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San Mateo County Parks (SMCP) is currently seeking a full-time extra help Bilingual Community Engagement Intern II.

This position would be based out of Flood and Friendship County Parks and primarily working with the communities surrounding these parks. 

Friendship County Park is located in North Fair Oaks, an unincorporated area of Redwood City. Through community collaboration, the small urban park was developed to provide outdoor recreation facilities and space to promote community gardening. The park is situated on San Francisco Public Utility Commission land and is managed by SMCP. Less than an acre in size, the park features 30 community garden planters, a playground, picnic tables and more. Plot use is through an agreement with SMCP and requires regular participation in meetings. 

Flood County Park is a 21-acre park located in Menlo Park. It is primarily used as a location for family and group picnicking, playground use, and walking by the local community. The park has recently opened a new multi-use sports field, tennis/pickleball court, pump track and more! 

An intern at these locations would work on improving the interpretive elements of each park and provide programming and outreach opportunities for the local communities.

The Bilingual Community Engagement intern will report to Flood Park and be able to drive to Friendship Park and other park locations as needed. The intern will be supervised by the Interpretive Division Park Staff. 

 

Tentative schedule for this position (subject to change):

• Tuesday – Saturday: 8 hours each day
• 1 – 2 In person workdays
• 2 Virtual workdays (work from home)
• 1 Day for Events/Programming

Examples Of Duties:

A Bilingual Community Engagement Intern would be responsible for:

1. Management of Friendship Park Community Garden, including but not limited to:
   1. Managing garden plot availability and agreements
   2. Being the primary point of contact for Community Garden participants; maintaining regular communications by County phone, text, and email
   3. Working alongside gardeners to identify and address any needs or challenges in maintaining garden beds
   4. Facilitating monthly on-site educational opportunities for gardeners with staff from San Mateo County Health, Sustainability Department, and community partners
   5. Managing on-site garden tools and supplies; identify additional supplies that may be required
2. Community Program Coordination and Outreach, including but not limited to: 
   1. Coordinating and leading programs with Community Based Organizations and Partner Organizations within the community near Friendship and Flood Parks (i.e. Libraries, Schools)
   2. Leading interpretive programs at Friendship and Flood Parks 
   3. Tabling at local community events, such as Farmer’s Markets
   4. Providing translation when needed at programs and events throughout SMCP
   5. Assisting Interpretive Division with educational outreach throughout SMCP
   6. Creating flyers and social media posts to promote SMCP

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will: 

• Have strong interpersonal skills and possess the ability to effectively communicate in English and Spanish with diverse community members and San Mateo County staff to support gardeners. 
• Be an enthusiastic, outgoing, positive, and energetic person who can work collaboratively or independently with little to no supervision. 
• Be open to learning new skills, be flexible with various work projects, and be able to follow directions. 

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Bilingual in Spanish required
• Experience in food growing and garden management desired
• Knowledge of and ability to teach gardening concepts desired
• Ability to engage with individuals of many demographics and histories – youth, seniors, immigrants, economically diverse
• Strong planning and organizational skills with ability to plan programs and events and organize participants and volunteers
• Must have a valid California Driver’s License and transportation available to commute to park sites throughout San Mateo County

This is a full-time position requiring weekend work. 

NOTE: This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.

Application/Examination:

*Please note that there are no housing facilities for interns. You are responsible for your own housing, transportation, and meals.
 
How to apply:
 Please submit an online application with a copy of your resume and cover letter attached to the application.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply Online" button above or below. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. 
 
Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.
 
Contact
 For questions about this internship, please contact Katherine Wright at kewright@smcgov.org . For questions/comments/issues relating to the application process and material submissions, please contact Chaten Berry at cberry@smcgov.org .
 
 About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
 
 The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

 

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Pay rate: starting at $18.25 hourly 

Locations: Thousand Oaks, CA; Hiring Part-time, flexible hours for:

• Sports and Reservation unit - primarily Monday - Friday (may include evening and/or weekend hours)
• Thousand Oaks Community Center - variable hours (may include evening and/or weekend hours)
• Dos Vientos Community Center - variable hours (may include evening and/or weekend hours)

Summary:
Under general supervision, plan, conduct, and participate in recreational program activities according to established programs, schedules, and standards, in accordance with District policies and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Develop, conduct, and participate in various athletic, craft, social, cultural, and instructional activities
• Prepare facilities for programming, special events, or rental group usage
• Greet visitors, direct participants to the appropriate location, and respond to general inquiries
• Ensure safety of environment and equipment for staff, volunteers, participants, and visitors
• May open or close and secure facilities in compliance with District policies and procedures
• Issue and collect recreation equipment and supplies used by instructors, participants, or visitors
• Supervise special events, field trips, and other group activities

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and participate in promotional activities and community events
• Modify and adapt activities specific to specialized programs or populations, as appropriate
• May assist with transportation in specialized programs
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty* satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required:

