Job Summary
Acts as an ambassador for City parks and facilities by ensuring a safe and pleasant environment for park patrons. Investigates service requests by gathering and analyzing information to determine the scope of the request, schedules necessary action and informs parties involved regarding disposition to ensure that service requests from the public, City Manager’s Office, and other parties are handled expeditiously and appropriately.

Job Description

Overview

The Park Ranger performs a wide range of tasks to ensure appropriate use of parks, facilities, and trails; educates community regarding programs and services; enforces safety protocols and procedures; and responds to and interacts with park patrons and other community stakeholders regularly.

Essential Functions

1 Conducts site visits to park facilities to observe, report, and resolve (through voluntary compliance) park rule infractions, criminal activity, and maintenance issues in accordance with park ranger program protocols, procedures, and policies.

2 Researches, checks, and monitors reservations for athletic fields on all City parks to determine if teams have reserved fields through RecTrac software; resolves disputes and issues to ensure the appropriate use of the city fields; and de-escalates citizens disputes concerning reservations of pavilion and reserved fields.

3 Issues and delivers citations for park rules and City ordinance violations via handwritten ticket book.

4 Educates and engages with homeless citizens and coordinates with Office of Homeless Solutions to relocate homeless citizens from City parks in compliance with City policies and procedures.

5 Provides excellent customer service and acts as a primary source for information and assistance to the public regarding park information, safety, rules, and regulations.

6 Attends various City-sponsored events to promote the park ranger program and to provide support for successful execution of these events.

7 Manages and administers targeted community outreach and educational activities focused on promotion of the park ranger program and encouraging community involvement to support safe parks.

8 Creates daily reports via email and other available software documenting observations and findings after each park, trail, or facility site visit. Contacts 911 or Dallas Marshals for escalated events requiring first responder action.

9 Coordinates with various intradepartmental staff and other City departments in support of maintaining park safety and maintenance.

10 Performs any and all other tasks as needed or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

1 Knowledge of the City’s Parks, facilities, and public spaces.

2 Skill in providing excellent customer service and skill in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques to successfully resolve various sensitive and high-pressure situations.

3 Ability to read and interpret City code, ordinances, and rules and to tactfully communicate rules to customers to gain voluntary compliance when violations are observed.

4 Knowledge of safety standards and protocols.

5 Knowledge of environmental standards and principles as they pertain to stewardship of City parks.

6 Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, using proper business language.

7 Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

8 Ability to identify compliance violations and basic park maintenance issues.

9 Ability to operate a City vehicle.

10 Ability to adapt to variable work assignments and changing priorities.

11 Ability to work various work schedules to include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

12 Ability to conduct various forms of public outreach to diverse community groups in formal and informal settings.

13 Ability to work independently using good judgment and decision-making, with general guidance provided by supervisor.

14 Skill in the use of computers.

15 Skill in the use of Microsoft software products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

16 Bilingual language proficiency (English and Spanish), with ability to read, write, and speak both languages, is preferred.

17 Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in varied environmental conditions, to include extreme heat or cold and precipitation.

18 Ability to operate a utility vehicle and/or bicycle for patrol duty, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

1 year of experience in park and recreation programming; customer service or outreach, preferably in a park and recreation environment; or as a park ranger with responsibility for patrolling and enforcing park rules and regulations for a park system.

Tagged as: Law/Policy