Conservation Park Ranger II

Job Summary:

Under general supervision of Unit Ranger, plans, supervises and participates in the management of county parks, wildlife areas and recreation areas.

Job Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Must be capable of regular and predictable attendance at a specified location in order to perform assigned tasks.

• In charge of a park or management unit as determined by the Board, or serves under a Unit Ranger and participates in the management of one or more parks.

• Housing may be provided, as per the Board’s residence policy. Housed employees may be contacted by the public at the residence for general information and emergencies. 

• Supervises and participates in park maintenance and management work such as repair of buildings, tables, fireplaces, tools, equipment and maintenance of developed grounds, boat docks, roads, trails, restrooms, boundary fences, erosion control, septic and sewer systems, water and electric systems, etc.

• Meets the public as required, gives information on facilities, rules and regulations, collects necessary fees and provides assistance and other services as required.

• Participates in the improvement of park facilities.

• Provides for safety of park users and administers first aid in case of accidents.

• Participates in providing for accurate records of park use, attendance and fees collected. Prepares reports.

• Operates a variety of heavy equipment, vehicles, power tools and hand tools.

• Enforces or assists in enforcing laws, park rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of county parks. 

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• High School diploma or G.E.D., and two years of experience in park management work;

• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting the completion of 2 years of post-high school education at a recognized trade, area, business school or junior college in park management, or outdoor recreation for the required experience (30 semester hours equals 1 year);

• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 1 year of major course work (30 semester hours equal 1 year in outdoor recreation, forestry, wildlife or fisheries biology, or a related natural resources field) for each year of the required experience with a maximum substitution of 2 years.

• Must complete all Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) training within one (1) year of appointment and maintain Peace Officer certification. Failure to meet eligibility for enrollment into the ILEA training program or unsuccessful completion of training shall be grounds for dismissal and the employee will be required to reimburse all expenses related to such training. To be eligible for enrollment in the ILEA training, the person must meet the minimum standards for ILEA officers (Iowa Code Chapter 501—2.1(80B)):      

1. Be a U. S. Citizen and a resident of Iowa or intend to become a resident upon being employed;     

2. Be 18 years of age at the time of appointment;       

3. Hold a valid Iowa driver's license;     

4. Not be addicted to drugs or alcohol [modified for Chapter 400 civil service positions by §400.17 of the Code of Iowa];       

5. Be of good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state and national fingerprint files and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;       

6. Successfully pass physical fitness tests;       

7. Not be opposed to use of force to fulfill duties;     

8. Be a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate;       

9. Have uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the Occupational demands of law enforcement;        

10. Have normal hearing in each ear (hearing aids are acceptable if a candidate can demonstrate sufficient hearing proficiency to perform all necessary duties of a law enforcement officer)       

11. Be examined by a physician and meet the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer.       

12. Undergo psychological testing.       

13. Undergo cognitive (Basic Skills) testing. 

• Must have and maintain a valid Iowa Commercial Driver License (CDL) Class B and be insurable under county guidelines, or able to obtain the CDL within one (1) year from date of hire. 

• Must be CPR trained or be trained within one (1) year from date of hire.

• Skilled in the use of all heavy equipment, vehicles, power and hand tools necessary for proper park management.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of park management and related subjects.

• Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations as required.

• Ability to enforce or assist in enforcing laws, rules and regulations as required.

• Ability to handle stressful situations involving law enforcement and first aid.

• Ability to handle confidential work with tact and discretion. 

• Ability to deal tactfully with the public and express ideas effectively orally or in writing.

• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and schedules.

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from public, agencies, or business community.

• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships.

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to perform these operations using units of U.S. currency, weight measurement, area, volume and distance.

• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentages.

• Ability to follow oral and written instructions. 

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out written or oral instructions and plans.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete and unknown variables in situations where limited standardization exists.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The work environment and 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. Refer to the “Essential and Marginal Function Analysis” statement for a complete description of the essential functions and functional requirements.

• Position requires the frequent exposure to undesirable conditions which may include heat, cold, live or dead animals, human or animal waste, odors, filthy environments and insects.

• Must be able to walk on uneven or heavily wooded ground for the purpose of monitoring programs 

• Position requires frequent use of heavy equipment , power and hand tools and exposure to loud noises