Job Details

Park Ranger/Open Space Park Ranger

  2026-03-30     County of Marin     San Rafael,CA  
Description:

Salary : $81,412.50 - $88,881.00 Annually
Location : San Rafael, CA
Job Type: Full Time, Regular
Job Number: 1157-26-03
Department: Marin County Parks
Opening Date: 03/16/2026
Closing Date: 3/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Weekly Schedule: 37.5 hrs.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): The County of Marin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons of color, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and adults of all ages are strongly encouraged to apply.
Individuals with Disabilities: If you are a person with a disability and are unable to complete an online application or require an accommodation to participate in a recruitment, you must contact Human Resources at least five work days in advance of the testing step or interview. Please contact the Human Resources Staffing Division at (415) ###-#### (CRS DIAL 711) .

ABOUT US
Marin County Parks manages 40 public parks and pathways, and 18,500 acres of open space. These public lands, which include McNearsBeach, Paradise Beach, Roy's Redwoods, Bolinas Lagoon, Mount Burdell, and Ring Mountain, reflect the rich variety of ecosystems in coastal northern California.

A department of the County of Marin, our mission is to educate, inspire, and engage the people of Marin in the shared commitment ofpreserving, protecting, and enriching the natural beauty of Marin's parks and open spaces, and providing recreational opportunities for the enjoyment of all generations.

Marin County Parks promotes a collaborative and supportive team-oriented work culture based on a shared mission, personal integrity, and positive attitude.

As the stewards of their public lands, we are committed to ongoing engagement and relationship-building with the people and communities we serve. Parks' priorities are guided by this community dialogue.

These include:

  • Park facilities maintenance and improvements
  • Open space road and trail management and improvements
  • Vegetation management for wildfire risk reduction and ecosystem health, in partnership with regional fire departments, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, and natural resource scientists
  • Climate change and sea-level rise resilience
  • Equity
ABOUT THE POSITION
Marin County Park Rangers positively interact with a wide variety of people, collect fees, and reconcile receipts, prepare sports fields, provide special events and educational programs to the public, and are familiar with the operation of a variety of landscape maintenance and construction tools and equipment to perform minor carpentry, landscaping, plumbing, irrigation repair, and electrical maintenance work of developed parks and recreational areas.

Marin County Open Space Park Rangers are experienced and capable of independently performing the full range of maintenance work, patrol, public education, enforcement, and resource protection. They are dedicated to patrolling and maintaining the preserves under the Marin County Open Space District's jurisdiction. Additionally, they positively interact with a wide variety of people; carry out public education and enforcement assignments directed at specific problems on District lands; provide public outreach activities to educate the citizenry about District resources; operate a variety of maintenance tools and equipment to perform minor carpentry, plumbing, and maintenance work; and participate with other agencies in fire control and safety projects, including assisting with search and rescue operations.

The Visitor Services role will work with law enforcement agencies with situations that may arise within Marin County Parks. Assisting in this process requires incident reports to be written. This assignment will work in partnership with co-workers on patrol during night hours enforcing Marin County Open Space regulations. This role is responsible for routinely patrolling and monitoring trails (independently or in pairs) in Open Space preserves. This assignment will assist with special events and public outreach regarding Marin County Parks. The Visitor Services assignment responds to after-hours emergency calls.

ABOUT YOU
Depending on assignment:

Our Highly Qualified Candidate will have personal and professional integrity, be highly organized; possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, approach their work with enthusiasm, and demonstrate a strong commitment to customer service by working effectively will all visitors and members of the public. They will be able to work independently for extended periods in remote locations, off-hours, and weekend schedules in any weather conditions.

The ideal Open Space Ranger Candidate will have knowledge in the identification and general habitat of native flora and fauna found in local open space lands in Marin County. They will have skill in educating and enforcing regulations and effectively maintaining good public relations; dealing effectively with individuals of various ages and from various ethnic, cultural and socio-economic groups; reading and interpreting trail and topographical maps; training others in work and safety procedures; using sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; and safely using hand and power tools and motorized equipment in urban and backcountry locations. In addition, depending on area of assignment, the ideal candidate will have experience supervising staff and volunteers, have experience in carpentry, plumbing and/or irrigation, have a background in educating and enforcing rules and regulations, and be able to read and interpret maps and technology used in navigating undeveloped lands.

The ideal Park Ranger Candidate will have experience operating maintaining and hauling motorized equipment including but not limited to tractors, trailers, chainsaws, mowers, and other small power equipment. In addition, the ideal candidate has work experience in the field of landscape maintenance, hardscape maintenance, turf maintenance, irrigation repair, and sports field maintenance. Experience providing excellent customer service to diverse populations including educating and enforcing rules and regulations as well as assisting the public in emergencies and stressful situations is ideal.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:
  • Equipment, tools, materials, methods, and procedures used in park, landscape and open space maintenance, operation, and development.
  • Basic methods and tools of the construction and maintenance trades, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing and masonry.
  • Applicable laws, ordinance, codes, and regulations.
  • Diverse habitats and their primary plants and animals.
  • Natural resource management practices including environmental protection, non-native plant control, soil conservation, erosion control and reforestation.
  • Wild land fire prevention and control techniques and methods used in first aid and search and rescue operations.
  • Safety procedures related to the work.
  • Basic record keeping methods.
Ability to:
  • Enforce laws, ordinances, and regulations effectively and maintain good public relations.
  • Perform skilled landscape, park grounds and facilities, and open space maintenance work.
  • Use and maintain hand and power tools and other equipment used in area of assignment.
  • Respond appropriately in emergency situations.
  • Identify and correct potential safety hazards.
  • Drive and operate vehicles related to the assignment.
  • Read and interpret trail and topographical maps.
  • Use pesticides in a safe manner.
  • Prepare and maintain accurate records related to work performed and materials used.
  • Use sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES

Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and skills. A typical way to qualify is two years of experience in park or landscape maintenance or development or open space operations. Experience in visitor engagement is desirable.

