Park Ranger 1 (Moran) description image

Park Ranger 1 (Moran)

Salary: $51,840.00 – $69,744.00 Annually
Location: San Juan County – Other, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Job Number: 2025-04524
Department: Parks and Recreation Commission
Opening Date: 07/10/2025
Closing Date: 07/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Category: Parks and Beaches / Recreation / Law Enforcement / Parks and Recreation / Natural Resources / Maintenance
 
 
 
 

Job Title: Park Ranger 1 

Location: Moran State Park, Orcas Island, WA
Compensation: $51,840.00 – $69,744.00 annually
Closes: July 24, 2025, at 11:55pm

___________________________

Come join Washington State Parks as a PARK RANGER 1 where you’re responsible for preserving and enhancing our state parks and natural resources.

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) full time permanent Park Ranger 1 position at Moran State Park. 

Park Housing is available for this position at a subsidized cost. 

Moran State Park – (located in the San Juan Islands). To the delight of outdoor enthusiasts, Moran State Park has it all. Lakes, scenic views, trails for biking, hiking and horseback riding, historic structures, forested campgrounds and a nature preserve are all at your fingertips. Situated on Orcas Island, visitors can visit Mount Constitution to view the expansive Northern Cascade Mountain Range, stop by the Summit Visitor Center for displays that focus on the geology and ecology of the San Juan Islands, Salish inhabitants and the Civilian Conservation Corps, and explore the gift shop operated by Friends of Moran volunteers. For a Park Ranger 1, Moran State Park offers wide variety in your workday in a spectacular location.  

   Park Ranger 1 (Moran) description image Park Ranger 1 (Moran) description image Park Ranger 1 (Moran) description image

Park housing is available at a subsidized cost. Housing for this position is available in a 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 720 sq foot historic CCC house located near Camp Moran, a short walk to beautiful Cascade Lake and the trail system at your doorsteps. Enjoy Island living with all the amenities of town just a short 12-minute drive away.

As a Park Ranger 1, you will have the ability to work outdoors in a beautiful and scenic environment, while being part of a team that supports one of the most diverse state park systems in the nation. If you are a hard worker that enjoys serving the public, then Washington State Parks may be the place for you. We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, so we encourage candidates from all identities and backgrounds to apply! 


This position is not eligible to telework, as physical in-park/office presence is required to perform essential functions.

For more information on Washington State Parks, click here.    

 

 

Duties

 

The Park Ranger 1 independently performs a variety of duties defined by the Program Manager and Area Manager. This position provides day-to-day customer service, supports rule compliance, inspects trails for needed work, designs and conducts interpretive programs, and provides routine maintenance services that support the operation of the park area. 

Further, this position protects, preserves, and enhances the park and natural resources, while ensuring the safety and welfare of the park visitors to the park area.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Performs duties of rule and regulation compliance for the park area
    • Educates park visitors on rules and regulations that govern activities within the park area, including Discover Pass enforcement.
  • Provides routine maintenance and stewardship functions within the park area 
    • Supervises and completes lower-level maintenance projects for park area, where journey level skills are not required.
    • Completes, assigns, and schedules routine grounds and facilities maintenance and upkeep duties.
    • Ensures priorities are adhered to and identified standards for cleanliness and sanitation are met for routine ground and facilities maintenance and upkeep.
    • Inspects lower-level maintenance projects within the park area for compliance with identified standards.
    • Cleans restrooms and other park facilities.
  • Provides registration and customer service functions
    • Directs public contact providing general information, rules & regulations, services, emergency information and assistance, and area specific information.
  • Performs administrative duties
    • Accurately and timely completes new employee hiring paperwork.
    • Completes park’s Cash Receipt Transmittals (CRTs).
  • Supervises lower-level staff
    • Supervises and provides oversight and instruction to staff, work groups, and volunteers.
    • Follows all Agency policies and procedures, statewide rules and regulations and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

Qualifications

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • High school diploma or GED.
  • United States citizen or legal to work in the U.S.
  • A valid driver’s license (unrestricted, other than corrective lenses).
  • Must be 21 years old.
  • Two (2) years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits). Military experience, commissioned law enforcement experience, natural resource, or recreation field experience will substitute year for year for education.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Experience performing minor construction and repair work.
  • Grounds maintenance experience such as cutting grass, weeding flower beds, pruning, raking leaves, picking up litter, etc.
  • Supervisory experience.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES: 

  • Ability and willingness to effectively manage emergency situations. 
  • Ability to adapt to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.
  • Ability to complete forms and reports accurately and timely. 
  • Ability to consistently enforce and follow governmental laws, rules, and regulations.
  • Ability to focus on educating and influencing park users for voluntary compliance.
  • Ability to interpret and represent agency policies, procedures, direction, and mission.
  • Ability to maintain tools and keep workspaces organized.
  • Ability to make independent decisions that achieve desired results. 
  • Ability to verbally communicate effectively with individuals. 
  • Ability to use Microsoft Office. 
  • Ability to work with the public, employees and other staff in a friendly, positive and approachable manner in order to create a positive work environment. 
  • Have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes required to effectively lead personnel. 
  • Ability to write clearly and succinctly. 
  • Knowledge of interpretive methods and techniques. 
  • Skilled in using logic and proven methods when facing challenges.

WORK CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Possess sufficient physical stamina and dexterity to work arduous manual tasks over extended periods. 

  • Willing to work weekends, holidays and long and/or irregular hours. 

  • Willing to work in inclement weather conditions. 

