See full job and application details at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/2771417/park-ranger-2-statewide-in-training-03892?keywords=03892&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
Duties
Park Ranger 2’s are responsible for protecting, preserving, and enhancing our state parks and natural resources, while ensuring the safety and welfare of park visitors; they communicate with the public including providing public information; they identify, improve and protect wetlands, archeological sites and other sensitive or endangered sites; they prepare and present interpretive and educational talks to the public regarding parks resources and related topics; they complete law enforcement activity, vehicle and equipment usage, attendance and incident reports; they educate the public on park rules, issue citations, conduct investigations, and other routine law enforcement duties; they perform grounds and facilities maintenance; they schedule, prioritize, and evaluate the work of staff, and special program workers (community service workers, volunteers, etc.). The specific duties will have some variation by park location.
This recruitment will be used to fill current and future full-time, permanent, Park Ranger 2 vacancies across Washington State. Park placement is based on many things including candidate preference and Agency need. The specific Park locations will be discussed with candidates once a conditional offer of employment has been made and the candidate has started the Agency required Law Enforcement Testing.
For more information on Washington State Parks and Recreation, including location information for all Washington State Parks, click here.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or GED.
- United States citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- A valid driver’s license (unrestricted, other than corrective lenses).
- Must be 21 years of age by date of hire (approx. 6 months from submitting application).
- Two (2) years of college (Military experience, Commissioned law enforcement experience, Natural Resource, or Recreation field experience will substitute year for year for education).
- Successful completion OR Currently attending a qualifying law enforcement academy (BLEA, POST, PLEA, or SLETP).**
**Must have graduated from a qualifying law enforcement academy (or currently attending) or must have worked as a commissioned law enforcement officer within the last 24 months from date of hire or worked as a commissioned Park Ranger with Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission within the last 24 months.**
Candidates who have previously worked in a fully commissioned law enforcement capacity in Washington State, but haven’t done so within the past 24 – 60 months can still apply. Applications will be reviewed by subject matter experts to determine qualifications. Successful candidates may be required to complete equivalency training.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Previous work experience in a State or National Park.
- Completed college coursework in Natural Resources or Recreation.
- Bilingual – English/Spanish with the ability to converse fluently in both English and Spanish.
- Knowledge of, experience and awareness of Native American tribal culture, perspective, history, language, traditional arts or cultural practices.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS (Validated through Psychological & Polygraph examinations and fitness testing):
1. No criminal activity while working in the criminal justice system.
2. No marijuana consumption within the past 12 months from the date of application received.
3. No possession or use 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.
9. Must meet the minimum fitness standards for law enforcement positions. Physical Ability Test (PAT) Information.
10. Possess sufficient physical stamina and dexterity to work arduous manual tasks over extended periods.
11. Willing to work Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and long and/or irregular hours and during inclement weather conditions.
12. Refrain from excessive alcohol consumption.
13. Must not have a substantial amount of driving violations that indicate a disregard for rules or laws.
REQUIRED TRAINING:
Ranger Training Program (RTP)
The RTP is a standardized training program to ensure the Rangers attain the training required of their position, both formal and on the job training. The Ranger will have to demonstrate specific awareness, knowledge, skills, and ability in a wide range of areas and duties that reflect the varied job duties of the Ranger job class. These duties include, but are not limited to, supervision, performing interpretive tasks, grounds and facility maintenance, resources, stewardship, administrative duties, customer service, and public administration. The RTP contains a law enforcement component described in more detail below.
Field Training Program (FTP)
The FTP is a required component of the RTP designed to facilitate the Rangers transition from academic learning to actual law enforcement duties in the field. During the FTP, the Ranger will ride with multiple Field Training Officers over the course of 14-20 weeks, until it has been determined that the Ranger can perform law enforcement independently.
