Park Ranger

Join our dynamic team as a Park Ranger and be the heartbeat of our beautiful parks, trails, and open spaces! If you have a passion for nature and community, this is your chance to shine. In this role, you’ll patrol stunning landscapes, ensuring visitor safety while protecting our precious resources. You'll engage with the public, offering education and outreach, and promoting an environmentally friendly culture. Collaborate with city departments and partner organizations to make a positive impact in Commerce City.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform foot, bicycle, and vehicle patrols to enforce rules and regulations in parks, trails and open space properties
• Protect visitor safety and provide public education and ticketing where appropriate, complaint investigations, closure monitoring, dumping/encroachment mitigation, and interaction with vulnerable populations (people experiencing homelessness and at-risk individuals)
• Serves as a specialist by contributing park law enforcement expertise to department plans, projects, committees, policy development, and meetings
• Perform basic maintenance operations, including trash removal, snow removal, restroom cleaning, fence, and sign maintenance, as needed
• Develops and coordinates strategies for rule compliance and education in areas of responsibility
• Coordinates with other City and County Departments (City: Parks, Recreation, and Golf (PRG), Police Department; Adams County: Sheriff's Office, ADCOM, etc.) as assigned regarding operational efficiencies
• Assist in conducting tours and educational presentations in coordination with PRG staff
• Respond to and provide critical care in the event of a medical emergency within Parks Properties, to the level of care and within the scope of medical training so certified
• Respond to and assist in search and rescue incidents as directed by on-scene Incident Command; respond to and assist with stopping or containing wildfires within the scope of training and as directed by on-scene Incident Command
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required
• Regularly coordinates and communicates with city departments, divisions, advisory committees, other governmental agencies, non-profits, faith-based organizations, and other applicable agencies to coordinate and deliver on program goals
• Helps to coordinate and present community meetings on relevant projects or services

Performs other projects and duties as assigned

Essential Supervisory Duties

• Not applicable

Minimum Qualifications

High School diploma or GED required. A combination of experience in parks maintenance, natural resource management, code enforcement, or traditional law enforcement may also be considered. Must possess a Colorado driver’s license. Possession of CPR and first aid certification within 3 months of hiring and must maintain throughout employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• safety hazards and necessary safety precautions enough to be able to establish a safe environment for self and others
• proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, use of all parts of speech, both orally and written
• the use of equipment in the completion of daily activities

Skill in

• applying existing guidelines or recommending new approaches to developing and modifying work plans, methods, and procedures for the work unit or function
• being organized

Ability to

• learn and maintain CPR and first aid techniques sufficient to be able to perform lifesaving measures and render first aid when needed
• Learn, interpret, and apply State and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Learn court procedures, including, but not limited to, citation issuance and court documents
• Enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact, always maintaining excellent customer service
• Take proper safety precautions, anticipate unsafe circumstances, and act accordingly to prevent accidents. Use all required safety equipment
• prepare and professionally deliver presentations to the public, city council and other groups; must be able to interact with others in a positive manner
• apply comprehensive, practical and technical knowledge with use of analytical judgement and decision-making abilities
• consider different points of view and to use elements of persuasion to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas, and to reach agreement
• relate to diverse individuals and groups from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds
• speak with poise, voice control and confidence
• use independent judgment and decision-making within established policy
• handle sensitive or stressful situations with tact and diplomacy

Equipment Used, Work Environment and Physical Activities

• Driving: Drives a city or personal vehicle in the normal course of business
• Office Equipment: Daily use of computer, keyboard, copier, scanner, printer, calculator, phone (desk & cell), camera, and electronic diagnostic equipment. Daily use of software programs including Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Word, Excel
• Other Equipment: Occasional use of ladders.
• Physical Activities: Moderate physical activity that may include walking, sitting, standing, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting & carrying
• Lifting: Frequently lifts, carries, and exerts up to 80 pounds
• Vision and Hearing: Must have visual acuity to see and read paper and electronic documents. Must be able to answer telephones, communicate conversation and respond to verbal inquires.Must be able to recognize sound on construction sites that indicate nearby equipment and/or safety hazards
• Exposure to Environmental Conditions: Will be exposed to extreme heat, cold, dry, wet, odors, smoke, loud noises, vibrations, dust or intense light and hazards normally associated with construction sites. May be exposed to chemicals including cleaners, solvents, paints and other potentially toxic agents. Work may be performed in precarious or tight spaces.
• Schedule: Position generally scheduled Monday - Friday; occasionally weekend work. May require attendance at off-site meetings.
• Additional Working Conditions: May be exposed to work settings that vary in convenience and comfort. May be required to visit external, non-city work sites with the City having limited control over the work environment.
• Safety Sensitive: This position is subject to the city’s drug screening
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to individuals with disabilities for the essential functions of the job.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications. Employees are accountable for all duties associated with this position.

The City of Commerce City is an equal opportunity employer.

We care about our employees and offer a generous benefits package: Health & wellness benefits, 6% retirement contribution match and 3% 457 Deferred Compensation match, general leave, work/life balance, and more.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our success, and we are committed to creating a supportive and welcoming work environment for all of our employees. If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference in your community, we encourage you to apply for this position today. Be A Part Of It and contribute to the vibrant growth and development of Commerce City as we strive to provide exceptional services and foster a thriving community.

Process Overview:

Apply Today: We ask that you complete and submit an online application AND INCLUDE A RESUME AND COVER LETTER, which will be used to screen for minimum qualifications (MQs) and determine starting pay in accordance with the provision of the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Qualification Review: HR will screen applications for minimum qualifications after the posting closes.

Application Review: Applications for candidates that meet minimum qualifications will be forwarded to the hiring manager, who will review and evaluate application materials.

Interview(s): We aim to schedule interviews with candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and pass the application review.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline:

Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, February 19th, 2025

Zoom Interviews: Week of February 24th, 2025

Panel Interviews: Week of March 03th, 2025