Park Ranger

Sac County; Sacramento, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sacramento County is seeking Park Rangers to perform a range of duties including law enforcement, visitor services, interpretive programs, and resource protection across the County Regional Parks System. The role emphasizes safety, public relations, and compliance with environmental and park rules.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications, including a high school diploma or GED and P.O.S.T. certification or academy enrollment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Possession or enrollment in a P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate/Academy.
• Successful completion of background checks and related certifications.

Responsibilities

• Perform law enforcement and visitor safety duties in County Regional Parks.
• Provide visitor services and interpretive programs.
• Protect resources and wildlife, and enforce park regulations.
• Handle fee collection and maintain positive public relations.

Skills

Law enforcement

Public safety

Public speaking / communication

First aid / CPR

Emergency response

Education

High school diploma or GED

P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate or Basic Academy enrollment

Job description

The Position

is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00 pm on: 12/4/25, 1/8/26, 2/5/26, 3/5/26, 4/2/26, 5/7/26, 6/4/26, 7/9/26, 8/6/26, 9/3/26, 10/8/26, 11/5/26, 12/3/26.

Under general supervision Park Rangers perform duties related to law enforcement, visitor services, interpretive programs, resource and wildlife protection, safety enforcement, pollution control, public relations, and fee collection for the County Regional Parks System.

Examples Of Knowledge And Abilities

Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of law enforcement


• Philosophy of park patrol and visitor safety methods


• Laws and regulations applicable to park management and visitor safety such as those pertaining to arrest, search and seizure; environmental protection; fish and game; and motor vehicle usage


• Common procedures and methods associated with providing public security


• Proper operation of communication equipment such as two-way radios, pagers and cell phones


• Safety procedures related to using firearms, handcuffs and batons


• First aid and CPR


• Computer software applications such as word processing and e-mail

Ability to

• Learn principles and practices of natural resources conservation, park operations and park visitor management


• Learn methods and materials used in preparing and interpreting historical and natural science displays and exhibits


• Lead the work of others


• Carry out programs in accordance with plans and specifications


• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action


• Prepare clear, concise and complete reports


• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing


• Meet and deal with the public and others in a pleasant and effective manner


• Perform calmly and respond quickly and appropriately in stressful or emergency situations


• Speak, read, and write English at a level necessary for satisfactory job performance


• Maintain proficiency in defensive techniques and firearms


• Swim in swift waters to perform rescue and enforcement activities


• Report emergencies by telephone, two-way radio, or other communication device


• Provide first aid and CPR


• Use computer equipment to enter, maintain and extract information

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school or satisfactory completion of an acceptable General Education Development (GED) test.

AND

Either: 1. Possession of a State of California Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Certificate, or satisfactory completion of a P.O.S.T. Basic Academy. Or: 2. Current enrollment in a State of California P.O.S.T. Basic Academy.

Important:

Under Gov. Code 1031(e), only U.S. accredited high school diplomas, GED tests, equivalency tests approved by the State Department of Education, or U.S. accredited college degrees are accepted. Diplomas or degrees from unaccredited or non-U.S. schools will not be accepted.

NOTE: Applicants qualifying under pattern (1) must submit either (a) a copy of the P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate with the application; or (b) a copy of a certificate of completion from a P.O.S.T. Basic Academy with the application.

Applicants qualifying under pattern (2) must submit a copy of an official document showing current Academy enrollment. Satisfactory completion of the Academy will be required prior to appointment.

NOTE: 1. Incumbents hired into this class prior to June 1, 2007 are not required to possess a State of California Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Certificate or have satisfactorily completed a P.O.S.T. Basic Academy, or to successfully complete P.O.S.T. Basic Academy within 12 months of appointment.

If a period of three years has elapsed since employment as a full-time or qualifying reserve peace officer in California, successful completion of the California Basic Course Equivalency Examination administered by P.O.S.T will be required before employment. The three year time period referred to above is computed from the last day of the last applicable paid law enforcement employment and the date of appointment in this class.

Note: If the word "experience" is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements, please speak to someone in our office before the final filing or cut-off date listed in this notice.

General Qualifications: Compliance with Government Code: Incumbents appointed to this class shall meet the minimum standards set forth in California Government Code, Section 1031.

