Park Ambassador - Temporary

Pierce County; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Pierce County Parks and Recreation Department is hiring Park Ambassadors across multiple locations including Spanaway Park, Sprinker Recreation Center, Riverside Park, Trek at Tehaleh Mountain Bike Park, and Foothills Trail. These temporary roles focus on excellent customer service, safety, and helping guests enjoy park amenities.

You will enforce park codes, guide visitors, and assist with navigation while maintaining a clean, family-friendly environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Current driver’s license
• Ability to lift 50 lbs
• Work in hot and cool temperatures
• Work weekends and holidays

Responsibilities

• Understand and enforce all Park Codes
• Provide a point of contact for all patrons in need of assistance
• Maintain a safe, clean and family friendly environment
• Ensure proper use of facility
• Inspect park grounds for vandalism and unsafe situations
• Fill out required reports

Skills

Policy knowledge

Customer service

Independent judgement

Professional conduct

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

• These temporary positions are not eligible for County benefits.
• There are multiple positions available. The positions are expected to work 40 hours a week for up to 5 months. The schedule will be approximately 8:30 am to 10 pm with 2 consecutive days off.

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

As a Park Ambassador, you get to work in the places the community loves and in an environment where people are having fun, enjoying recreational activities, and spending time outdoors. You will provide customer service to patrons within Pierce County Parks and Trails. These positions are located throughout all our regions, working at Spanaway Park, Sprinker Recreation Center, Riverside Park, the Trek at Tehaleh Mountain Bike Park, and the Foothills Trail. In these roles, you will be responsible for providing directions to park amenities, answering questions about park use, and helping those navigate park congestion and recreation opportunities. You will also enforce codes and conduct throughout the parks to create a safe environment for the public.

Why It's a Great Department:

Pierce County Parks and Recreation manages more than 5,200 acres of parks, trails, and open space, ranging from community hubs to natural areas. We deliver diverse recreation programs and maintain the infrastructure that supports both active play and quiet connection with nature.

Our department is made up of four divisions: Park and Recreation Operations, Business Operations, Volunteer and Resource Development, and Park Stewardship and Infrastructure Delivery, working together to serve one of the most dynamic and fast-growing regions in Washington. Guided by our mission to create livable communities, we provide opportunities for people to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, live healthy lives, and experience inclusive, thriving public spaces.

Joining Pierce County Parks means being part of a forward-thinking team that values collaboration, innovation, and community impact, where your work truly makes a difference every day.

Learn more about the Pierce County Parks and Recreation Department

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Understand and enforce all Park Codes
• Provide a point of contact for all patrons in need of assistance
• Maintain a safe, clean and family friendly environment
• Ensure proper use of facility
• Inspect park grounds for vandalism and unsafe situations
• Fill out required reports

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to apply established policies and procedures
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and decision making within limits of established policies and procedures
• Ability to provide service to the public in a courteous and respectful manner
• Displays high standards of professional behavior and ethical conduct

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Current driver’s license
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Work in hot and cool temperatures
• Work weekends and holidays

Preferred Qualifications:

• Security or community safety background/experience
• Customer service background

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment:

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.