Education and Experience:
Minimum age of 18 years old with a High School Diploma (or GED). At least 500 hours of experience in recreation with 15 units completed in recreation or a related field preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Certificates and Licenses:

• First Aid & CPR/AED within 90 days of employment with ability to maintain certifications thereafter as a condition of employment.
• Valid California driver’s license with a good driving record and current automobile insurance.
• Department of Justice fingerprint clearance.
• Proof of a negative TB skin test.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Ability to communicate effectively in English in both written and oral form. Ability to write routine correspondence using correct spelling and grammar. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. Ability to apply common sense and exercise good judgement in solving problems. Ability to establish effective relationships with fellow employees, volunteers, and participants and/or parents/guardians.

Fingerprint-Based Background Check:
All recreation employees are required to obtain fingerprint-based background clearance prior to their first day of employment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
The employee may provide guidance or direction to other part-time employees and to volunteers.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in a community center or office environment subject to frequent public contact and interruption and to intermittent exposure to individuals acting in a disagreeable fashion. The noise level is usually moderate. The employee frequently works in the field in outdoor weather conditions, subject to extreme heat or cold and where the noise level may be loud. Exposure to hazardous conditions in the environment will vary depending on unit assigned.

 

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that should be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand or walk; use hands or fingers to touch, handle or feel; use hands and arms to reach; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. Vision requirements include close, distance, color and peripheral vision; depth perception; the ability to adjust focus; and the ability to see well in poor lighting or at night. The employee is regularly required to lift up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds. Physical demands may vary according to unit assignment.

 

* Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

The Position

This new Urban Landscape Manager will have a primary focus on park capital maintenance projects and all phases of park maintenance contractor service agreements under the direction of the Park Superintendent. Together both of the Urban Landscape Managers will manage park staff and contractors in the care and upkeep of parks, medians, municipal landscape and hardscape, trails and open space. This includes assisting the Park Superintendent with administrative duties, short and long-term planning, organizing and supervising park maintenance operations and functions.
 
Examples of Duties

• Oversee assigned park maintenance capital projects and ensure all purchasing and legal requirements are met.
• Plan, schedule, organize, manage and assign work within sections of the Park Maintenance Division.
• Supervise employees as needed in performing park maintenance activities.
• Assign, train, direct, evaluate and assist in selecting subordinate staff.
• Monitor and prepare employee performance evaluations and plan staff development.
• Determine the needs and direct the development of staff training in work techniques, safety and other work-related matters.
• With assistance from the Park Superintendent, review, mediate and resolve personnel problems, and administer discipline.
• Meet regularly with Park Superintendent to discuss program issues and receive input and/or direction on pertinent issues. When required, develop related recommendations to resolve problems.
• Develop and maintain work productivity measures and direct operational changes.
• Review field activities, confer with staff and direct the corrections of any noted deficiencies or deviations from accepted practices.
• Assigned projects should be completed within approved budget and timeline and any variance need to be communicated to the Superintendent for approval.
• Provide input for operating and capital improvement plan budget development.
• Prepare estimate of maintenance impacts due to park or landscape improvements.
• Monitor expenditures to ensure conformance with the Division’s budget.
• Prepare bid materials, contracts and specifications for the maintenance of City owned landscaped areas.
• Assist with consultants’ selection, contract administration and inspection of the work of contractors.
• Determine the type of work to be done, and the personnel and equipment required to complete the work.
• Coordinate with other departments as needed on assigned capital projects.
• Interpret and communicate appropriate application of policy and operational procedures.
• Confer with staff to review and monitor operations and program implementation.
• Coordinate activities of the Parks and Urban Landscape functions with those of other City units and outside agencies.
• Maintain  records and  prepare  a variety  of  complex  reports  and  memoranda  on  every  aspect  of  the section including maintenance reports on proposed landscape development projects and chemical reports for the County Agricultural Commissioner
• Other related duties as assigned.

 

The Ranger is a sworn peace officer who provides visitor services and resource protection on MRCA owned and/or managed parkland.

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This position performs a wide variety of duties including park maintenance, law enforcement, first aid, wildland firefighting, and public safety patrol. The Ranger assists the public in natural resource interpretation and performs other duties as needed.  

This is a professional position that requires a highly motivated, responsible, and organized individual. Candidate must be a self-starter who can handle an array of tasks, has good judgement, and can work independently or as part of a team.

Type

This is a full-time, non-exempt, at-will position.

