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The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) Ranger is a challenging and adventurous generalist position offering a wide variety of responsibilities and opportunities to exercise independent judgement while working on Midpen preserves. Rangers serve a unique role as stewards of the open space by regularly interacting with the community to provide visitors information, natural resource education, interpretive services, enforcement of pertinent regulations, and performing limited maintenance and resource management work on Midpen properties and facilities. Rangers patrol on foot, in all-terrain vehicles, on motorcycles, and in four-wheel drive patrol trucks while enforcing Midpen land use regulations and applicable laws.  Rangers ensure safe public use of preserves, while also responding to emergency calls including medical aid and wildland fires.

About the Position:

The start date for these positions is early-November 2024.  For additional information, see the Ranger Recruit and Ranger specifications on our job description page at OpenSpace.org.

The Ranger Recruit is a training-level position for individuals who do not possess a Ranger Academy certificate or equivalent, or valid PC 832 certificate.  Upon commencement of employment, new Ranger Recruits will participate in pre-academy instruction on the duties of a District Ranger, receive orientation to District lands and operations and complete additional required training.  Upon completion of pre-academy instruction, new Ranger Recruits will participate in a district approved National Park Service Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy in Rangely, Colorado https://www.cncc.edu/degrees/rangely/nps (17-week program), which begins in January 2025 and complete California Penal Code 832 training.  Upon successful completion of the District’s required training and final review by the Chief Ranger, a Ranger Recruit may be appointed as a probationary Ranger. 

The Ranger is a challenging and adventurous journey level position offering a wide variety of responsibilities and opportunities to exercise independent judgement while working on Midpen preserves.  Upon commencement of employment, new Rangers will participate in a robust field (12-week) training program. 

About Midpen:  Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact. If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position! Check out the Working for Midpen video on our Employment Opportunities page.

What does a District Ranger do?  District Rangers are Generalist Rangers who perform a wide variety of functions. A brief list of day-to-day activities follows:

• Midpen Rangers are sworn peace officers responsible for patrolling District Preserves and enforcing the District's regulations and pertinent local, State, and Federal laws on District Preserves. Patrol may be by 4x4 truck, foot, UTV, motorcycle, or mountain bike.  
• Respond to medical emergencies, wildland fires on Midpen lands, and search and rescue incidents.
• Help maintain the preserves by performing light maintenance tasks and resource management assignments.
• Engage the public through interpretive activities and community outreach.
• Shift schedules include evening, weekend, and holiday hours.

Positions will be assigned to one of the following District offices:

• Skyline Field Office – Palo Alto Hills
• Foothills Field Office - Cupertino
• Coastal Area Office – La Honda
• South Area Office – Campbell

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment

• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone

• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)

Basic Job Requirements: Must have the ability to enforce pertinent laws and regulations; administer first aid and CPR; demonstrate and maintain the physical fitness and mobility to meet District fitness standards, and to work in the field; strength, stamina, and mobility to respond to emergency situations to provide emergency medical services, perform fire suppression, and to gain control of a situation for self-defense or in defense of others; operate and maintain various power tools and equipment; operate emergency patrol vehicles and two-way radios; communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.

Possess the aptitude and demonstrated interest in park/open space work, philosophy, and principles; willingness to perform law enforcement duties; aptitude for interpretive and public relations work; emotional maturity; dependability; punctuality; tact and diplomacy; poise and self-confidence; sensitivity to needs and attitudes of others; neatness and courtesy.   

Peace Officer Standards for Rangers: Ability to satisfy the selection standards for peace officers in California as set forth in Government Code Sections 1029, 1030 and 1031, and by the District.

Education & Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Ranger Recruit

• Equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of experience working in visitor/customer service or an equivalent position that includes interacting with the public.  Education and/or experience in law enforcement, resource management, natural sciences, park management, wildland firefighting, or a related field is highly desirable. 
• Certificates and Licenses: A valid California Class C driver’s license.

Ranger

• Meet all qualifications for Ranger Recruit, plus:
• Certificates and Licenses:  Current possession of a District approved Law Enforcement Training certification and a valid California 832 certificate for appointment as a peace officer, and ability to obtain the following certificates prior to completion of the employment probationary period: completion of the District’s Field Training Program, valid professional rescuer CPR certificate and Medical First Responder or equivalent; a Midpen approved Fire Suppression Training certificate; certification in the Incident Command System courses as specified under the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Working Conditions: Rangers work cohesively with local law enforcement, fire agencies and other adjoining land agencies. Rangers typically work alone and self-initiate their day-to-day patrols. Work conditions require rangers to work weekends, nights, and holidays in all weather conditions.  Most work is outdoors within Midpen’s open space lands with exposure to inclement weather conditions. This requires the ability to patrol on foot, off trail, and in rugged terrain.  Also requires the ability to perform all related emergency services and maintenance and construction work on Midpen lands. District Rangers interact daily with a diverse Bay Area community to provide safe access for all visitors.

