PARK RANGER

Requisition No: 850483

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PARK RANGER - 37000683

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37000683

Salary: $2,813.33 monthly

Posting Closing Date: 04/22/2025

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

PARK RANGER (Burn position)

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

JOB VACANCY

OPEN COMPETITIVE

Closing Date: 04.22.2025

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:

PARK RANGER – 37000683 (Burn position)

Employee-Owned Trailer opportunity may be available

You will be working with a proven winning team that has one of the most diverse job descriptions in the country. An opportunity is available for a self-motivated, hard-working individual with strong resource management, visitor services, protection, and maintenance experience to fill a Park Ranger position at Lake Kissimmee State Park located in Lake Wales. The Lake Kissimmee Team also manages Catfish Creek Preserve State Park (total of over 14,000 acres) and duties include everything from normal park ranger tasks, assisting other parks and agencies, living history interpretation, Wildland fire management, disaster recovery teams, and heavy equipment to managing herds of cracker cattle and horses.

Contact: Andy Noland, Park Manager; 863.696.1112

Joel.Noland@FloridaDEP.gov

The Difference You Will Make:

Florida state parks are managed and preserved for enjoyment by 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:

Lake Kissimmee State Park

14248 Camp Mack Road

Lake Wales, Florida 33898

Florida's heritage comes alive with living history demonstrations of the early Florida cow hunters in an 1876-era cow camp.

Visitors enjoy boating, canoeing and fishing in the picturesque lakes. Nature students can hike over 13 miles of trails to observe and study the abundant plant and animal life.

Six miles of trails are open to equestrians. A large, shaded picnic area with pavilions is available. The park has full-facility campsites as well as a primitive camping facility.

The youth camping area can accommodate up to 50 people. The dark skies make stargazing a popular nighttime activity for campers.

The park is located off State Road 60, 15 miles east of Lake Wales.

Click on the link to preview this beautiful park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/index.php/parks-and-trails/lake-kissimmee-state-park

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Pay:

Base salary $2,813.33 monthly/$33,760.08 annually

Your Specific Responsibilities:

VISITOR SERVICES - Explains facilities and services provided for public use, enjoyment and education; meets visitors, answer questions, provides information and directions. Attempts to resolve visitor complaints while maintaining good public relations. Provides natural and cultural history interpretive programs and services via tours, walks, and programs.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Implements ecological burning plan for fire type plant communities; recognizes fire type communities, control burning techniques and maintain fire lanes. Implements vegetation and wildfire management plans; recognizes communities and maintains optimum species control via natural and chemical means. Implements site restoration projects such as reforestation and erosion control. Implements water resource management plans. Assists with all areas of resource management including equipment operations and prescribed and Wildfire activities.

MAINTENANCE - Constructs, maintains, and repairs small buildings, fences, trails, service roads, fire lanes, boardwalks, campsites, picnic sites, boat ramps, docks, and all other necessary facilities. Maintains cleanliness of grounds, facilities and park equipment.

ADMINISTRATION - Prepares forms and reports on a wide range of subjects including fees, receipts, visitor use, visitor contacts, patrols, wildlife sighting and population counts, accidents, crisis and miscellaneous incidents, vehicle, boat, and equipment operations, property records, p-cards, purchase orders and requisitions, etc. Answers telephone, operate radio equipment, personal computer and maintain logs. Answers correspondence and maintains park files.

PROTECTION - Ensures Park rules are enforced pertaining to all natural, historical and archaeological facilities and resources and use thereof for enjoyment of the visitor. Ensure visitor, facility and park grounds safety.

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge in; prescribed and wildfire concepts; good public relations; basic arithmetic; of livestock (cows and horses).

Skill in; utilizing motor vehicles. Skill in using various hand tools, small engines and power tools.

Ability to; follow verbal and written instructions/directions; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; perform physical labor; operate radios and various types of communication equipment; perform accurate cash register transactions and deal with visitor inquiries in a tactful and courteous manner; understand and apply rules, directives, policies, laws and regulations; operate personal computer and accurately prepare various reports; work independently with minimum supervision and/or as an effective team member; participate in all aspects of resource management; work outdoors; to lift at least 40 pounds; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; safely operate various types of motorized vehicles and power equipment; assist with prescribed and wildfire activities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Successful completion of fingerprint/background check
• Successfully complete required pack test

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Prior to being hired, an applicant will be given a single opportunity to take and successfully complete a supervised moderate pack test at a date and location to be announced. Pack test requires applicants to complete a two-mile walk while carrying 25 lbs in less than 30 minutes.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT:This position is a Position of Trust. Any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a Level 2 State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also, be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.

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_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us

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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.