Land Management Ranger (Austin Water)

City of Austin

1d•$23 - $26•Onsite

About The Position

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. What Makes the City of Austin Special? Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives. Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits. Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure. Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support. Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities. Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration. By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country. ABOUT AUSTIN WATER: For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers. Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, we’re not just keeping up—we’re leading the way with sustainable infrastructure, advanced treatment technology, and environmental innovation. Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants. Job Description: Land Management Ranger Purpose: Under general supervision, monitors and reports unauthorized activities by patrolling and assisting with land management actions to safeguard conservation lands and parkland to limit the risk of incidents related to unauthorized activity. Position Overview: This position will carry out land management and ranch-hand type duties on over 26,000 acres of Balcones Canyonlands Preserves and Water Quality Protection Lands. Typical activities include hiking the perimeter of properties (often in rugged terrain), documenting unauthorized activities, repairing fencing from cuts and tree damage using hand tools, interacting with the public neighboring these lands, and coordinating with biologists, maintenance staff, and other land management professionals. This position will be responsible for monitoring and reporting unauthorized activities by patrolling and assisting with land management actions on Balcones Canyonlands Preserves and Water Quality Protection Lands.

Requirements

Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a field related to the job, plus one (1) year of related experience. Related experience may substitute for education up to a maximum of four (4) years.
Valid Texas Class C Driver's License.
May require wildland Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) certification or be capable of obtaining training within six (6) months of employment.
Other license as required for the position.
Must carry and maintain a valid State of Texas Hunting License.
Must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a land manager or ranch hand.
Experience hiking and monitoring vast areas of land in a rural setting.
Experience with public interaction, customer service and addressing complaints.
Skill and experience in minor fencing and other repairs, using chainsaws, hand saws, woodchippers, and other small hand tools.
Proficiency in using firearms for wildlife management.

Responsibilities

Patrols vast areas of conservation lands and parkland, including environmentally sensitive locations, and reports unauthorized activities.
In collaboration with other City and County staff, safeguards and inspects property for damage, vandalism, trespassing, tampering with survey equipment, illegal dumping, illegal campfires, and other unauthorized use of protected lands.
Responds to boundary issues and complaints.
Acts as a liaison with law enforcement agencies and individuals engaged in unauthorized activities.
Resolves difficult situations involving public complaints and works cooperatively and jointly to provide customer response.
Implements actions to manage populations of native and exotic wildlife and vegetation.
Conducts inventory and monitoring practices for wildlife populations and their habitats.
May be required to operate and maintain firearms used for lethal population management actions for wildlife.
Observes and documents maintenance needs for facility-related contract compliance, including fences, roads, buildings, water wells, and other facilities.
Operates various tools and equipment needed to accomplish land maintenance activities.
Researches, develops, presents, and submits incident, inspection, and technical reports and programmatic documentation to appropriate agency/personnel.
Reviews and interprets policies, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
May participate in wildfire prevention, including prescribed burns.