State Park Ranger Lead

State of Maryland•Allegany, MD

About The Position

The State Park Ranger Lead is the lead level of work in operating a State park. The role interprets and applies Park rules and regulations to encourage voluntary compliance, coordinates forest and park programs, and informs visitors about park resources. The Lead assigns, reviews, and approves the work of lower-level park personnel and trains them. The position does not have full supervisory responsibility, but may lead temporary employees and other park service employees. It receives general supervision from a designated park supervisor. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service, is recruiting leads to serve as the Lead Ranger for an operational area of a State Park. The role performs front-line operations in day-use areas and facilities, including administrative duties, public education about resource management and park regulations, and monitoring visitor impacts to protect resources, grounds, and facilities. The Lead also assists visitors and supports management of natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources. Duties include directing full-time personnel and hiring, scheduling, and leading seasonal employees and volunteers. Work takes place indoors and in the field under varying weather conditions. Employees may need to work evenings, weekends, and holidays and may be called in based on staffing needs. The role involves lifting objects weighing 25 pounds or more, traveling throughout Maryland, and may require protective clothing and equipment, specialized tools, walking over uneven or rocky surfaces, and bending or stooping in confined spaces. Employees may be assigned duties requiring operation of a motor vehicle and, if so, must hold a valid Maryland driver's license. Employees are subject to call-in and must provide a phone number where they can be reached.

Requirements

Seven years of experience, including three years in forest or park management, recreation, natural resources management, or preparing, developing, or delivering programs interpreting natural, historical, cultural, or recreational features, and an additional four years in park management, recreation, or a natural- or cultural-resources-related field.
Alternatively, a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in park operations, recreation, education, business administration, forestry, social sciences, history, or a natural-resources- or history-related field, plus three years of qualifying experience in the listed fields or interpretive programming.
Alternatively, a master's degree from an accredited college or university in park management, recreation, education, business administration, forestry, social sciences, history, or a natural-resources-related field may substitute for five years of the required experience.
Alternatively, qualifying U.S. Armed Forces commissioned-officer military service in the specified management and program clerical and assistance classifications or specialties may substitute year for year for required experience.
Must provide a phone number where the employing agency can reach the employee because the position is subject to call-in.
A valid Maryland motor vehicle operator's license is required if assigned duties involving operation of a motor vehicle.

Nice To Haves

Three years of professional field-level experience working in a park setting.
Two years of professional experience training and leading a team in performing its duties.
Experience leading and organizing volunteers.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Experience developing and presenting natural-resource, cultural, or historic programs.
Experience performing grounds, building, and infrastructure upkeep.
Experience working with community and government agency partners to provide public safety, resource protection, and coordination.
Certifications or training related to park operations, such as Emergency Medical Responder, First Aid, CPR, Search and Rescue, natural/cultural/historic programming or interpretive training, Scales and Tales, or Personnel Leadership Training.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Lead Ranger for an operational area of a State Park and perform front-line operational duties in day-use areas and facilities.
Interpret and apply Park rules and regulations to ensure voluntary compliance with park standards.
Coordinate forest and park programs and inform visitors about forest and park resources.
Perform administrative duties and provide information and education about resource management, DNR and park regulations, and policies.
Monitor visitor impacts to help protect park resources, grounds, and facilities.
Assist visitors in support of managing natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
Assign, review, and approve the work of lower-level park personnel and train them.
Direct full-time personnel and hire, schedule, and lead seasonal employees and volunteers.
Lead temporary employees and other park service employees as needed.

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