Park Aide (Fort Worden) Permanent

State of Washington; Port Townsend (WA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking a Park Aide at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, WA. The position involves on-site facilities and grounds maintenance, visitor assistance, and support for rental check-in/out.

The role emphasizes safety, public service, and teamwork with rangers and maintenance staff. Typical duties include cleaning restrooms and facilities, grounds upkeep, and helping visitors with park rules, passes, and reservations.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 17 years old.
• Possess a valid (unrestricted) driver's license.
• First aid and CPR certification is desired.
• Ability to work independently with good judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent public service and visitor information abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support overnight and day-use rental check-in and check-out.
• Perform routine facility cleaning and maintenance; grounds and equipment upkeep.
• Provide visitors with park information, rules, passes, and local attractions.
• Cross-train to register campers and sell park passes/merchandise.
• Ensure cleanliness and welcoming appearance of historic Fort Worden site.

Skills

Customer service

Public relations

Communication

Problem solving

Job description

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Job Title: Park Aide

Location: Port Townsend, WA

Closes: September 15th, 2026, at 5 p.m.

Position status: This is a permanent position.

Housing is not available for this position.

Under direct supervision of the Park Ranger, Park Aides perform a variety of responsibilities that include supporting overnight and day us rental check in and check out, routine facility cleaning and maintenance, grounds and equipment maintenance, and customer service in the park(s).

These positions are not eligible to telework, as physical on-site presence is required to perform essential functions.

As a Park Aide working at Fort Worden State Park, you will be joining a team of dedicated park professionals. In this position, you will be supported by an exceptional team of rangers and a proactive maintenance crew. This is an opportunity to do work that matters in a beautiful setting and be a steward of this special site. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Fort Worden was a military post between 1897 and 1953.

You will have the opportunity to care for and make a visual impact on the historic grounds and buildings, ensuring they are clean and welcoming to visitors ready to enjoy and explore this unique site. Your assigned tasks will range from bathroom and day-use facility cleaning to meticulous grounds maintenance using a variety of equipment. You will work alongside seasonal park aides to accomplish these tasks. Fort Worden has an excellent equipment inventory and a well-stocked and organized shop to support your success.

Primary duties include, but are not limited to:

Facilities Maintenance

• Daily routine inspection and cleaning of comfort stations, CXTs, and lodge using appropriate chemical cleaners.
• Follows posted cleaning procedures to clean toilets, urinals, sinks, walls, shower stalls, floors, etc.
• Restocks paper supplies and empty garbage cans, as needed.
• Routinely inspects and cleans other park facilities including the park shop, picnic shelters, and contact station.
• Hauls garbage with park pickup; litter pickup in all areas, as needed.
• Cleans campsites and picnic sites with hand tools.
• Delivers keys for check in and collects at checkout for visitor rentable lodging and day use facilities.
• Performs walk through inspections and report deficiencies or handles as appropriate.

Grounds Maintenance

• Mows and trims all lawn areas at least once per week; operates a riding mower, push mower, weed trimmers, backpack blowers, and other power tools/hand tools.
• Trims trees, shrubs and other vegetation using chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and appropriate hand tools.
• Maintains, inspects, and repairs trail system using appropriate power and hand tools.

Equipment Maintenance

• Maintains, cleans, and inspects all vehicles, powers and hand tools that are assigned or used to complete assigned tasks.

Public Relations

• Provides excellent public service by providing park visitors with information and answering questions regarding park facilities, park rules and regulations, park passes, reservations, and local attractions and events.
• Reports violations or other problems to park rangers.
• Cross trains to work in the park contact station registering campers and selling park passes and/or merchandise.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be a minimum of 17 years old.
• Possess a valid (unrestricted) driver's license (except corrective lenses).

DESIRED QUALIFICATION

• First aid and CPR certification

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to work independently while using good judgement and problem-solving skills in decision making.
• Awareness and willingness to follow safety policies and protocols.
• Promotes cooperation and an eagerness and capacity to learn new skills.
• Self-starter who can see a project through to completion.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Facility & Sanitation Maintenance

• Understands sanitation standards, knows how to use chemical cleaners safely, and takes pride in maintaining a clean environment for the public.

Technical Equipment Proficiency

• Demonstrates the ability to operate, inspect, and perform basic maintenance on these power tools and vehicles safely.

Landscaping & Groundskeeping

• Skills in mowing, trimming vegetation, and trail repair including the knowledge on how to properly prune trees/shrubs and maintain trail systems to ensure they are safe and navigable.

Customer Service & Public Relations

• Acting as a face of the Washington State Parks, the employee must be approachable and knowledgeable. Having the ability to answer visitor questions clearly, explain park rules politely, and handle public interactions with professional "excellent service."

Accountability & Reliability

• Ability to follow a set schedule without constant reminders; A "self-starter" who ensures the paper supplies are restocked, and the garbage is hauled on time, every time.

Safety Consciousness

• The ability to follow strict safety protocols, identify infrastructure hazards, and participate in mandatory training like First Aid and defensive driving to protect both themselves and the public, is paramount in a park setting.

Adaptability (Environmental Resilience)

• Involves diverse tasks (from brush cutting to visitor booth hours) in various outdoor conditions. The candidate must be flexible and capable of transitioning between labor-intensive outdoor work and indoor customer service.

The ability to take action to learn and grow.

• Adapting to change and applying new approaches.
• Learning to navigate systems, processes, tools, and technology.

The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

• Helping and supporting people and communities from all backgrounds.
• Welcoming and valuing different identities and perspectives.

Uniform

All permanent Park Aides are required to wear a uniform. A complete and properly worn uniform helps establish the professional identity of a Park Aide and promotes respect as a Washington State Parks employee. All permanent Park Aides will receive 2 shirts, 1 baseball cap, and a clothing stipend of $75.00 per calendar year. Some positions may qualify for a $150 clothing stipend depending on the length of the position. Clothing stipends are intended to offset the cost of clothing worn in the workplace such as pants, boots, raingear, etc.

Working Conditions

Position works five (5) days a week; Core work hours are typically 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule varies and requires weekend work. Work hours are subject to change during the summer season due to operational needs. Incumbents may be expected to adjust the work scheduled to meet business needs. A flexible work schedule may be considered at incumbent's request and is subject to supervisory approval. Incumbent is expected to maintain regular and reliable attendance to accommodate facility, grounds, equipment, and customer needs. Travel and overnight travel may be required periodically between parks and/or statewide for meetings, training, and other field work. Travel will be necessary in all types of weather conditions and climates.

About Parks

Want to join a great organization? The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages one of the largest, most diverse- and most beautiful- parks systems in the country. With more than 120,000 acres, the system includes 124 developed parks, including 19 marine parks, 11 historical parks, 35 heritage sites, 13 interpretive centers and approximately 500 miles of long-distance recreation trails. Parks is staffed with nearly 1,000 employees (summers), who are some of the most passionate employees you'll find anywhere. For more information on Washington State Parks, click here.

Note: This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Once the listed position(s) is(are) filled, this recruitment announcement may also be used to fill additional position(s) for up to sixty (60) days.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.

Diversity Policy Statement

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build a workplace culture that is welcoming and inclusive in which all employees feel respected and empowered to bring their unique ideas to the agency. At State Parks, we believe that embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences is essential to growing a strong workforce. We encourage applicants underrepresented in natural resources and outdoor recreation fields to apply, including but not limited to women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, persons over 40 years of age, and individuals who identify as a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resources office at [phone]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For information about the recruitment process and qualifications, please contact Jenee Kramer at [e-mail] or [phone].

For information about this position, please contact Dave Bowen at [e-mail] or [phone].

All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

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