  • Must not have a driving record that indicates a disregard for rules and regulations. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, hit and run, reckless driving, or an accumulation of driving violations will be evaluated. 

LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING:

Park Ranger 1’s will be required to attend and successfully pass a mandatory one-week training. This training will include a curriculum of defensive tactics certifications, basic first aid and adult/infant CPR (w/AED), radio communications, legal update, and other duties and responsibilities specific to the role of a Park Ranger 1, such as:

  • Chain-of-command structure
  • Supervision of non-permanent employees/volunteers
  • Role & authority
  • Discover Pass enforcement
  • Issuing of infractions
  • Crime recognition and incident reporting
  • Lawful and effective use of pepper spray
  • Tactical communications

Job Suitability Determination: 

Successful applicants will have a history of law-abiding behavior and must pass a background investigation. Adverse background data may be grounds for immediate disqualification. Information obtained in this process will remain confidential.  

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS: 

  1. No criminal activity while working in the criminal justice system. 

  2. No use of illegal drugs in the last three years. 

  3. No possession of illegal drugs in the last ten years. 

  4. No crime committed as an adult, prosecutable under the statute of limitations. 

  5. No intentional deception in any stage of the testing process. 

  6. No intentional deception in the selection process of any law enforcement agency. 

  7. No domestic violence convictions. 

  8. No driving under the influence within the last five years.  

SUBSTANCE USE INFORMATION:

The Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission (WSPRC) drug standards for Park Rangers are: 

(1) No possession or use of non-prescribed stimulant, Opium, Cocaine, Codeine, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Methadone, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, Depressants, Hallucinogenic substances, etc., as defined in RCW 69.50.201-214, within the last 10 years or no more than 3 lifetime uses of any combination (excluding marijuana/hashish). “Possession” is defined as illegal control, touching, holding, selling, or trafficking of any illegal, non-prescribed drugs.  

(2) Zero tolerance for the selling or manufacturing of any drugs, as defined in RCW 69.50.201-214, including the illegal selling or manufacturing of marijuana. 

(3) Zero tolerance for the illegal possession or use of any non-prescribed drugs (as defined in RCW 69.50.201-214), while employed or having been employed in a commissioned capacity by a law enforcement agency, including a military position with law enforcement powers.


If your past substance use is outside of our current drug policy, you may request a waiver to the policy by writing a letter to the screening committee that includes full details of the past substance use and provides justification of why you should be granted an exception to our policy. You can also include any evidence or letters of recommendation to be reviewed along with your letter. All waiver requests must be attached to your application and received with your application package. For questions regarding waivers and or submission please send all correspondence to: Nikki.WIlliams@Parks.wa.gov. 


SPECIAL NOTES:

Applicants will be required to successfully complete a background investigation which may include, but is not limited to: driving record, fingerprints, and criminal and employment history. Applicants will be required to sign releases of information and shall not have access to any investigative materials and files. Background investigations are part of the pre-employment selection process and are not a commitment to employment.

This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Once the listed position(s) is(are) filled, this recruitment announcement may also be used to fill additional position(s) for up to sixty (60) days.

 

Supplemental Information

 

To ensure consideration you must complete the online job application AND include all of the required information and attachments.

To be considered, your application package must include ALL of the following:

  1. Complete online application that includes all past work history (including current and previous supervisors’ names and phone numbers) and education, going back at least ten (10) years.
  2. Cover Letter
  3. FIVE (5) names of professional references including phone numbers and email addresses. We will be contacting your current/previous supervisors. You do NOT need to attach letters of recommendation; we will be contacting them. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies.
  4. Complete Supplemental Questionnaire – The answers to your supplemental questions will be initially reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure you meet our Park Ranger law enforcement standards. Throughout the process, your answers will continue to be reviewed along with your law enforcement tests results to verify your answers. Responses not supported in your application will disqualify you for consideration of employment from this recruitment. If you are currently a WSPRC employee, it could also affect your current or future employment with the agency. Bottom line – take your time answering these questions, and remember absolute honesty is essential!
  5. Veterans – Candidates with prior military experience must submit a member 4 copy of their DD214, DD256, or NGB22.
  6. Transcripts – Candidates with college education/credits must attach unofficial copies of all college and university transcripts that show the degree received and credits completed. International transcripts must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services visit: http://naces.org/members

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

  • Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter. 
  • Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov. 
  • For more information on Veteran’s Preference and instructions on how to check your eligibility, click here.

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION:

  • We recommend that you carefully review your entire application before submitting it, including looking at our required qualifications and standards for law enforcement. Some past actions could immediately disqualify you. Be honest when applying – it’s better to disclose all information up front than have it discovered halfway through the hiring process.
  • The information provided in your application must support your selected answers and responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
  • Any deception found during the process will disqualify you.
  • The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of all the contents in your application package, including the completeness of answers in the supplemental questions.
  • A resume will NOT substitute for completing the Work or Education section of your application. Ensure each section is fully completed.
 
Diversity Policy Statement

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build a workplace culture that is welcoming and inclusive in which all employees feel respected and empowered to bring their unique ideas to the agency. At State Parks, we believe that embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences is essential to growing a strong workforce. We encourage applicants underrepresented in natural resources and outdoor recreation fields to apply, including but not limited to women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, persons over 40 years of age, and individuals who identify as a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resources office at (360) 902-8565. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
 
For information about this recruitment or Parks hiring process, please contact Nikki Williams at Nikki.Williams@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8678.


All applicants with a

All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

Job Alerts to receive a list of new job postings at Parks.

 

Employer
State of Washington
Address
View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504
Website
http://www.careers.wa.gov