Recreation Ranger

State of Montana • Billings, MT

2d

About The Position

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in park and or recreation management, archeology, geology, or related fields . Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency's HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application. State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant. THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL. Special Information: Please remember to attach the required documents Cover Letter and Resume listed in this announcement. Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process . The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11\:59 PM Mountain Time on March 18 th , 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site. Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association). A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation. Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply. This vacancy is for a 0.45 FTE Recreation Ranger position with fulltime hours from April until the end of October. The position will be based in either Billings, Columbus, Big Timber, Harlowton, or Roundup with a wide area of responsibility spanning most of Region 5. This includes a variety of Fishing Access Sites, State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, and more. This is a generalist Ranger position with an emphasis on supporting river recreation throughout the region, including the Yellowstone, Big Horn, Rock Creek, Clark’s Fork, Stillwater, Musselshell, and Boulder Rivers. Each watershed presents unique opportunities and challenges. This position will be supervised by the Musselshell District Recreation Manager. This position requires the ability to sit or stand for long periods of time, to work in environmental extremes for long periods of time, to assist the public independently, including at night, and a willingness to frequently travel between sites in the region. Occasional travel outside of the region may occur. This position requires a willingness to work odd hours, weekends, and holidays as necessary. Applicants should have a background in natural resources, recreation, and cultural resources with knowledge of recreation management and familiarity with natural and cultural resource management principles. They must be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in a concise and interpretable manner, with department employees, the public, user groups, and other agencies. Rangers will need to have proficiency in the safe handling and operation of site-specific modes of transportation, such as pickup trucks, cars, boats, bicycles, and ATVs. They will need to have or attain knowledge of the laws, policies, and regulations under which the agency and each site operates. Rangers should have the ability to manage conflicts among visitors and user groups. They must behave ethically and appropriately when serving visitors. Please submit a resume with a cover letter. The Recreation Ranger position is a lead staffer within a geographic unit of State Parks, Fishing Access Sites, Wildlife Management Areas, and river corridors who assists the unit’s Recreation Manager with operations at the sites for the purpose of providing administrative, operational, recreation, visitor use, natural, cultural, and historic resource management. This position provides essential services and addresses tasks as they arise, such as visitor contacts, rule compliance, fee collection and remittance, interpretation and education, and other duties as assigned. This position frequently patrols FWP sites for rule and fee compliance. Explains and interprets rules, policies, and laws to the public. Assists FWP Wardens and other law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations within the park and Fishing Access Sites. Investigates and documents offenses and incidents in accordance with agency policy. Informs visitors on preserving and mitigating impacts on historical, cultural, natural, and recreational resources. Understands enforcement authority and jurisdictional thresholds and who to call for assistance for a wide variety of situations. Recreation rangers assist in use monitoring and identifying recreational use trends within their assigned area. Recreation rangers provide front-line customer service to the public and diffuse recreational use conflicts. Rangers identify maintenance needs among sites and perform light maintenance duties and assist in other maintenance related projects as identified. The Recreation Ranger is supervised by the Recreation Manger and provides direction for other staff and volunteers. In the absence of the Recreation Manager, the incumbent may be assigned acting Recreation Manager responsibilities. A Ranger may be assigned to multiple geographic units or be called upon to assist with, collaborate on, or share operational functions of another geographic unit as circumstances require.

Requirements

• A combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in park and or recreation management, archeology, geology, or related fields .
• Background in natural resources, recreation, and cultural resources with knowledge of recreation management and familiarity with natural and cultural resource management principles.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in a concise and interpretable manner, with department employees, the public, user groups, and other agencies.
• Proficiency in the safe handling and operation of site-specific modes of transportation, such as pickup trucks, cars, boats, bicycles, and ATVs.
• Knowledge of the laws, policies, and regulations under which the agency and each site operates.
• Ability to manage conflicts among visitors and user groups.
• Behave ethically and appropriately when serving visitors.
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time
• Ability to work in environmental extremes for long periods of time
• Ability to assist the public independently, including at night
• Willingness to frequently travel between sites in the region.
• Willingness to work odd hours, weekends, and holidays as necessary.

Responsibilities

• Assists the unit’s Recreation Manager with operations at the sites for the purpose of providing administrative, operational, recreation, visitor use, natural, cultural, and historic resource management.
• Provides essential services and addresses tasks as they arise, such as visitor contacts, rule compliance, fee collection and remittance, interpretation and education, and other duties as assigned.
• Frequently patrols FWP sites for rule and fee compliance.
• Explains and interprets rules, policies, and laws to the public.
• Assists FWP Wardens and other law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations within the park and Fishing Access Sites.
• Investigates and documents offenses and incidents in accordance with agency policy.
• Informs visitors on preserving and mitigating impacts on historical, cultural, natural, and recreational resources.
• Understands enforcement authority and jurisdictional thresholds and who to call for assistance for a wide variety of situations.
• Assist in use monitoring and identifying recreational use trends within their assigned area.
• Provide front-line customer service to the public and diffuse recreational use conflicts.
• Identify maintenance needs among sites and perform light maintenance duties and assist in other maintenance related projects as identified.
• Provides direction for other staff and volunteers.
• In the absence of the Recreation Manager, the incumbent may be assigned acting Recreation Manager responsibilities.
• May be assigned to multiple geographic units or be called upon to assist with, collaborate on, or share operational functions of another geographic unit as circumstances require.

Benefits

• Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance.
• Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays.
• This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level