Benefits: Midpen provides a competitive benefits package including health, life, and disability insurance as well as a CalPERS pension. Detailed information is available on the Benefits page of the District’s website.

How to Apply:  

Apply online at CalOpps.org.   The deadline to apply is Sunday, April 21, 2024

(To avoid missing email communication about this recruitment, add mpropenspace@calopps.org to your contacts or list of safe senders.)

The following application items are required to be considered*:

1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application 

2. Resume 

3. Supplemental question responses

(A cover letter is highly desirable).

*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.

INTERVIEW DATES & HIRING PROCESS:

First interviews (Virtual):  Tuesday, May 7th and Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 (Candidates will be scheduled on one of two days)

Skills assessment (In-Person; Foothills Field Office - Cupertino): Friday, May 17, 2024

Final interviews (In-Person):  Wednesday, May 22, 2024

IMPORTANT: Candidates selected to advance after completing the interview process will be required to successfully complete the Peace Officer Standards & Training Personal History Statement, as well as an in-depth background investigation, fitness testing, DOJ and FBI fingerprinting, psychological evaluation, pre-employment physical to include Department of Transportation drug testing. It is recommended to review the 27-page Personal History Statement and the required documents on the POST website at www.post.ca.gov/forms.aspx. Select "Background/Hiring" and form 2-251, Personal History Statement for details on the information and certificates you will be required to provide.

If more candidates successfully complete the recruitment and background process than we have available positions to fill, these candidates may be brought on at a later date as vacancies occur.  

A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.

Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.

At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the Human Resources department at 650-691-1200.

Put your passion for Open Space to work!

Please click the Job PDF button below to view the full job announcement brochure.

Please click on the Job PDF to view the announcement.

Please click on the Job PDF to view the announcement.

PRNS is currently recruiting to fill multiple full-time benefited vacancies for Park Ranger classifications (Senior Park Ranger and Park Ranger/Full Time).  We are seeking highly motivated, personable individuals with strong leadership skills and innovative ideas to join our dynamic team of employees with a strong commitment to providing excellent service to our diverse community.  Bilingual applicants speaking a second language such as Spanish or Vietnamese are encouraged to apply.  If you are interested in employment in Park Ranger classifications, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Park Ranger classifications are stewards of the park system, providing public safety services, protecting and preserving natural and cultural resources in parks, and inspiring future generations to love and nurture nature. Park Rangers are often first on scene for medical, fire and other emergencies in the parks they oversee. They teach and enforce park rules so everyone can enjoy their visit, always aiming to resolve situations with the lowest possible level of enforcement by leading with education.   

Park Ranger Duties:  Specifically, under general supervision, this classification performs duties of moderate difficulty including performing overall work in park operations and visitor services; resource and environmental protection; greeting visitors and explaining/interpreting park features; performing rescue and fire suppression activities; administering emergency medical care as needed; patrolling parks; enforcement of state and local laws; performing conservation programs and projects; providing lead direction to other park personnel; coordinating and leading volunteer and internship programs; providing traffic and parking control; and preparing written and oral reports and other communication.

Senior Park Ranger Duties:  Under direction, provides lead direction to staff engaged in park patrol, protection, and enforcement of park rules and regulations. Assists park visitors, prepares interpretive and educational programs, and may assist in the coordination of emergency response activities. Participates in the protection, improvement, and maintenance of parks, trails, and facilities, and in the organization of day-to-day operations of the work group. Performs related work e.g. staff planning and scheduling, managing supplies and materials, purchasing materials and equipment as required.

Actual salary will be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience.  The Park Ranger classifications consist of a base amount and an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay as follows: 

·       Senior Park Ranger:  $92.776 - $113,087 (includes 5% non-pensionable compensation) annually

·       Park Ranger (FT):      $84,564 - 102.779  (includes 5% non-pensionable compensation) annually.

WORK SCHEDULES WILL FLUCTUATE TO MEET PARK OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND WILL INCLUDE WORK DURING LATE AFTERNOONS/EVENINGS, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. ASSIGNMENTS CAN BE MADE TO ANY AREA OF THE CITY'S REGIONAL PARKS, TRAILS SYSTEM, OR OTHER PRNS FACILITY. To learn more about City Benefits, click here.  Signing bonuses and new benefits apply effective 6/25/2023, learn more here:  https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/98270/638206031115530000.

Per the City’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all new hires to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical or religious exemption. “Fully vaccinated” means the employee has received two doses of Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

  Position & Duties 

• Per the City’s COVID19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all employees starting on or after February 11, 2022 to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent a documented medical and/or religious exemption. Proof of vaccination means that employees are required to be “up-to-date” with regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. Consistent with the Santa Clara County Public Health Order issued on December 28, 2021, "up-to-date" means that employees are required to be vaccinated with the entire recommended initial series of a COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine). 