Internal Mandatory Law Enforcement Training
Park Rangers will be required to attend and successfully pass this training which will include a curriculum of defensive tactics certifications, firearms qualifications, radio communications, legal updates, and other duties and responsibilities specific to the role of a Park Ranger 2, such as:
- Chain-of-command structure
- Supervision, employees/volunteers
- Role and authority
- Discover Pass enforcement
- Issuing of infractions
- Crime recognition and incident reporting
- Tactical communications
- Must possess or obtain a valid First Aid and CPR certification (provided by Agency).
A commissioning ceremony will conclude the training session.
IN-TRAINING PLAN –
Park Rangers will initially be hired at the Park Ranger 1 classification, as a training step. Incumbents will remain at the Ranger 1 level for a minimum six (6) month period. Incumbents must successfully complete all training requirements to advance to the Park Ranger 2 classification within 12 months of the initial date of hire. All Park Ranger 2’s will serve a minimum 6-month trial service period** after completion of the RTP and FTP.
* Expired credentials only- Credentials are considered expired 24 months after last working in a commissioned law enforcement capacity. To be eligible for this recruitment, candidates must have worked in a commissioned law enforcement capacity within the previous 60 months, at the time of application. Successful applicants’ credentials will be reviewed by subject matter experts and an appropriate training program will be developed on a case-to-case basis specific to Washington State. Training programs could be in-house or could require the new hire to attend an equivalency Law Enforcement Academy course.
**Trial Service periods may be extended, not to exceed 12 months.
The salary range of the Park Ranger 1 job class is $3,446 – $4,509 monthly. The salary range of the Park Ranger 2 job class is $3,887 – $5,102 monthly. Most newly hired Park Rangers will start at Step A (depending on qualifications) in the Park Ranger 1 job class salary range. After successful completion of the In-Training plan, candidates will advance to the Park Ranger 2 job class salary range.
Supplemental Information
To ensure consideration you must complete the online job application at www.careers.wa.gov AND include all of the required information and attachments.
Use reference number 03892 when searching for the job announcement.
To be considered, your application package must include ALL of the following:
- 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.
- Letter of Interest.
- Current resume in chronological order.
- FIVE (5) professional references including current phone numbers and email addresses. 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. If you do not have any or enough professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
- Abstract of your driving record for any states you have held a driver’s license in, for the past ten (10) years. The abstract MUST be dated no more than 30 days before submittal.
- WA State candidates: The driving record can be obtained from any Washington Department of Licensing agency or online for a $13 fee. The only acceptable version is the “FULL” choice listed on the request for abstract of driving record form.
- Out of state candidates: You must provide an abstract or driving record from any state where your driver’s license has been issued within the past 10 years.
- 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!
- Training program certificate from your approved Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA, POST, PLEA, or SLETP). If currently enrolled, please provide a letter which includes the class dates and status.
- Veterans – Candidates with prior military experience must submit a member 4 copy of their DD214, DD256, or NGB22.
- 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
For information or questions about the recruitment, qualifications, or waiver process please contact Amy Zurfluh at Amy.Zurfluh@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8569.
This recruitment is listed as continuous and will stay open until all vacancies are filled. The hiring authority reserves the right and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision at any time. Applications will be pulled on the below listed dates throughout the year. It will be to the applicant’s advantage to submit a completed application package prior to the dates listed below.
The application review dates are as follows:
- Monday, July 12th, 2021
- Monday, September 7th, 2021
- Monday, December 20th, 2021
- Monday, February 7th, 2022
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.
- Your application information and answers to your supplemental questions will be verified through a polygraph examination.
- 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.
The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the application questions. Answers will be verified and documentation may be required. Responses not supported in your application will disqualify you for consideration of employment from this recruitment.
This position is included in the non-supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/
Diversity Policy Statement
- Diversity strengthens the workforce in competence and ability;
- Celebrating diversity appreciates and values individual differences;
- Diversity serves an increasingly heterogeneous society;
- Diversity helps ensure the relevance of a state park system, its mission, properties, and programs to the people of this state today and in the future; and
- Diversity is crucial to our ability to serve all citizens.