Supervision

This position reports to a Supervising Ranger. Assorted tasks may be supervised directly by Division Chief or other Executive Staff. The position may provide technical and/or functional direction to volunteers and other groups.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Provide a wide range of law enforcement and public safety services including, but not limited to wildland firefighting, search and rescue, and first aid.
• Respond to emergency situations on parkland to protect life and property.
• Make physical arrests, issue citations, and write reports.
• Conduct criminal and administrative investigations.
• Perform traffic control.
• Use, wear, and maintain protective equipment which includes various types of firearms, batons, chemical agents, body armor, and handcuffs.
• Perform routine maintenance and repairs on agency vehicles and various equipment.
• Perform a variety of maintenance, restoration, and repair duties.
• Remove graffiti as necessary, empty trash cans, clean restrooms, clean up litter, and remove illegal dumping.
• Conduct interpretive programs, such as leading hikes, kayak trips or campfire programs.   
• Operate with substantial independence and coordinate work with others in completing assignments.
• Coordinate with organized public groups utilizing park facilities.
• Coordinate with vendors and other government entities.
• Maintain good habits of answering and responding to incoming telephone calls and correspondence, as well as when communicating and providing customer service to citizens who seek assistance.
• Maintain positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner’s associations, and the public at large.
• Perform related duties as required. 

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to hike, run, bend, lift, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb, lift and carry items weighing up to 60 pounds for a distance up to 50 feet both indoors and outdoors, constantly work in outdoor weather conditions, and frequently move about work sites.

Incumbents should have physical strength, endurance, and agility; be mentally alert and physically sound; and have hearing and vision sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job.

Required Hours and Location

40 hours per week or in an alternative schedule (9/80 or 4/10 program), must be available to work nights, weekends, holidays and overtime. Must be available to work at various locations.

Public Contact

As public parklands, the majority of MRCA properties are open to the general public during operating hours. This position is likely to have physical contact with members of the public in public areas such as parking lots and shared public/office restrooms and during in-person public meetings. The MRCA is committed to protecting its staff by ensuring appropriate physical distancing and proper infection control while supporting equitable access to services. Our requirements are based on current County of Los Angeles guidance and are subject to change as the County updates its policies.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Applicants must meet the following training or experience via one of the two pathways to Ranger (A or B).

 

PATHWAY A:

1. Possession of High School Diploma conferred by a US Department of Education recognized High School OR General Education Certificate.

AND

2. Possession of a certificate showing graduation from a California Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) Regular Basic Academy.

PATHWAY A CANDIDATES WILL BEGIN THE RANGER TRAINING & ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (RTAP) UPON HIRE.

 

PATHWAY B:

1. Possession of High School Diploma conferred by a US Department of Education recognized High School OR General Education Certificate.

AND

2. Current or previous employment by the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority as a Seasonal Ranger Assistant or Public Officer pursuant to California Public Resources Code § 5786.17.

PATHWAY B CANDIDATES WILL BE APPOINTED AS A TEMPORARY RANGER ASSISTANT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY CAN BE ENROLLED IN A POST BASIC ACADEMY.

 

Knowledge of: 

• Common Windows-based programs including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. 
• Proficiency in basic mathematics; basic grammar and spelling as required in preparing reports and records. 

Ability to:

• Prioritize varying tasks and projects, manage time, and make regular, consistent progress on multiple projects at once.
• Work independently to handle multiple tasks under deadlines.
• Revise work approach and/or tactics to address changing conditions.
• Complete projects and follow oral and written directions.
• Quickly change tasks and focus.
• Exercise discretion and sensitivity to confidential information.
• Maintain the ability to possess, carry, and qualify with agency issued firearms.

Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written English language skills. Not required to be a native English speaker, but fluency in English is required.
• Bilingual skills in English, and other locally common language, such as Spanish, Korean, Farsi, Chinese, Armenian, Yiddish, or Tagalog is desired.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work including the general public.
• Emotional maturity; tact and diplomacy; poise and self-confidence.

All appointment offers are contingent upon the following:

• A thorough background check including submission of fingerprints to the Department of Justice and FBI, including a firearm background check, and a record clean of violent crimes or felonies. 
• Psychological examination. 
• Successful completion of a physical examination including a drug test. 
• Meet requirements of the Government Sections 1031 for employment as a California Peace Officer.
• Written Test.

Wages

The starting hourly rate for Ranger Trainee is $22.58 – $27.45 per hour.  At the completion of all training requirements and upon appointment as a Ranger by the Executive Officer, the wage increases to a range of $33.47 - $40.69 per hour.

Existing MRCA employees may be compensated at a higher rate if they can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Chief Deputy Executive Officer, that appropriate additional duties will be performed in addition to the position’s essential duties. This provision does not apply to applicants who are not currently employed by MRCA and may be exercised only at MRCA’s discretion and as budget allows.

This job announcement is not intended to, and does not, create an employment contract of any kind and does not create any express or implied contractual obligations. Employment at MRCA is at-will without exception. The employee and MRCA may terminate employment at any time with or without advance notice and with or without cause.

Any provision contained in this job announcement may be modified or revoked at any time without notice.