Certificates and Licenses:
  • Possession and maintenance of a valid California class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving history as obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
  • Possession of or ability to obtain within one year of appointment certificates in standard first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  • Ability to successfully complete POST Certified PC832 Powers of Arrest training or department approved similar training within one year of the date of employment.
  • Possession of or ability to obtain a Pest Control Applicator Certificate is highly desirable.
  • Specified positions may require the ability to obtain a Certified Pool Operator certificate.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For any questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Anthony Wesley at ...@marincounty.gov

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list.

LiveScan: Candidates selected are subject to fingerprinting by the Sheriff's Department and must pass a Department of Justice LiveScan background check prior to appointment.

A pre-placement physical examination given at County expense is also required prior to appointment.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
PLEASE NOTE: The benefits described herein do not apply to temporary (contingent) or to part-time employees that work less than 50%.

COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL
Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.

Health Plan: Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.

Retirement: Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at www.mcera.org.

IRS 457 Plan: Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.

For specific questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at (415) ###-####. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the Benefits Division at (415) ###-####.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01

I UNDERSTAND that Marin County Parks requires a complete descriptive work history with all employment experience detailed in order to be qualified for the minimum qualifications for the position. I have included all of this information within my application. (If you haven't completed the application requirements or have written "See Resume" in the description of duties, please return to your application to provide a complete description of work duties for all employment before submitting your application.)
  • Yes, I understand and have fully completed all requirements.

02

Please indicate which assignment(s) you are interested in.
  • Park Ranger
  • Open Space Park Ranger
  • Both

03

Please indicate the number of years of experience you have in protection, conservation, operations, or maintenance of open space, forest, or park land and/or landscape maintenance or development:
  • 2 or more years
  • 1 year
  • Less than 1 year
  • No experience

04

Applicants may substitute up to (1) year of training and /or education in any of the following areas: Park & Resource Management, Forestry, Horticulture, Environmental Studies, or a closely related field in lieu of experience. If you wish to include any education/training information, please list that information below and include the following:• Relevant training/coursework• Number of semester /quarter units• The name of the school/university where the training/courses were takenIf you do not have any relevant training/coursework, please type "N/A" in the space below.
05

Please select the option(s) that best reflect your experience working directly with customers and or members of the public. (Check all that apply)
  • Daily contact with the public
  • Working with customer transactions face to face
  • Public desk customer service
  • Working with customers over the phone
  • Resolving customer issues or complaints
  • Explaining policy and procedures
  • Providing written/email responses to customer inquiries
  • Leading presentations to small to medium size groups of people
  • Providing First Aid
  • None of the above

06

Which statement best describes your written and oral communication experience?
  • I routinely have face-to-face communication with customers and co-workers, and have experience writing incident reports, completing daily logs, or similar documentation.
  • I routinely have face-to-face communication with customers and co-workers but have little to no experience writing incident reports, completing daily logs, or similar documentation.
  • I routinely write incident reports or completing daily logs but have little to no experience communicating face-to-face with customers or co-workers.
  • I have very little to no experience in communicating face-to-face with customers and co-workers and have very little to no experience in writing incident reports or completing daily logs.

07

Do you have experience operating any of the following powered landscaping equipment? (Check all that apply)
  • Push mower
  • Riding mower
  • Weed whip
  • Chainsaw
  • A Tractor with attachments
  • Excavator, Skid steer. Or Bobcat typ equipment
  • None of the above

08

Do you have experience in any of the following grounds maintenance activities? (Check all that apply)
  • Preparing and leveling dirt surface for pathway, trail, or road construction
  • Patching and repairing pathways, trails, and roads
  • Aerating turf
  • Installing and repairing irrigation equipment
  • Installing sod
  • None of the above

09

Are you willing to work in constantly changing weather conditions? This can range from extreme heat, cold rain, and other severe weather conditions such as major storm events, and freezing situations?
  • Yes
  • No

10

Please select the option that best describes your level of experience with interpretive programing.
  • I provide or have provided interpretive programming during employment.
  • I am familiar with this type of programming but have not been responsible for the contents.
  • I do not have any experience with interpretive programming.

11

Please select the option that best describes your level of experience researching and reading digital property maps to help determine common boundaries, including your experience using basic GPS skills.
  • I regularly read digital property maps and use a GPS to track the location of an entity or object remotely and pinpoint longitude, latitude, ground speed, and course direction of a target.
  • I am familiar with the above-mentioned technology but have never used it to research digital property maps or to track the location of an entity or object remotely.
  • I am unfamiliar with the above-mentioned technology

12

Please select the options that best reflect your experience educating and enforcing rules and regulations. (Check all that apply)
  • I have experience handling customer complaints and finding resolutions
  • I have experience in public speaking to small to medium sized groups of people
  • I have experience issuing citations when rules or regulations are not followed
  • I have experience deescalating confrontational situations
  • None of the above

13

Are you willing and available to work nights, weekends, and holidays?
  • Yes
  • No

14

Do you possess a valid California Class C driver's license OR are you able to obtain a California Class C driver's license at the time of appointment? (California DMV information)
  • Yes
  • No

15

Please indicate which certifications you currently possess (check all that apply):
  • California Pest Control Applicator's Certificate
  • Standard First-Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate
  • POST Certified PC832 Powers of Arrest training
  • Certified Pool Operator Certificate
  • None of the Above

16

If you do not have any or all of the certifications/licenses listed in Question 14, are you able to obtain them within (1) year of appointment where required?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question


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