To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

The salary range for this classification is $21.77-$26.50 hourly, or $45,274.32 - $55,124.16 annually.  Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience. This position is covered under the Living Wage Policy and hourly rates will be adjusted to a minimum of $25.15 hourly for benefitted positions or $26.45 hourly for unbenefited positions.  The Living Wage rate consists of a base amount and an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay.

Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services department (PRNS) is recruiting to fill multiple full time, and potentially some part-time Community Activity Worker positions in the Community Services Division to support the BeautifySJ and Project Hope programs.

  Community Services Division: Safe + Clean + Engaged Neighborhoods

Empower and support residents, schools, and local organizations to make the City more livable, safe, and clean.

   About BeautifySJ and Duties:

BeautifySJ is the home of the City of San Jose’s blight reduction and encampment management programs and services. BeautifySJ works to address and prevent blight including graffiti removal, coordinating neighborhood litter clean-up events and dumpster days and removing illegal dumping. Encampment management services include weekly trash services and abatement activities to ensure that locations and conditions of encampments are cooperative and complying.  

Community Activity Worker job duties for BeautifySJ are focused on providing direct support to address litter/trash related blight in neighborhoods, waterways, and/or encampments.  Duties include setting up, planning and attending resource fairs and neighborhood-based outreach events (e.g. “dumpster days”), developing working relationships with schools, volunteers, internal and external stakeholders and non-profit partners. Job duties also include assisting Community Coordinators with behavior change and encampment engagement strategies including but not limited to   conducting site assessments, removing trash and debris from identified active encampments, submitting outreach requests and working directly with the unhoused community.  You are encouraged to apply for work in this program if you want to work with communities to empower residents to take pride in our City.

 About Project Hope and Duties:

Project Hope is a neighborhood engagement and empowerment initiative focused on nine neighborhoods in San Jose.  Organized into operational teams, Project Hope staff are assigned to specific neighborhoods, where they assist residents to address the conditions and circumstances that exist due to systemic racism such as crime/violence, blight, lack of trust, marginalization, and inadequate services. Project Hope supports residents to create new neighborhood associations or reinvigorate existing ones, develop the organizational and capacity building skills to better utilize and reach key City, and other public/private resources to address ongoing quality-of-life issues.

Community Activity Workers in Project Hope build strong relationships with residents, partners and community. Assist  neighborhood associations/board members with planning for meetings and events. Inform residents of City services, assist neighborhood associations in building strong relationships with City of San José departments and other local government agencies.  Provide in-service trainings and workshops for community leaders to ensure self-sustainability of the neighborhood association.  Applicants should enjoy spending time in the communities directly engaging with residents (e.g. canvassing, door-to-door outreach & surveying), planning and attending community events, bringing people together for positive results, teaching residents how to engage with City and other public/private partners to address neighborhood/community issues.

 Job duties for Community Activity Workers in any of our programs include, but are not limited to:

•         Working some weekend and/or evening schedules per the program schedule
•         Develops and presents written materials and makes public presentations to inform people about programs and encourage participation.
•         Participates in planning and coordinating in-service training and development of program aids and materials.
•         Performs public contact and liaison work in explaining and interpreting program.
•         Prepares and monitors budget and timesheets.
•         Prepares monthly reports, and various other correspondence.
•         Coordinates with governmental agencies, local businesses, and City Departments.
•         Conducts and facilitates workshops for the neighborhood.
•         Surveys targeted neighborhoods needs via methods including telephone surveys or door-to-door canvassing.
•         Provides information to residents on accessing City services or other service providers.
•         Assists in planning & implementing special activities or programs, such as community service or empowerment projects, community meetings, community/graffiti clean-ups, tree-planting, tutoring, or sports activities. 
•         Renders first aid in case of injury; watches for the safety of participants and spectators.
•         Designs and produces flyers and announcements.
•         May be required to provide bilingual translation, both orally and in writing.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job-Specific Questions.

Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process.

Additional phases of the selection process may consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process.  Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit including spaces for each text response. You MUST answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration:

·        Please provide the following details of your work experience doing community related work, projects, or programs: 1) A brief description of your work experience 2) Name(s) of employer(s) 3) Dates/length of employment(s) 4) Average hours worked per week.

·        Please describe your customer service philosophy. Include examples of how you have put this philosophy into action in your prior/current work experience.

·        Please describe your experience with working in underserved communities or with the unhoused (homeless) population: 1) Briefly describe your experience 2) What types of resources or services where you able to provide or bring to them.

·        Select one option - I am applying for: 1) Community Activity Worker in the BeautifySJ Program; 2) Community Activity Worker in the Project Hope Program; or 3) Both

·        Please describe the reason for your selection in the previous question.

·        Please describe any bilingual skills you possess.

·        Select one option – I would be open to a part-time position:  1) yes; or 2). No, I want full-time work only.

Please click on the Job PDF to view the announcement.