Park Ranger

Overview

Are you passionate about fostering connections, ensuring public safety, and making an impact in your community? Madison Parks Division is looking for a skilled and dedicated individual to step into the role of Parks Ranger, representing the Parks Division and the City of Madison in direct engagement with residents and visitors. Work is performed independently under the supervision of the Parks Ranger Lead worker and the Ranger Supervisor.

This position involves direct public contact, at times under stressful circumstances requiring the ability to mitigate conflict tactfully while maintaining personal and public safety.

HOURS:

This position works approximately 40 hours per week throughout the year, working rotating shifts that include nights, weekends, and holidays.

Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn’t match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.

• Customer Service — Provide visitor services to park users; answer questions and provide routine customer assistance and information to park users daily.
• Support shelter rentals and Parks reservations with facilities services; resolve user conflicts, and complete shelter cleaning if needed.
• Respond to calls for service from Dane County dispatch center and phone calls from the public.
• Support winter shelter operations.
• Assist with volunteers and programming.
• Support community outreach initiatives; meet with community groups as needed; provide outreach to unhoused community.

• Maintain an accurate log of contacts and actions taken, and complete assigned associated reports.
• Patrol parks daily and respond to community and staff requests for service.
• Follow established procedures for issuance of citations for parking, permit and ordinance violations.
• Clear and secure park facilities each night as directed.
• Enforce, compile and administer Parks Behavioral Policy. Document enforcement actions taken.
• Control park incident scenes as assigned to ensure that first responders are notified, all necessary information is obtained and all required reports are completed.
• Testify regarding issuance of citations as required.
• Act as agency liaison to other regulatory agencies such as:
  Madison Police, Madison Fire, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Sheriff’s Office, etc. as needed.

• Perform minor repairs in the absence of maintenance staff. Remove brush, pick up litter, or empty trash if needed.
• Identify situations requiring corrective action.
• Follow pre-established procedures in preparing reports, updating kiosks, general cleaning, posting of signs and customer follow-up as directed.
• Clear snow from dog park entrances and disc golf courses.

• Coordinate, train, and facilitate seasonal part-time staff.
• Monitor stock of supplies, clean, stock and organize Parks Ranger vehicles.
• Write reports using prescribed methods.
• Act as shift lead for Parks Ranger staff as assigned.
• Review protocol manuals and standard operating procedures as assigned.
• Meet regularly with partners such as the Madison Police Department.
• Serve as District Parks Ranger and point of contact for Parks staff and Community as needed.

Perform related work as assigned.

• One (1) year of experience in customer service, security, or code enforcement with diverse public contact.

-OR-

• Associate's (or higher level) degree or two (2) year certificate in Criminal Justice, Natural Resources, Recreation Management, or a closely related field.

-OR-

Two (2) years of experience applying the following:

• Principles of situational awareness, to calmly handle difficult situations while maintaining personal safety.
• Basic business practices…