Wildlife jobs in United States

Student Ranger crews are small field-based teams working in parks across BC alongside Park Rangers and Regional BC Parks’ staff. Most teams include one Crew Lead and two Crew Members, though a couple locations operate as two-person crews. The program provides a supportive team environment focused on conservation, recreation, Indigenous Relations, and public outreach project work.

Crew Members support a variety of field-based projects, including trail and facility maintenance, invasive species management, ecological surveys, and public education activities. They work collaboratively with their crew to safely and efficiently complete assigned tasks while gaining practical experience in park management. This role provides an opportunity to develop new skills, work outdoors, and contribute directly to BC’s parks and protected areas. To learn even more about the BC Parks Student Ranger Program, check us out at the following link: Student Rangers.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Enroled in full-time studies at an accredited secondary (YEP 1) or post-secondary (YEP 2) institution within six (6) months prior to the position start date;
• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada;
• Legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations;
• This position requires you to have a valid BC Class 5 Driver’s Licence, or an equivalent class driver's licence from another province or jurisdiction;
• Experience working in a group of two (2) or more to complete a project or task during an academic, work, community, Nation or volunteer setting;
• Must participate and successfully pass the training requirements at the program training event.

Preference may be given to candidates with one (1) or more of the following:

1. A diverse range of academic, work, community, Nation or volunteer experience in at least one (1) of the four (4) Program Areas listed below:

• Public Outreach and Education:this includes experience performing public outreach and education to the public, participation in volunteer events, related studies, educational material creation, interpretive displays and/or presentations, and event planning.
• Conservation/ Resource Management:this includes experience performing related academic research, field surveys and monitoring, traditional ecological knowledge, foraging, invasive plant treatment/removal, and species identification.
• Recreation/ Facility Management:this includes experience performing trail enhancement, gardening/ landscaping, equipment operation and maintenance, replacement and repairs to signs, monitoring the condition of existing facilities, carpentry, and facility repair and maintenance.
• Indigenous Relations and/or other diverse cultures:this includes experience learning and/or applying information and practices of your culture or that of another culture.

2. A minimum of BASIC experience in one (1) or more of following outdoor travel and safety related areas:

• HIKING:Basic Experience means you have hiked 5km in one day, at least once before.
• CAMPING:Basic Experience means you have camped once or twice before.
• MULTI-OVERNIGHT TRIP:Basic Experience means you have completed a multi-overnight trip (this could include a hiking, kayak, canoe, ski or other related trip) at least once before.
• EMERGENCY MANAGMENT:Basic Experience means you have carried safety equipment (ex. first aid kit), for a personal or work trip performed in the outdoors.
• NAVIGATION:Basic Experience means you have used a navigation tool (GPS, compass, traditional forms of navigation etc.) before.
• TRAVEL:Basic Experience means you have experience driving a vehicle off a maintained road (ex. Forest Service Road) to access a recreational area (ex. park, campsite, hiking trail, lake).
• WILDLIFE SAFETY:Basic Experience means you have travelled/or worked where you needed to be cautious of bears and other wildlife (this could include properly storing attractants, making yourself heard, and/or carrying bear spray).
• RECOGNIZING AND RESOLVING SAFETY ISSUES:Basic Experience means you understand safety hazards in the workplace.

3. Preference may be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous (Métis, First Nations or Inuit; this information will only be retained as part of the competition process and will not be used for other purposes.

4. Preference may be given to candidates with a Basic First Aid (previously known as Occupational First Aid Level 1) certificate that will be valid for the duration of the work term length.

5. Preference may be given to candidates who have experience completing group (two (2) or more people) projects or tasks in the outdoors and/or involve a component of safety planning.

6. Preference may be given to candidates with previous experience working in the BC Parks Student Ranger Program.

7. Preference may be given to candidates with valid certificates and training in:

• Pleasure Craft Operator Card
• Brush saw use
• VHF Radio Operator Certificate

• To wear the BC Parks’ assigned Student Ranger Crew uniform;
• To supply and wear adequate footwear for job duties, as determined by BC Parks;
• To work irregular shifts, including evenings and weekends;
• To work outdoors and potentially camp for consecutive nights;
• To work in moderate to extreme weather conditions and in remote and/or isolated locations;
• To perform physically demanding work (ex. hiking, carrying gear and equipment);
• To assist with the response to safety concerns and emergency incidents;
• To transport crew to and from the work sites in government vehicles;
• To operate a variety of communication equipment including 2-way radios, satellite phones and GPS units.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Parks.StudentRangers@gov.bc.ca.

Fourteen (14) crews will be recruited, hired and employed by BC Parks across the province. Locations for the 2026 Crew Members include: Victoria (Goldstream Provincial Park),
Black Creek (Miracle Beach Provincial Park),
Valemount (Mount Robson Park),
North Vancouver,
Squamish,
Nelson,
Penticton,
Kamloops,
Clearwater (Wells Gray Provincial Park – Trail specific position),
Bella Coola,
Prince George,
Fort St John,
Smithers, and Terrace.

An eligibility list may be established to fill future temporary vacancies in the above locations. A Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be required. Student Ranger Crew Member interviews are anticipated to run throughout February and March, 2026. The Crew Member term begins May 10th, 2026, and ends August 22nd, 2026.

We are also actively recruiting for Student Ranger Crew Leads via Requisition 121634.

Applicants who do not meet the mandatory job requirements should consider applying to the Recreation Sites and Trails BC Seasonal Maintenance Crews. These positions have different job requirements and are not limited to students only. Postings will be available online via the BC Government hiring webpage.

The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

We are committed to ensuring reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process, including the assessment and selection stages. Please email the individual or contact listed on the posting if you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Inuit, or Métis) applicants originating from the land known as Canada, seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. Indigenous applicants can contact this service for personalized guidance on the BC Public Service hiring process including job applications and interviews.

The BC Public Service is an award winning employer and offers employees great learning opportunities and a chance to engage in rewarding work with exciting career development options. For more information, visit What the BC Public Service Offers.

Your resume and/or cover letter must clearly show that you meet the education and experience requirements. Highlight the required qualifications and support them with specific examples, such as your responsibilities, projects you’ve worked on, or accomplishments. Find more information on the recruitment process, including helpful tips and videos about the application process, visit the Your Job Application page of MyHR. Gain insights into the hiring journey by joining a Career Conversation.

YES - You must submit your proof of enrolment (see posting attachment "121635_2026 Proof of Enrolment Accepted Licence Equivalents.pdf") to the Student Ranger inbox Parks.StudentRangers@gov.bc.ca prior to the competition closing date/time with the email subject line "LastName_Firstname_PoE". Applicants who do not submit their proof of enrolment before this deadline will not be considered. If there are administrative delays from your educational institution, this must be communicated to the Hiring Manager via the email address above prior to the posting close date/time.

NO - Please do not submit a cover letter as it will not be reviewed.

YES - Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history, including job titles, start and end dates (month and year) and your job related responsibilities for each job in your employment history. Additionally, ensure it emphasizes relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments that align with the specific job requirements and preferred qualifications listed in the job profile for this position. Resumes will be reviewed to confirm questionnaire responses and used for screening purposes.

YES - You will need to complete a basic questionnaire to demonstrate how you meet the job requirements.

Applicants who are selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on their knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and other position related requirements as outlined in the Job Profile at the bottom of the posting. Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, visit the Technical Assistance page of MyHR.