Park Ranger

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the "Hiring Process" section below to learn more. 

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Job Summary

Do you like talking with people, answering questions, walking trails, and being outdoors? The Summer Park Ranger is a seasonal position offered through the Bellevue Parks & Community Services Department, Natural Resource Division. Summer Park Rangers spend time talking with park patrons, provide patrons with reminders of park rules, patrol and lock parks and facilities at night, and assist the Park Ranger team staff with programs and staffing, among other tasks. This position is a front-line customer service position directly in contact with the public daily. The position reports to the Lake Hills Greenbelt Park Ranger. 

The program runs Memorial Day – Labor Day with training scheduled the week of May 19 and if needed again in June for late start staff. We can work with most school schedules for start and end dates. 

Program hours are roughly 40 hours per week with two shifts running from 8:00am – 4:30pm and 3:30pm-midnight. Rangers work as a team to patrol parks, walk trails, lock gates, and restrooms, and talk with park patrons.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Walk parks daily and conduct patrols nightly on foot, via bicycle, and by driving a city vehicle throughout the city to all sites included in the city’s Park and Open Space System, including gate and restroom lock-ups, and closing facilities at dusk
• Keep accurate logs, data collection, reports, and record keeping
• Offer customer service to park patrons
• Educate patrons regarding park rules/regulations and the natural world, conduct park/trail inspections, issue notices regarding violations of park rules, and clean up litter within Parks & Community Services properties
• Respond quickly and effectively to emergencies in the park system
• Provide information to the public concerning questions, park programs and events, facilities, historical sites, nature, and wildlife
• Provide support at Natural Resource facilities, Visitor Centers, the Ranger Station, Bellevue Marina at Meydenbauer Bay, and other sites as needed
• Other duties may include interpretive program delivery including nature walks, education programs, facility tours, canoe trips, workshops support, special events, other outreach programs, and other operational duties as assigned
• Additional tasks may include opening/closing facilities, answering phones, greeting visitors, conducting surveys, parking monitoring, scheduling, and monitoring rentals, working on assigned projects, keeping a neat and clean Visitor Center, and other miscellaneous projects and tasks as assigned.
• Rangers distribute program marketing including; kiosk updates, brochure and flyer distribution, website updates, event tabling, etc. 
• Communicate professionally and courteously to all park patrons and City staff at all times
• Participate in team meetings and training sessions as required. 
• The position may also provide administrative support and programming assistance to other Parks and Community Services Department programs areas as needed.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Strong customer service skills, including written and oral English communication, and the ability to address the public in a courteous, diplomatic, and professional manner is essential.
• Completion of at least two years of college in natural resource management, environmental education, or other closely related field or two years of similar previous experience preferred. 
• Computer skills with experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, Google Drive, and mobile applications.
• Ability to employ excellent customer service skills in explaining and tactfully providing park rules and regulations.
• Ability to keep organized, current, and accurate patrol logs/reports, activity and incident reports, etc.
• Experience in presenting natural history, environmental interpretation, and other public outreach programs desired.
• Previous experience working in the public sector beneficial.
• Ability to load/unload and ride a bicycle and walk as assigned area dictates, example: use bike or foot patrols where conditions call for closer look or more park patron contact.
• Must be able to safely drive, park, backup, and otherwise safely maneuver a standard-sized pickup truck. 
• Must be willing to work non-traditional hours, including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and make decisions independently.
• National Criminal History check is required on all applicants.
• Required to possess a valid U.S. driver’s license by date of hire. Must have and maintain a good driving record according to City standards. A current original driver’s abstract is required at the time of the interview.
• Ability to obtain or currently hold Lifeguard Certification is preferred.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands and work environment 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 essential functions.
• Work involves walking, talking, driving, riding a bike, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work involves driving or riding in a City vehicle for up to eight hours per day to access patrol sites.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 50 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
• Work may periodically require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.
• Employee must be willing and able to work outside in all weather conditions, including hot weather, rain, and snow. 

Supplemental Information

Application review

• Provide resume and cover letter.
• Provided at least two professional references and their current contact information including an email address.

This is a Seasonal, non-exempt, non-union position. 

Definition of a Seasonal Employee: 

• Must be pre-approved by Human Resources to ensure compliance with the legislation.
• Regularly scheduled to work up to 40 hours per week for which the customary annual employment is six months or less.
• "Customary" means that the nature of the position typically lasts for six months or fewer and that the period of employment begins at approximately the same time each year.

NOTE: Will be considered full-time and eligible for medical coverage if hours average 30 hours per week or more over a 12-month measurement period (or 130 hours per month).

HIRING PROCESS

The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

• Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
• We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage, unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.
• Some positions may require completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment
• Some positions may require obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications. 

At the City of Bellevue, you'll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service, Stewardship, Commitment to Employees, Integrity, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. You'll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. It's what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838 or recruiting@bellevuewa.gov. If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing. 

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/IER_RightToWorkPoster.pdf (Download PDF reader)

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPosterES.pdf (Download PDF reader)

For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.

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