Parks and Open Space Ranger - Seasonal

Job Title: Seasonal Parks & Open Space Ranger
Department: Parks and Open Space
Classification: Non-Exempt

Pay Grades: $22.39/min - $24.63/mid - $26.86/max

Position Summary: City of Aspen Parks & Open Space Rangers act as the eyes and ears of the City Parks Department and other departments. Rangers take to the trails and natural spaces daily, either on foot or on bicycle. The single-track, park benches, and aspen groves are the office spaces for City of Aspen Rangers. This highly public facing position requires excellent communication skills and emotional awareness. The mission of our Rangers is to educate visitors, enforce regulation, and monitor natural resources. The duties that support these goals vary greatly, but can include natural resource enforcement contacts, local emergent incident response, parks, trails & open space maintenance, and providing great customer service to our trail users. Open Space Rangers are expected to interact with organizers of local special events and help regulate these events to help provide high quality experiences for all. Some days, Rangers will find themselves working solo for long periods, and other days, task oriented teamwork will be required.
The tasks Rangers may be asked to complete while on-duty are countless, but providing service to your community and the surrounding landscape will always be the number one job.
Supervision Exercised and Received: Position works under the general supervision of the Parks & Open Space Senior Ranger and the Open Space and Natural Resources Manager.
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Essential Job Functions:

Patrol and Enforcement
* Patrols, on foot or bicycle, the City's Parks, Open Spaces and Trails to educate visitors, enforce regulations and monitor natural resources.
* Performs daily patrols of parks, open spaces and trail for rules, regulations, enforcement, education and outreach to include talking to pet owners about cleaning up after their animals and enforcing Skate park regulations.
* Communicate effectively with the public in regards to both emergent situations and customer service type contacts.
* Engage with event coordinators to monitor and patrol special events within city limits.
* Picks up trash and animal waste to ensure clean natural spaces
* Works alone and/or with others for long periods of time.
* Assigns verbal and written warnings and written citations against individuals not adhering to regulations of these areas.
* Prepares court testimony regarding legal action for such enforcement, when required.
* Understands and is cross trained in Pitkin County Open Space and Trails rules and regulations.
* Responsible for education and enforcement of County rules and regulations on jointly owned open space and trails located in the County.
Natural Resource Management
* Assists with Open Space and Natural Resource programs monitoring and recording information such as wildlife sightings, weed infestations and human use patterns.
* Maintains records and prepares reports.
* Protects the natural resources, including vegetation and wildlife.
* Performs general park maintenance and clean-up.
* May perform additional and emergency duties to protect other public property and natural resources.
Education and Outreach
* Prepares environmental education and community outreach programs oriented to promoting public participation in open space management, including the promotion of proper park and trail etiquette and enforcement of rules governing proper use of public trails.
* Utilizes all forms of media including newspaper, email, social networks, television, and radio.

City Organizational Values:
* Supports and models the City of Aspen organizational values: Service, Partnership, Stewardship, and Innovation. Organizational values are shared principles that guide behavior across the organization. This position is responsible for upholding and applying these values while performing daily work functions.

Other duties as assigned.
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Core Competencies:
Displays the following key competencies and behaviors in the overall job performance to include knowledge, skills and abilities:

* Service: Provides service with excellence, humility, integrity, and respect in daily work, builds trust by listening, treats people with respect, acknowledges opportunities for improvement, and follows through with commitments.
* Partnership: Actively creates strong, supportive internal and external relationships to attain a common goal and achieve greater impact together.
* Stewardship: Balances social, environmental, and financial responsibilities, evaluating the impact of decision making on a thriving future for all.
* Innovation: Develops technical expertise to pursue new ideas and creative outcomes, grounded in Aspen's unique culture, opportunities and challenges.
* Communication: Knowledge of effective and appropriate communication. Ability to use knowledge effectively in various contexts which may require oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication.
* Interpersonal: Works to develop strength in interpersonal skills. Has the ability to work well with diverse groups of people, both inside and outside the organization.
* Technology: Demonstrates technology skills sufficient for the nature and level of position. Demonstrates a willingness to learn new technologies and transition job duties accordingly to support technological advances and innovation.
* Parks Operations: Knowledge of policies, procedures, and strategies to promote safety operations relevant to the Parks and Open Space Department. Ability to use public vehicles, such as advertising, social media, etc., to promote Open Space and Parks sponsored programs.
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Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Associate's degree in natural resource management, natural sciences, biology, parks and recreation management, criminal justice or related field.

Experience: Two years of progressively responsible experience in park area operations or other natural resource management role.
Technical Knowledge: Must be proficient in the following areas: Microsoft Outlook Email, and a basic understanding of computers and online computer-based technology applications, which includes accessing web based platforms.

Licenses & Certifications:
Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License or be able to obtain one within 30 days of start date.
Must be CPR and First Aid certified within 6 months of hire date.

NOTE: Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required abilities, knowledge and skills as determined by the City of Aspen may be substituted for the requirements above.

Preferred Candidate: Has previous experience as a Park Ranger and/or a Bachelor's Degree in natural resource management, natural sciences, parks and recreation management, criminal justice or a directly related field.

NOTE: This position requires a Criminal Background Check upon hire. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a Criminal Background Check.
Position Type and Work Hours:
* Regular full time, hours may vary with workload.
* Evenings/Weekends will occasionally (monthly) be required depending on department needs and special projects.

Work Environment:
* Indoors: Office environment.
* Outdoors/Off-Site: Meetings, trainings, and site visits at a variety of city facilities and areas. Performs open space and trail patrols in parks and natural resource areas. Works in a variety of different weather and temperature conditions.

Physical Demands:

Visual Acuity: Ability to bring objects into focus.
Balancing: Maintaining equilibrium.
Bending: Bending or position oneself to move an object from one level to another.
Carrying: transporting or moving an object.
Crouching: Bending body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
Climbing: Ascending or descending stationary objects.
Cycling: Frequently riding bikes on trails and carrying equipment in backpack or rack while riding
Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination: Performing work through using two or more body parts or other devices.
Gripping/Grasping: Ability to apply pressure with fingers and palm.
Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, through use of hands, fingers, or other means.
Hearing: Perceiving and comprehending the nature and direction of sounds.
Kneeling: Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee or knees
Lifting: Moving objects weighing no more than 10 pounds from one level to another.
Pushing/Pulling: Ability to use upper extremities to exert force in order to press, draw, drag or haul objects in a sustained motion.
Reaching: Extending the hands and arms or other device in any direction.
Repetitive motions: Making frequent or continuous movements.
Sitting: Remaining in a stationary position.
Standing: Ability to sustain position for a period of time.
Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
Snowmobiling: Operating a snowmobile and grooming equipment in varied conditions
Talking: Communicating ideas or exchanging information.
Walking: Ability to move to traverse from one location to another.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.