Park Rangers

Summary

Protect, Educate, and Inspire in the Great Outdoors!

King County Parks Division is launching a new Park Ranger Program, and we’re looking for passionate, community-focused Park Rangers to be part of this exciting initiative! This is your chance to work outdoors, engage with the public, and help create a welcoming, positive and safe environment across our parks, trails, and open spaces.

We are hiring for multiple positions. Apply now to be part of this growing team!

About the Role:

King County Parks is looking for dedicated and community-minded Park Rangers to serve as environmental stewards and goodwill ambassadors in our parks, trails, and open spaces. As a Park Ranger, you will play a mission-critical role in ensuring a positive and inclusive experience for all visitors by providing on-site customer service, safety assistance, and public education. Your work will focus on educating park users about park rules, encouraging voluntary compliance, and escalating concerns to emergency responders when necessary.

This role requires regular patrols by vehicle, bicycle, and foot across both urban and backcountry parks and trails in all seasons. You will engage directly with the public, conduct community outreach, document and report incidents using GIS technology, address park code violations, administer first aid, and coordinate with emergency services when needed.

As a Park Ranger, you will be at the forefront of creating a welcoming and safe environment for all park visitors. You will navigate diverse community dynamics, problem-solve complex situations, and collaborate with various agencies to support public safety efforts. This is a mission-critical, on-site position that may also serve as a key point of contact during countywide or park emergencies, requiring availability during such events.

Why You'll Love This Job:

• Make a Meaningful Impact – Play a vital role in keeping King County parks safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for all visitors. Your work directly contributes to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
• Outdoor Adventure – Spend your days in the beautiful parks, trails, and open spaces of King County, whether patrolling on foot, by vehicle, or by mountain bike in all seasons.
• Engage with the Community – Build relationships with park visitors, educate them on park rules, and promote a positive and inclusive park experience.
• Lead by Example – Serve as a trusted presence in the parks, guiding visitors, resolving conflicts, and working alongside emergency responders when necessary.
• Dynamic Work Environment – No two days are the same! You’ll work in diverse settings, from urban parks to backcountry trails, handling a variety of responsibilities that keep the job engaging and rewarding.
• Growth & Development – Gain valuable experience in public service, emergency response, and outdoor operations while working with a dedicated team that values collaboration and professional development.

About the Team:

King County Parks' mission is to steward, enhance and acquire parks to inspire healthy communities, and with 205 parks, 28,000 acres of open space, 215 miles of backcountry trail, and 175 miles of regional trails, King County Parks offers close-to-home recreational experiences for everyone.

The new Park Ranger Program will be part of the Parks Operations team which is a vibrant and expanding section within the Parks division. Our various lines of business offer support positions that provide a wide range of experiences, offering valuable growth opportunities for individuals at all levels of experience.

If you thrive on engaging with people, educating the community, and fostering camaraderie in shared spaces, the Park Ranger Program position offers an ideal platform.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Park Ranger, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Parks Divisionof King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Conduct patrols and participate in community engagement opportunities with the intent of promoting a welcoming, safe, and inclusive use of parks.
• Engage with park users to establish yourself as a non-law enforcement point of contact and to build camaraderie around a shared community space.
• Educate park users on park rules with the goal of gaining voluntary compliance.
• Provide interpretive information to visitors of King County Parks.
• Coordinate with first responders and law enforcement during emergencies or investigation activities to ensure park safety and security.
• Support district staff and regional trail crews with rule violations.
• Document and communicate issues, escalating them as necessary.
• Handle sensitive private information and communicate appropriately to a wide range of audiences.
• Use discretion in communication around potentially politically charged topics, maintain composure, and represent King County Interests.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Community Engagement: Minimum two years of experience in community engagement and outreach, ideally within customer service or parks and recreation.
• Communication & Collaboration: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to remain professional in high-pressure situations. Strong ability to work collaboratively with teams and agencies, particularly in urgent or emergency circumstances.
• Conflict Resolution: Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities, finding common ground in tense situations, and de-escalating conflicts when necessary.
• Documentation: Strong skills in documenting incidents, writing reports, and communicating issues to relevant authorities.
• Technology Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Suite and other software for daily reporting, work planning, and goal setting.

Competencies You Bring:

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Public Speaking: Experience addressing large groups in public or private settings.
• Multilingual Abilities: Fluency in languages such as Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Chinese, Russian, or Korean.
• De-escalation Training: Experience with conflict resolution techniques, such as verbal de-escalation or crisis intervention training.
• Emergency Management: Experience activating emergency management plans.
• Animal Control: Experience handling domestic animal and wildlife-related issues.
• Public Sector Experience: Familiarity with public service work environments.
• Parks Experience: Knowledge of parks and outdoor recreation, particularly within King County.
• GIS Applications: Experience using GIS web applications such as Survey123 and Field Maps.
• Bicycle Maintenance: Professional experience maintaining and repairing mountain bikes.

Supplemental Information

• Onsite Work Details: This role requires daily onsite reporting. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites and parks including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104).This is a mission critical position and should be prepared to report to work in all weather conditions and even during declared states of emergency.

• Work Location: Temporary onsite reporting location is Marymoor Park until the Central Maintenance Facility in Renton is constructed. Once construction is complete (sometime in 2025) the primary reporting location will be 3005 NE 4th Ave, Renton.
• Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. Must have ability to work at least one weekend day as part of a regular schedule each week and willingness to work early swing shifts. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. This role may require flexibility in work hours, including the ability to adjust schedules or work overtime to accommodate special events, operational needs, or emergency responses
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.
• Physical Requirement:
• Physical Endurance: Ability to work in all types of weather, walking, hiking, and biking on various uneven terrains for multiple hours per day.
• Biking Proficiency: Ability to ride a 2-wheel non-electric mountain bike without accommodations over uneven terrain throughout a full shift in various weather conditions.
• Driving Skills: Ability to safely drive a vehicle and potentially tow and place mobile message boards, speed limit devices, or other security devices to aid in crime prevention.

• 
  Application and Selection Process:

  We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

  Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

  To apply, submit a:

  Completed Application (Please fill out your application as fully as possible. We cannot accept attached resumes (or "see resume") in lieu of the application section.)

  Resume

  Cover Letter

  Answers to Supplemental Questions in the application

  Incomplete applications or applications without the above required attachments may not be considered.

  For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

  Divya Mathew at dmathew@kingcounty.gov

  Discover More About King County Parks:

  King County Parks is dedicated to stewarding, enhancing, and acquiring parks to inspire healthy communities. With over 205 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 250 miles of back country trails,we strive to provide park amenities that can be enjoyed by King County residents today and for generations to come. We value collaborative partnerships with community organizations and work towards the common goal of creating a vibrant and inclusive park system. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/parks.

  And check us out on the socials at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vimeo.

  Discover More About DNRP:

  Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments, and check us out at Facebook, X (formerlyTwitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Keeping King County Green News.

  Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

  Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

  Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

  Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

  King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

  No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

  To Apply

  If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.