Park Ranger

Travis County•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Works under moderate supervision to provide day-to-day patrol within the Travis County parks and preserves system. Responsible for visitor and resource protection, with emphasis on law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management, and search and rescue. Ensures a safe park experience for visitors through intensive public interaction. Detects, documents and corrects safety hazards. Protects natural and cultural resources in the park and preserve system through the enforcement of rules and regulations and state and federal environmental laws. Functions as a Peace Officer Certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and as an Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B). This job works various shifts and may require working extended hours during emergency management operations. This position requires a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of the department, including frequent evenings and weekends, and incumbents must be available for emergency response at all times when in geographic area.

Requirements

High school diploma or G.E.D.
Two (2) years of experience in public safety situations requiring immediate decisions, collaboration with other responders, and appropriate corrective action.
Valid Texas Driver’s License.
Certification as a Texas Peace Officer issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
Must obtain system clearance as a Texas Department of State Health Services certified Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) within one (1) year of completion of a certified law enforcement deputy training academy and Field Training Officer (FTO) training, and then must maintain system certification as an EMT-B based on standards established by the StarFlight Medical Director.
Pre-employment - must pass all written, physical, and psychological tests as required.
Knowledge of: Texas Penal Code, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and of the Incident Command System (ICS).
Knowledge of: Criminal law statutes, crime prevention, investigation techniques and patrol operating procedures.
Knowledge of: Park administration and management, departmental rules and regulations.
Knowledge of: Specialized training including search and rescue techniques, technical water rescue, high angle rescue, swift water rescue, dive rescue certified, boating operations, hazardous material handling and control, technical self-defense, defensive weapons, and advanced life support techniques.
Knowledge of: Appropriate response to emergency medical situations and principles and practices of emergency medical services.
Knowledge of: Federal, State, Travis County and City of Austin applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
Knowledge of: Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and variety of software packages.
Knowledge of: Local ecology, and resource management issues and strategies.
Knowledge of: Business letter writing, grammar punctuation, and report preparation.
Skill in: Effective oral and written communications.
Skill in: Effective management of emergencies
Skill in: Customer service and conflict resolution.
Skill in: Maintaining effective public relations.
Skill in: Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
Skill in: Use of personal computers and a variety of software applications including word processing and spreadsheets.
Skill in: Emergency Medical Technician with a Basic certification (EMT - Intermediate preferred) and CPR (Adult & Pediatric CPR).
Skill in: Safe operation of motorized watercraft.
Skill in: Problem solving and decision making.
Skill in: Using handguns and other firearms.
Ability to: Maintain accurate logs and provide clearly written incident reports.
Ability to: Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
Ability to: Operate a motor vehicle.
Ability to: Articulate factual information to the public regarding parks and preserves.
Ability to: Provides informal interpretation of the area resources.
Ability to: Analyze and solve problems.
Ability to: Detect and correct safety problems and hazards.
Ability to: Read and understand basic legal documents and technical publications.
Ability to: Respond to unexpected situations in a reasonable manner.
Ability to: Understand oral instructions.
Ability to: Reason and make judgments and decisions.
Ability to: Manage time well and perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
Ability to: Work calmly, effectively, decisively, rapidly and knowledgeable in emergency situations.
Ability to: Establish and effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.
Physical requirements include meeting physical ability/strength standards.
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 10-60 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, mental effort, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity, necessary to operate a computer, and viewing screens for long periods.
Subject to talking, standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, squatting, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, handling, gripping, grasping, driving, repetitive motion, and client/customer contact to perform the essential functions.
May work outdoors under extreme heat, cold, dampness for extended periods of time.
May be exposed to high-risk situations involved in law enforcement, medical emergencies, natural disasters, search and rescue.
Subject to contact with communicable diseases, radiation, hazardous waste, human fecal matter and foul odors.
Subject to stressful environment and client and customer contact for extended periods of time.
Ability to take physical control of another person as required and exposure to: volatile or stressful situations.
Job may involve danger due to contact with criminals and suspects.
Emergency operations require working under difficult conditions, including but not limited to being subjected to hazards and potential physical danger inherent in public safety and law enforcement work.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in Parks and Recreation, Forestry, Conservation Biology, Geography, or other related Life Science disciplines, plus at least two (2) years of experience in park resource management and administration.

Responsibilities

Conducts daily patrols of Travis County parks and preserves.
Performs routine patrols of waters off park boundaries and along park shorelines; patrols park areas by foot, bicycle, vehicle, horse, motor vehicle and patrol boat to contact park visitors and neighbors to ensure compliance with park rules
Enforces Federal and State laws and educates the public on park rules.
Disseminates park, preserve, and area information to the public; ensures that information is accurate, professional and timely; interfaces with visitors, neighbors, user and volunteer organizations and other agencies to promote Travis County parks and preserves in a positive and professional manner; responds to visitor complaints and concerns; directs corrective action as required.
Makes felony and misdemeanor arrests, issues citations, conducts investigations, and prepares appropriate reports. Transports prisoners, testifies in court and completes follow-up investigations as needed.
Ensures compliance with regulations and policies within Travis County parks and preserves.
Provides visitor and resource protection in Travis County parks and preserves.
Responds to incidents inside parks as dispatched, reported, or as detected by the officer.
Responds to, or is dispatched to, medical incidents and situations within parks and preserves and provides patient care according to established protocols.
Provides emergency medical services as part of a First Responder Organization. Treats patients in the field and prepares appropriate reports. Packages patient(s) awaiting transport and determines category of patient(s).
Assists or is dispatched to assist other agencies to law enforcement incidents or in hear parks.
Recognizes, responds, coordinates and/or participates in search and rescue situations.
Performs inspections of facilities, grounds, and equipment to ensure visitor and employee safety, facility integrity, and aesthetic appearance.
Monitors endangered species habitat and patrols boundaries to deter and detect encroachment and destruction of resources.
Completes park and preserve inspections and reports hazards to park supervisors and tract managers and/or performs corrective action.
Safeguards departmental equipment and facilities; prepares reports of activities and presents programs concerning department activities and programs to the public.
Performs administrative duties, and interfaces and coordinates with private and public entities including, but not limited to: Travis County Constable 5, StarFlight, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), local volunteer agencies and other agencies on public safety planning, training, and mutual aid.
Recommends staffing needs and special needs for special events; prepares case incident reports, criminal incident reports, and EMS run records as required.
Prepares documentation of patient care incident reports and patient medical records.
Collects data and assists in preparation of the annual work plan for the park and preserve system and completes assigned annual work plan projects.
Prepares daily time accounting reports.
Wears approved duty uniform and carries approved weapons in performing duties.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.