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Job Description
Description
The City of Palo Alto Open Space, Parks and Golf Division is looking for an experienced Park Ranger to work at the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. This division maintains, interprets, and protects Palo Alto's 4,000 acres of open space lands including Foothills Nature Preserve, Baylands Nature Preserve, and Pearson-Arastradero Preserve. The Park Ranger is responsible for a wide variety of assigned and self-initiated tasks and projects required to protect, preserve, interpret, operate, and maintain Palo Alto open space lands. Emphasis is placed on the protection and preservation of open space lands in a natural state, carrying out resource management projects, park operations, maintaining open space facilities, and providing such visitor services as patrol, enforcement, emergency response and interpretation.
IDEAL CANDIDATE:- Experience developing interpretive programs and exhibits, knowledge of wetland and grassland ecology and non-motorized boat usage as well as display initiative, and teamwork.
- Currently possess or the ability to obtain Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.
- Currently possess S130 Wildland Firefighter Certification and S190 Wildland Fire Behavior Certification.
- Currently possess a California Class A Commercial Driver license.
- Certification from the National Park Service Seasonal Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy or possess the equivalent or higher certification.
Click here to learn more about Open Space & Parks .
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to:- Learns the natural history of Palo Alto and applies this knowledge when performing park maintenance, operations, interpretive and protection duties.
- Develops interpretive programs and exhibits concerning natural history, operations, and resource management practices in Palo Alto's open space lands.
- Performs patrol duties to provide parks and open space visitor assistance and to assure compliance with park rules and regulations. Enforcement duties may include issuing citations related to violation of the Municipal Code concerning city open space lands, responding to citizen complaints, conflict resolution, and writing incident reports.
- Provides emergency response services within established response areas including responding to vehicle accidents, administering emergency medical aid, fighting wildland fires and completing incident reports. May be requested to assist with emergency response operations outside of established response areas.
- Maintains parks and open space facilities such as buildings, picnic areas, irrigation systems, turf, trails, fuel breaks, fences and grounds. Places orders for equipment, materials and services as needed.
- Takes responsibility for Parks and Open Space maintenance operations and resource management projects, operating various types of equipment and vehicles, including tractors, tractor accessories, trailers, power tools, fire equipment, vessels and lake maintenance equipment.
- Ability to work outdoors under all weather conditions, in difficult terrain with exposure to poison oak, dust and other hazards.
- Must wear required uniform.
- Must work on weekends and holidays as well as be available for varied shifts.
RELATED FUNCTIONS:- Assists with Community Service Department projects in various locations within the City.
- Performs related duties and responsibilities, as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:- Possession of a bachelor's degree in park management, natural science, or a closely-related field preferred. Requires experience in the following areas: public contact, interpretation, maintenance, and/or management of park and open space lands.
A combination of education and experience equivalent to possession of an Associate of Arts degree with a major in the natural sciences or a closely related field.
- Two years experience in park and open space operations, public contact, law enforcement, emergency response, interpretation maintenance and resource management of park and open space lands.
- Possession of, and the ability to maintain, certification in Emergency response first aid and professional rescuer CPR.
- Ability to successfully complete the ranger academy or PC832 training within six months of employment.
- Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
- Ability to obtain within six months of employment a California Class A Driver's License to operate a tractor trailer.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- Demonstrated ability to use common tools and equipment used in park and open space operations and interpretation.
- Ability to operate equipment, including portable radios, computers, fax machines, cash registers, and telephones.
- Ability to operate commercial vehicles such as dump trucks, tractors with accessories and tractor trailers.
- Knowledge of philosophies concerning management of open space areas.
- Ability to learn and interpret the natural history of the area.
- Ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include walking or standing for extended periods of time, and operating assigned equipment and vehicles.
- Ability to effectively communicate in both written and oral formats, interact with others, and to assimilate and understand information in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
- Ability to make sound decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions / Physical Requirements- Travel to park sites; some exposure to dust, smoke, noise, and environmental hazard; some moderate lifting, standing, climbing; work in inclement weather conditions. Work weekends, holidays and evenings.
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
- The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act ( ADA), the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both perspective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 7/27/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show morePalo Alto is located about 35 miles south of San Francisco; and 14 miles north of San Jose. Palo Alto, known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and global center of technology and innovation, is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO, Tesla, and Skype. Home to Stanford University and a top-ranked public school system, Palo Alto also features beautiful and historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping and retail districts.
Palo Alto has a highly educated and culturally sophisticated citizenry that is actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally. Unique among city organizations, Palo Alto operates a full-array of services including its own gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm drainage provided at very competitive rates for its customers.
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. Many world-class businesses maintained or started offices here, including Amazon, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Rivian, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, SAP Ariba, Houzz, Varian Medical Systems, and VMware. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the startup capital of the world.
Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community’s dedication to life-long learning. Stanford’s cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City’s exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation.
Home to picturesque tree-lined streets, bike lanes, and historic buildings that reflect its California heritage, Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy with premium shopping and dining options. Excellent health care facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are just some of this incredibly desirable community’s cherished amenities.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government.
We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
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