Park & Recreation Ranger 6-E8 (South Higgins Lake State Park)

This position participates in the day to day work activities of the unit with regard to the operations of Parks and Recreation Division administered facilities. The employee shall assist the Unit Supervisor/Lead Ranger in various administrative tasks as delegated with minimal supervision. The employee shall perform various types of operational and maintenance duties consistent with the operation of Parks and Recreation Division administered facilities. This position will train and provide guidance to staff, maintain grounds, infrastructure and equipment, and perform other duties as assigned. The employee shall regard their personal safety, as well as the safety of co-workers and the public, as their personal responsibility.

Position Description (Download PDF reader)

This position requires that the employee is able to obtain and hold a DNR Law Enforcement Commission.

As a requirement for this position, attendance at the Parks and Recreation Division Law Enforcement Academy and Ranger Operations Academy is required. These are two separate trainings typically totaling 12 weeks with courses intended to increase your physical ability to handle incidents, increase your knowledge of Parks & Recreation Rules as well as park operations. These trainings will require overnight stays in / at a learning facility.

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  Pass a pre-employment physical examination conducted by a health care provider designated by the Parks and Recreation Division.
• Successfully pass the Parks and Recreation Division Law Academy.
• Be at least 21 years of age before graduation from the Parks and Recreation Law Academy.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have the ability to obtain a Michigan driver’s license.
• Possess a driving record free of suspension or revocation for two years prior to attendance of the Parks and Recreation Division Law Academy.
• Possess a driving record free of any moving violations for two years prior to attendance of the Parks and Recreation Division Law Academy.
• Possess a clean criminal record absent of any felony convictions or high court misdemeanors.

Education
Educational level typically acquired through completion of high school.

Experience

Park and Recreation Ranger 6
No specific type or amount is required.

Park and Recreation Ranger 7
One year of experience in a park or recreation setting, or in the construction trades.

Park and Recreation Ranger E8
Two years of park and recreation experience, including one year equivalent to a Park and Recreation Ranger 7.

Completion of at least 8 semester (12 term) college credits in natural resources, park management or outdoor recreation may be substituted for one year of experience as a Park and Recreation Ranger-E.

Completion of at least 15 semester (22 term) college credits in natural resources, park management or outdoor recreation may be substituted for two years of experience as a Park and Recreation Ranger-E.

Please attach resume, cover letter, and official college transcripts (if applicable) to your application.

Information provided in your application, resume, cover letter, transcripts, and any other documentation provided will be used to verify responses to the supplemental questions. Unsupported responses may not be considered further.

If applicable, you must attach an electronic and/or scanned copy of your official college/university transcripts. For our purposes, "Official Transcripts" must contain the college/university name and address, the degree conferred and date granted, coursework completed (especially if no degree granted), and the Registrar's signature and/or seal.

Your application for any position does not guarantee that you will be contacted by the Department/Agency for further consideration. Only those applicants interviewed will be notified of the results.

View the job specification at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ParkandRecreationRanger_12435_7.pdf (Download PDF reader)

State employment also offers rewarding careers where you can help Michiganders enjoy better lives. Many State of Michigan jobs offer alternate work schedules and remote-work options that can help give the flexibility you need. In 2022, Forbes ranked the State of Michigan in the Top 10 of America’s Best Employers For New Grads and as the #1 employer for new grads in government services. More details on benefits for our new hires are below:

Rewarding Work: State of Michigan jobs allow you to serve Michiganders in many different ways depending on your interests and skills. Help preserve and protect our environment and the public health; enforce state laws and regulations; advocate for children, families, and victims of discrimination; support our state’s military and veterans; rebuild our state’s infrastructure; or support other state agencies through our fiscal, IT, and HR systems.

Insurance Benefits: The State of Michigan offers health, mental health, dental, and vision insurance to eligible career employees, their spouses, and their children. The state also covers a life-insurance benefit of two times employees’ annual salary (up to $200,000). The state also offers long-term-disability insurance that can provide continuing benefits if an injury or illness prevents employees from working. More information is available at www.mi.gov/employeebenefits.

Retirement Programs: The State of Michigan offers 401(k) and 457 plans for new hires to save for retirement. The state will automatically contribute an amount equal to 4% of your pay to a 401(k) account. The state will also match up to 5% of your pay if you contribute to your 401(k) account. Your contributions vest immediately, and the state’s contributions fully vest after just 4 years. More information is available at http://www.mi.gov/orsstatedc.

Vacation and Sick Leave: Eligible full-time employees receive between 15 and 35 personal days and 13 sick days per year that may be rolled over to the following year if not used. Eligible employees also receive an additional day each year for community service or school functions.

Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees can take 12 weeks of paid leave immediately after a birth or adoption to allow needed time together at home with a new child.

Paid Holidays: Eligible employees receive 13 or 14 paid holidays each year including New Year’s Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve and Day.

Bonus Programs: Eligible employees with five years of service also receive annual longevity bonuses that grow as seniority increases. Some positions also may qualify for recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses or other special pay premiums.

Military Pay Differential: Employees in the guard or reserves may also qualify for supplemental pay benefits if miliary pay during qualifying duty is less than normal state pay. Prior military service may also allow seniority credits to accelerate eligibility for longevity bonuses and additional personal leave accrual.

Tax-Advantaged Programs: In addition to 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts, the state also offers flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), and qualified transportation fringe benefit (QTFB) programs that can help you save money by reducing your taxable income.

Student Loan Forgiveness: Working for the State of Michigan may allow you to participate in programs that forgive the balance of qualifying student loans. Information to help determine if you could qualify is available from the U.S. Department of Education.

Tuition Reduction: Some colleges and universities offer savings to eligible employees and family members to further their education while working for the State of Michigan.

Professional Development: To help develop your career, programs are available to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 a year for education and training for college course credits and non-degree programs.

Alternative and Remote Work Schedules: Depending on the nature of their duties, many state jobs offer flexible work schedules and remote or hybrid telecommuting options that can help obtain the work-life balance that you seek.

Great Lakes and Great Times: Michigan boasts four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20 million acres of forests, 100 state and national parks and recreation areas, 1,300 miles of bike trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, the second-most ski areas in the nation, 650 public golf courses, 600 campgrounds, and an international dark-sky park—just for starters. Our cities offer concerts and cultural events, storied sports teams, education hubs, vibrant downtowns, one-of-a-kind craft beverages, and renowned restaurants for every appetite. From urban centers to beach towns to the great outdoors, the opportunities are endless. With your state salary and benefits and Michigan’s affordable cost of living, you can explore all that Michigan has to offer.

Updated: 11/14/2022