees have no benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT II) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan, and any other benefits as required by law.

Please share why you think your background and skills make you the best candidate for this position.

How do you bring energy and fun into the work you do?

What top three leadership skills are most important for a seasonal lead park ranger to have?

In what season did you work as a City of Bellevue Seasonal Park Ranger? If you haven't worked as a City of Bellevue Park Ranger, please share your most applicable Park Ranger position experience and elaborate on any relevant tasks not already described in your application.

How have you used diplomacy to resolve a conflict?

Have you mentored, coached, or led others in a professional capacity before? What top three things did you take away from the experience?

What do you like about working with people?

Why are public parks important to you?

Please describe your most successful experience while providing park rules education (ex : letting someone know that the park closes at dusk, or that their dog needs to be in a designated off-leash area to be off-leash)?

Are you available May 1 - September 12, 2025? If not, what is your availability?

Will you be able to attend program training throughout May and early June 2025?

Please describe your experience with Microsoft Office programs and Google Drive.

Have you provided three professional references and their current contact information including an email address?

Required Question

Salary : $22 - $31

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