PARK RANGER

Arizona Department of Administration; Minnesota; On-site; USD 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing not included

Job summary

Arizona State Parks and Trails seeks a Park Ranger at Dead Horse Ranch State Park to provide exceptional customer service, interpret park features, and enforce safety rules. The role includes cashier duties, event support, and trail maintenance, with shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Applicants should be prepared for outdoor work in varying weather, possess a valid driver’s license, and be able to communicate clearly with the public and staff while promoting a safe, welcoming

Qualifications

• Knowledge of outdoor recreation and park management, and customer service best practices.
• First Responder Training, EMS or First Aid training or equivalent experience.
• Ability to work mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Host visitors and conduct interpretive programs, including guided walks or hikes.
• Assist in planning and executing special events and staff during peak times.
• Provide information to visitors about park hours, facilities, reservations and fees.
• Staff and operate the Contact Station and Gift Shop; handle cashier duties and revenue records.
• Maintain campground facilities, trails, and equipment; ensure cleanliness and safety.
• Promote visitor safety, enforce park rules, and respond to incidents and inquiries.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Public safety

Job description

ARIZONA STATE PARKS AND TRAILS

Connecting people with the outdoors and history of Arizona to build a lifetime of memories.
Arizona State Parks and Trails is the leader in sustainable outdoor recreation for current and future generations.
To learn more about Arizona State Parks and Trails, visit our web site at azstateparks.com.
Arizona State Parks and Trails protect and preserves more than 30 state parks and natural areas. The agency also includes the statewide trails program, outdoor-related grants program, the State Historic Preservation Office, as well as the Off-Highway Vehicle Program, and more. With parks located across the state, the agency strives to make outdoor recreation accessible and available to everyone.

PARK RANGER
DEAD HORSE RANCH STATE PARK
*must be able to work evenings, weekends and holidays*
**Housing is not included**

Job Location:

675 Dead Horse Ranch Road, Cottonwood, AZ 86326

Posting Details:

Salary: $17.50 - $19.00 / per hour

Grade: 16

Closing Date: October 4, 2026

Job Summary:

Under supervision, performs a variety of work activities while providing customer service in the operation of a historic, recreational/natural resource park; interprets natural features of the area, and ensures public safety by enforcing Park rules and regulations. Individual positions may be responsible for some or all of the listed duties and/or other related duties.

Job Duties:

Outdoor Recreation & Programmatic:

• Hosts visitors; conducts interpretive programs and may lead guided walks or hikes.
• Assists to plan and conduct special events.
• Communicates information in response to visitor questions, direction, guidance, and concerns.
• Assists with recreation infrastructure and activities at Dead Horse Ranch State Park and Verde River Greenway State Natural Area.

Customer Service and Communication:

• Communicates via telephone, in writing, and in person to park management.
• Provides courteous customer service by phone and in-person and responds to public inquiries about park hours, accommodations and reservations.
• Assists in the staffing and operation of contact station and gift shop.

Cash Handling:

• Perform cashier duties at Contact Station/Gift Shop.
• Collect and account for fees for park admission and store purchases.
• Complete revenue and visitation records reports.

Maintenance:

• Maintains campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, equipment, community ditch and ponds, irrigation systems, and/or other recreational sites to include litter removal, trail maintenance, hauling debris.
• Maintains all facilities in safe, clean, sanitary conditions to include general cleaning, restocking supplies, cyclical painting.

Public & Staff Safety:

• Promote the safety of park visitors and enforces Park rules and protect Park resources.
• Patrols facilities to identify maintenance, safety and park rule issues and infractions.
• Responds to incidents and injuries; Utilizes two-way radio communications system.
• Confers with local officials and law enforcement officers.
• Completes all necessary reports concerning incidents.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of: Outdoor recreation and park management, outdoor/environmental and/or history/archeology education. Principles and processes for providing customer service satisfaction, safety, security, sanitation, operation maintenance, and public relations procedures and practices. Park rules, department policies, facility operational standards, and emergency response procedures. First Responder Training, EMS or First Aid training or equivalent experience. Knowledge of fees and revenue functions, general office procedures and outdoor parks and recreation. May require knowledge of Arizona Revised Statutes and law enforcement techniques. Work schedule will consist of mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays, which may include working in extreme heat & cold, wind and/or rain.

Skill in: effective communication both written and verbal, active listening. Skill in public speaking both in a lecture setting and impromptu. Skill in customer service satisfaction, critical thinking, and issue resolution techniques to deescalate upset or non-compliant visitors. Park Ranger Senior only: Skill in the development of training and education programs involving parks safety training or other related programs. May require supervisory skills relevant to supervising employees and volunteers and special assignment personnel.

Ability to: Work unsupervised in a constantly changing and dynamic environment. Ability to work and collaborate with coworkers to produce innovative concepts and resolve issues in a way that promotes a positive and healthy workplace culture. The ability to develop, modify, maintain and manage special assigned programs, projects and or duties specific to the operation of the park and the park goals. Ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of customers visiting the facility and successfully meeting their needs. Park Ranger Senior only: The ability to display non-supervisory leadership to other team members and Department personnel. May require supervisory abilities relevant to supervising employees and volunteers and special assignment personnel.

Selective Preference(s):

Two years of experience equivalent to a Park Ranger Assistant; OR three years of work experience in customer service, library or museum work; OR a Bachelor's degree in Park Management, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field. Any combination of training and experience that meet knowledge, skills, and abilities may be substituted.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Must possess and maintain a current Arizona Driver's license appropriate to assignment.
• Some positions may require certification as an Emergency Medical Technician.
• If needed, ability to obtain certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and/or Waste/Water Management.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Parental Leave - Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborns or newly placed foster/adopted child.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

Eligible for Arizona State Retirement System pension. Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment for newly hired State of Arizona employees.

Contact Us:

[e-mail]
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (480) 604 -7331. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Advertised: 21 Sep 2026 US Mountain Standard Time
Applications close: 04 Oct 2026 US Mountain Standard Time