URBAN PARK RANGER

City-of-Houston,-T; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Houston seeks an Urban Park Ranger to join HPARD, promoting safety and well‑maintained parks across a variety of locations. You will engage with the public, enforce rules, and support event operations to ensure safe, enjoyable outdoor spaces.

The role requires basic law enforcement related experience, a high school diploma or GED, and a Texas driver’s license, with training commitments within the first year. HPARD offers steady, community‑focused work.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or GED.
• One year of experience related to law enforcement, emergency response, security guard work, or public event duties.
• Within one year of hire, complete Urban Park Ranger training and Emergency Care Attendant certification.
• Valid Texas driver's license and adherence to City driving policies.

Responsibilities

• Monitors trails and park areas to promote public safety and proper use.
• Greets visitors, explains park rules, and handles inquiries and complaints.
• Investigates and resolves visitor complaints to provide quality service.
• Inspects mobile vendors for health and park regulation compliance.
• Investigates animal violations and trash dumping as needed.
• Completes incident reports and related documentation.
• Controls activity levels by managing gates and permits.
• Provides crowd and parking control at City events.
• Delivers safety presentations on bicycle, child safety, and more.
• Uses radio to relay information to dispatch and other agencies.

Skills

Public safety

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM:ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

DIVISION:URBAN PARK RANGERSLOCATION:VARIOUS*
WORKDAYS & HOURS: VARIOUS *
*Subject to change

POSITION OVERVIEW

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM:ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

DIVISION:URBAN PARK RANGERSLOCATION:VARIOUS*
WORKDAYS & HOURS: VARIOUS *
*Subject to change

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to building a sustainable community and enhancing the quality of urban life by providing safe well‑maintained parks and offering affordable programming for our community. To achieve this mission, HPARD is seeking an Urban Park Ranger to join its Urban Park Ranger team.

The potential candidate will play a key role in the following duties:

• Monitors trails, picnic areas, pavilions, and similar park areas (via foot, bicycle, and motorized vehicle) in designated parks to promote public safety and ensure proper use of parks and facilities.
• Interacts effectively with the public; greets park visitors and explains park rules, regulations and city ordinances, provides directions, and handles public inquiries and complaints.
• Investigates and resolves designated visitor complaints to provide quality customer assistance.
• Performs basic inspections of mobile vendors to ensure compliance with City health ordinances and park rules and regulations.
• Conducts investigations and may issue citations regarding animal violations and illegal trash dumping.
• Conducts investigations on any relevant event occurring on Department property.
• Completes appropriate reports, such as vehicle accidents, building burglaries and or employee/visitor injuries, criminal activity, city animal ordinance violations, illegal trash dumping, parking violations, and permit disputes.
• Controls activity levels within assigned parks by unlocking and securing gates, checking park use and permits.
• Provides crowd control and parking control at City sponsored events and notifies the public of park operating hours.
• Provides and conducts informative presentations on bicycle safety, child safety, gang/drug awareness, environmental preservation, and other topics.
• Uses radio communication equipment to relay all important information to dispatch and to request assistance from HPD, HFD, or other agencies as required.
• Attends meetings, training sessions, and conferences.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The position routinely requires lifting of moderately heavy items, such as typewriters or records boxes (up to 40 pounds) and/or very long periods of walking and/or riding a bicycle on rough surfaces on a routine basis. There are routine exposures to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture and air pollution. The position may involve periodic exposure to chemical substances and physical trauma of a minor nature such as cuts, bruises and minor burns. Requires the ability to make coordinated gross motor movements in response to changing external stimuli within moderately demanding tolerances; or the ability to make coordinated eye/hand movements on a patterned response space within low tolerance demands with no real speed requirements. Must be able to monitor park areas via foot, bicycle, and motorized vehicle.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Requires a high school diploma or a GED.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

One year of experience related to law enforcement, emergency response, security guard work, or a related field as applied to public events and gatherings for recreational or other purposes. The following training must be completed within one year of hire or promotion:

• Urban Park Ranger training course and obtain an Emergency Care Attendant certification (40 hour course approved by the State of Texas).
• City of Houston Health Department training on Animal Ordinances, Health Ordinances for mobile vendors and illegal trash dumping (Rat-on-a-Rat Program).
• City of Houston Parking Management training on issuance of parking citations.
• Parks Department-sponsored training on self-defense and crime prevention.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Must have a valid Texas driver's license and comply with the City of Houston's policy on driving (AP 2-2).

PREFERENCES

***Eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.***

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• Proficient knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Displayed principles and practices of customer service.
• Exercised controlled discretion, communicated with the public and mediated difficult situations in a professional manner.
• Worked as a team member.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Established and maintained cooperative and effective working relationships with city employees, patrons, and the public.

GENERAL INFORMATION

SELECTION/SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED The selection process will involve application review and/or interview.

• Must be able to ride a bicycle 1 lap around Gragg Park in 4 minutes or less.
• Must be able to climb up and down 1 flight of stairs 3 times in 2 minutes or less.
• Must be able to lift boxes up to 40 pounds and move them a distance of 25 feet.
• Must be able to maintain all abilities outlined above.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION Yes

If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.

All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided.

EOE Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Salary Information

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification. The salary range is:

Pay Grade 12