Certification Requirements: Possession of a valid first aid and CPR Certificate are required within twelve months of appointment to the class. Failure to obtain or maintain the required certificates may be cause for termination from the class in accordance with Civil Service Commission Rules and applicable bargaining agreements.

Criminal History and Background Check: The County shall access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for this class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602, Personnel Policies and Procedures B-5, and applicable federal and state laws. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate's ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history checks where authorized by Labor Code section 1024.5, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

The background check may include a Computerized Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) examination, and shall include psychological and physical examinations according to P.O.S.T. specifications. Pursuant to CA Government Code, Section 1029, the conviction of a felony is grounds for disqualification from an appointment except if the individual has been granted a full and unconditional pardon for the felony.

License Requirements: Possession of a valid California driver license, Class C or higher, is required prior to appointment to this class. Failure to maintain a valid license may constitute cause for personnel action. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Employees in this class who, as a part of their regularly assigned duties are required to operate a motor vehicle may be enrolled in the DMV Pull Notice Program.

Physical Requirements: Positions in this class require the incumbents to:

• Be able to meet medical standards as prescribed by P.O.S.T. and detailed in the P.O.S.T. Medical Screening Manual


• Possess sufficient physical ability to perform the full scope and functions of the job, including the ability to climb barriers, jump obstacles, and perform strenuous physical activities and control resisting subjects with a minimum of force necessary to effect an arrest.


• Walk and run on uneven terrain


• Swim in swift water conditions

Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to disability will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.

Working Conditions: Positions in this class require the incumbents to:

• Work various shifts to provide 24-7 coverage, including nights, weekends and holidays


• Work outside in all types of climatic conditions including inclement or very hot weather


• Work around dust, dirt, noise, and odors


• Work alone for extended periods of time


• Work in areas of low illumination


• Wear and maintain a designated Park Ranger uniform; including department issued safety equipment such as a duty/gun belt, ballistic vest, respirator, etc.

Probationary Period: The probationary period for this classification is twelve (12) months.

Application and Testing Information

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut-off date.

County of Sacramento

Department of Personnel Services

Employment Services Division

700 H Street, Room 4667

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone [phone]; 7-1-1 California Relay Service

Email [e-mail]

Inter-Office Mail Code: 09-4667

www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sacramento

• Employment applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.


• Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.


• Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut-off date.


• Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.


• A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Applicants are required to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question. The Supplemental Questionnaire is located in the tab marked \"Supplemental Questions\". Please be descriptive in your response.

Note: Responses of \"See Resume\" or \"See Application\", or copy and paste of work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.

• Supplemental Questionnaires must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.


• The supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification.


• Please provide place of employment, pertinent dates, and concise, descriptive and detailed information for each question.


• If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely.


• Resumes or referral to the application or other questionnaire responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question.


• If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.


• For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses to the supplemental questions in a word processing document and then paste them into the final document to be submitted. Changes or corrections to your Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.


• If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score. While scoring the Supplemental Questionnaire, the candidate's application and/or attachments will not be reviewed, therefore, a candidate's responses to the supplemental questionnaire should be accurate, thorough, detailed and complete.

FORMULA RATE EXAMINATION (Weighted 100%)

All candidates meeting the minimum qualifications by the cut‑off date will have their Supplemental Questionnaire scored in the Formula Rate Examination.

This examination will evaluate the relevance, level, recency, progression and quality of candidate's education, training and experience. The candidate's application or other materials will not be included in this examination. Therefore, the candidate's responses to the supplemental questionnaire should be thorough, detailed and complete. The score from the Formula Rate Examination will determine the ranking on the eligible/employment list for this job.

All candidates competing in the testing process will receive written notice of their examination results by email. Notices can also be accessed in their governmentjobs.com inbox. Applicants achieving a passing score will be placed on the eligible list in rank order. The rank is determined by the test score attained from the examination.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sacramento

Sacramento County is about enriching communities to thrive. We strive to create inclusive workplaces that reflect the communities we serve. We value and celebrate the unique perspectives, backgrounds, abilities, and diverse dimensions of our employees and residents. Through transparency, courage, innovation, and trust we are committed to advance equity and transformational change.

We are a proud equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability for any phase of the hiring process, please contact our Disability Compliance Office at [e-mail] or 916-874-7642, CA Relay 711. For more information, visit: Job Applicant Accommodations