OPS PARK RANGER

Requisition No: 848078

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS PARK RANGER - 37970975

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37970975

Salary: $15 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 03/14/2025

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OPS Park Ranger

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Our Organization and Mission:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship - protecting our air, water and land. The vision of DEP is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystem.

The Work You Will Do:

OPS Park Ranger (37970975)

Highlands Hammock State Park

5931 Hammock Road

Sebring, FL 33872

Supervisor: Emily Mefford, Assistant Park Manager, 863-386-6099

Up to 40 hours per week.

Highlands Hammock State Park is looking for a self-motivated park service professional to fill an OPS Park Ranger position, providing resource management technician functions along with administrative and maintenance tasks. The applicant must be able to work rotating shifts including evenings, weekends and holidays.

The Difference You Will Make:

Florida state parks are managed and preserved for enjoyment by all through providing appropriate resource-based recreational opportunities, interpretation and education that help visitors connect to the Real Florida. SM

How You Will Grow:

DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.

Where You Will Work:

Located in Highlands County, Highlands Hammock State Park has more rare and endemic species than any other Florida State Park. There is a unique and richly divergent collection of plant and animal life, including deer, alligators and a variety of birds.

Camping is available and hiking is encouraged along nine trails, including an elevated boardwalk through a cypress swamp.

At the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, visitors can experience the Great Depression and learn about the lives of the young men who build Florida’s eight CCC parks. The park has a significant number of New Deal era structures and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees include:

Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*). For more information consult with People First at 877-562-7287 or visit: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health/eligibility_and_enrollment/ops_employees

• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional information and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). (For more information, please visit Social Security Alternative Plan (Corebridge.com) and read OPS Social Security Alternative Plan;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;

For a more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

• Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

Pay:

$15 per hour

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is moderately independent work providing Resource Management, Maintenance, Administration and Protection of Highlands Hammock State Park.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT –Primarily works to accomplish annual exotic plant management goals through survey and removal of non-native plant species by chemical and/or mechanical means. Other resource management duties may include, but are not limited to, data collection and implementation of resource management objectives.

MAINTENANCE – Performs preventative and corrective maintenance on all equipment and assigned vehicles daily. Communicates equipment maintenance needs to management.

ADMINISTRATION – Tracks daily progress on data sheets and enters into database. This will include the accurate reporting of resource management data as well as hours worked and tasks completed.

OTHER – Performs other related duties as required.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge: Florida natural communities, including both native and exotic plants; land management techniques used to control invasive exotic species; the terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of the physical and natural sciences.

Skills: Skill in the operation of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), MS office, and Adobe Software. Familiarity with tools and equipment used in natural resource survey (e.g. Avenza maps and other survey applications) and invasive plant control, including hand, power/ gas tools, herbicide sprayers, and all-wheel drive equipment.

Abilities: Ability to perform assigned field work despite excessive heat, cold, biting insects, and other adverse environmental conditions. Ability to carry heavy backpacks while traversing uneven terrain. Ability to work as a team or independently. Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license. Ability to work rotating shifts.

Minimum Qualifications:

Valid Driver’s license.

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:

HR_ER@dep.state.fl.us

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.