Park Services Ranger III

Full Job Description

THE AGENCY

The General Services Agency (GSA) is comprised of Fleet Services, Facilities, Procurement, Special Services, Parks, Security, and Business Support and is responsible for a broad spectrum of services to all the County departments and agencies.

It requires a very diverse workforce to accomplish the GSA mission of contributing to the quality of life in Ventura County by partnering with their customers to provide expertise and cost-effective service delivery and foster the preservation of natural resources.

THE POSITION

Under general direction of a Chief Ranger, functions as the immediate supervisor in the delivery of services, such as providing direction to subordinate staff and volunteers; managing specialty patrols, to include, night/early morning shifts, special and permitted events, trail systems, and other unique patrols; serves as acting Chief Ranger in the Chief Ranger’s absence to ensure operational continuity; and performs related duties as required.

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

Merit Increases – New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards.

Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.

Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.

Vacation Accrual– New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.

Annual Leave Redemption– After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.

Sick Leave- Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.

Deferred Compensation- Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.

Health Plans–Full time employees are given a flexible credit allowance to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.

Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.

Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined benefit pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.

Holidays - 13 paid days per year which, includes a scheduled floating holiday.

Additional Optional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

To learn more about the benefits, please follow the link below:
https://vcportal.venturacounty.gov/CEO/HR/MOA/docs/SEIU_MOA_2025-2029.pdf

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There are currently two (2) Regular vacancies within the General Services Agency - Parks Department.

Park Services Ranger III is represented by Ventura County Professional Peach Officers' Association -Patrol Unit (VCPPOA - PTRL)) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
OPENING DATE: March 25, 2026
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.

Requirements

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides direction oversight, and evaluating the work of subordinate staff (i.e., Park Services Ranger II, Park Services Ranger I, Park Services Rangers Trainee, seasonal workers, volunteers, and student workers) while preparing performance evaluations; serves as the field training officer, ensuring safety protocols and procedures are taught to new hires.
• Patrols Park facilities to assist the general public and respond to inquiries from the public regarding park facilities, and visually inspects facilities and grounds for safety hazards, vandalism, damage, maintenance needs, cleanliness, and supplies.
• Enforces Park regulations and California Motor Vehicle Code, issues citations, includes managing the CLETS program including DOJ authorized access; managing tows, and coordination with law enforcement agencies, and may testify in Court.
• Serves as acting Chief Ranger in the Chief Ranger’s absence to ensure operational continuity.
• Assists in repair, maintenance, and fire hazard reduction activities on trails, stream crossings, picnic grounds, campsites, recreational areas, parking lots, restrooms and other areas within a county park facility; may operate light equipment such as mowers, edgers, blowers, power saws, and drills in the course of performing repair, maintenance and fire hazard reduction activities.
• Responds to emergencies; performs and administers first aid and CPR and summons assistance; coordinates with the Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, and other public agencies.
• Writes narrative incident reports to document unusual events.
• Performs routine office work such as filing and record keeping.
• Manages specialty patrols, to include, night/early morning shifts, special and permitted events, trail systems, and other unique patrols; develops and manages the ranger bi-weekly schedule, balancing special events, and leave requests.
• Assists with permit management.
• Acts as the Ranger Safety Officer, enforcing safety protocols and procedures.
• Assists in social media management to promote department activities, and initiatives.
• Plans, coordinates and executes projects.
• Receives, registers, and collects fees from park visitors and from the “iron ranger” fee payment boxes.
• Counts gate receipts, reconciles payments with park visitors; prepares funds for bank deposit, updates computer software to account for drop in park visitors and campers; makes bank deposits.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be: four (4) years of experience dealing with the interpretation of law enforcement, and/or outdoor recreation and handling the maintenance, custodial or repair of park facilities such as campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, community centers, and playgrounds, including one (1) year of experience as a Park Services Ranger II.

Substitution: Completion of an Associate’s degree with an emphasis in natural resources, forest management, outdoor recreation or a closely related field is desirable and may substitute for two (2) years of field experience; or, completion of thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units of college level coursework may be substituted for one (1) year of field experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents:

• are required to work rotating shifts, weekends and holidays.
• must possess a valid California driver license with a satisfactory driving record
• must have full range of motion and normal strength in all extremities and the ability to stoop, bend, lift, and carry Park related items such as campground supplies. lift and carry up to 40 lbs, unassisted.
• must possess and maintain a PC832 certification obtainable by completing a course in Arrest, Search and Seizure (40-hour course) at the time of hire or promotion;
• must possess CPR and First Aid Certificates at time of hire or promotion
• are required to wear a uniform during working hours.
• must have the ability to work in an outdoors environment, regardless of weather conditions

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABIILITIES
Through knowledge of:

• Principles and processes for providing customer service.
• Principles and practices for effective conservation of natural and park resources.
• Equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote secure parks sites and facilities.
• Basic facility, grounds, road and trail maintenance and repair, custodial, and landscape techniques as well as tools used in maintenance and repair.
• Park ordinances, laws and their interpretation.

Working knowledge of:

• The principles of supervision and ability to provide input into performance evaluations.
• Basic math and time management.

Ability to:

• Work independently; analyze problems and use sound judgment in formulating solutions.
• Manage one's time to ensure all tasks are completed.
• Accurately add, subtract, multiply, and divide in order to reconcile and total park gate receipts.
• Perform CPR/first aid as demonstrated by possession of a CPR/First Aid Card.
• Write citations as demonstrated by possession of a PC 832.
• Work effectively with subordinates, peers, superiors, and the public.

Additional Information

FINAL FILING DATE This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.venturacounty.gov/jobs. A paper application can be obtained by calling (805) 654-5129. Our address is: County of Ventura, Human Resources Division, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE:If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader )for additional information.

Note to Applicants: Sufficient information must be provided under the Education/Work experience portions of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications in order to determine eligibility.

A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above sections; however, it may not be substituted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at time of filing.

This questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.

APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying: Candidates' applications, resumes, or other required documentation will be evaluated on a comparative basis against pre-established criterion.

Those individuals whose materials best indicate possession of the stated requirements, may be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

ORAL EXAMINATION – 100%: A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating examinees' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job.

Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list. ELIGIBLE LIST

Candidates successfully completing the oral examination may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination may not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Chinna Nahabedian by e-mail at Chinna.Nahabedian@venturacounty.gov or telephone at (805) 654-2458.