Positions within this class have one or more of the following assignments:

• Assigned to direct, oversee and administer park operations and programs as the highest-level position at an independent park within a Park Area, as designated in writing by the Operations Region Superintendent; and/or
• The principal assistant/operations manager to the manager of a Park Area, overseeing daily park work activities. They also assist in the development and control of all program activities for all or part of the Park Area.

This class is distinct from the Park Ranger series as positions in this class do not have commissioned law enforcement authority.

Responsible for overseeing and managing public service, visitor safety, maintenance and program operations, interpretive programs, stewardship of park resources, preservation of facilities, operational and administrative functions and processes, and training for park staff (excluding commissioned law enforcement training) in an independent park; and/or serves as a principal assistant to the Park Area Manager of a park area. Larger or more complex Park Areas may have more than one principal assistant/operations manager.

Identifies, plans, and schedules all park functions and activities for the staff on an annual basis which are updated quarterly and as required to fulfill the operational function of the park;

Directs park operations and/or programs such as construction and maintenance of park structures, camp sites, water and sanitary systems, recreational, camping, picnicking, interpretation, and other park facilities;

Collects and accounts for charges; prepares the park's maintenance and operation budget including personnel and equipment for inclusion in the region budget; manages the maintenance and operating funds allocated to the park;

Trains park personnel, evaluates their performance and recommends appropriate action;

May supervise or lead other park staff (not including statutorily commission law enforcement officers), and may direct the work of others as assigned;

Represents agency at various meetings and gatherings with external stakeholders, partners, and/or customers; by direction, gives speeches where required;

Receives and addresses complaints;

Develops written correspondence;
Assists in the gathering of information for park usage and trends;

Performs other duties as required.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. Ranger in-service training is required annually and provided by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A Bachelor’s degree with 24 quarter/18 semester hours in parks and recreation, business administration or a natural resource field

AND

Two years of experience managing park programs, managing business functions in a natural resources field, or equivalent experience in a related field.

Note: Equivalent experience in a natural resources or outdoor recreation field will substitute year for year for education.

Equivalent education/experience.

New job classification established: Park Operations Ranger; range 56; adopted June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.