Salary: $19.00 Hourly
Location : Lake Houston Park
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 32107
Department: Parks and Recreation
Division: Greenspace
Opening Date: 08/28/2023
Closing Date: 10/28/2023 11:59 PM Central
POSITION OVERVIEW
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM:ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
DIVISION/ SECTION: GREENSPACE/ LAKE HOUSTON
WORKDAYS & HOURS: VARIED HOURS* *Subject to change
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to building a sustainable community and enhancing the quality of urban life by providing safe well-maintained parks and offering affordable programming for our community. To achieve this mission, HPARD is seeking an Urban Park Ranger to join its Greenspace Division.
The potential candidate will play a key role in the following duties:
- Monitors trails, picnic areas, pavilions, and similar park areas (via foot, bicycle, and motorized vehicle) at Lake Houston Wilderness Park to promote public safety and ensure proper use of the park and facilities.
- Interacts effectively with the public; greets park visitors and explains park rules, regulations, and city ordinances, provides directions, and handles public inquiries and complaints.
- Investigates and resolve designated visitor complaints to provide quality customer assistance.
- Control activity levels within the park by unlocking and securing gates, checking park use and permits and ensuring all guests have left the park at closing.
- Conducts investigations and may issue citations regarding animal ordinance violations and illegal trash dumping. Conducts investigations on any relevant event occurring on Department property.
- Monitors and directs entering and exiting traffic into parking areas.
- Completes appropriate reports, such as vehicle accidents, building burglaries, and employee/visitor injuries.
- Provides and conducts informative presentations on bicycle safety, child safety, park safety, gang/drug awareness, environmental impact and other topics.
- Use radio communication equipment to relay all important information to dispatch and to request assistance from HPD, HFD, or other agencies as required.
- Issues notices of park exclusions for violations and determines the need for and calls for police assistance.
- Attends meetings, training sessions and conferences.
- Check and clean/restock facilities when needed.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position occasionally requires lifting of moderately heavy items up to 40 pounds; such as boxes, setting up barricades, traffic cones. This position also occasionally requires, very long periods of walking, standing and/or riding bicycles on rough surfaces. There are routine exposures to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to chemical substances, and physical trauma of a minor nature (cuts, bruises, potential dangers, minor burns, hazards and unsafe conditions). This position requires the ability to make coordinated gross motor movements in response to changing external stimuli within moderately demanding tolerances, or the ability to make coordinated eye/ hand movements on a patterned response space within low tolerance demands with no real speed requirements. Must be able to monitor parks areas via foot, bicycle and motorized vehicle.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Requires a high school diploma or a GED.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
One year of experience related to law enforcement, emergency response, security guard work, or a related field as applied to public events and gatherings for recreational or other purposes.
The following training must be completed within one year of hire or promotion:
- Urban Park Ranger training course and obtain an Emergency Care Attendant certification (40 hour course approved by the State of Texas).
- City of Houston Health Department training on Animal Ordinances, Health Ordinances for mobile vendors and illegal trash dumping (Rat-on-a-Rat Program).
- City of Houston Parking Management training on issuance of parking citations.
- Parks Department-sponsored training on self-defense and crime prevention.
- Houston Police Department training/certification on the use of O.C. Spray (pepper spray), drug and gang member awareness, and bicycle operation.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Valid driver’s license and compliance with the City of Houston’s policy on driving (AP 2-2).
PREFERENCES
Preference will be given to applicants who have:
- Proficient knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Displayed principles and practices of customer service.
- Exercised controlled discretion, communicated with the public and mediated difficult situations in a professional manner.
- Customer service experience.
- Worked as a team member.
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Established and maintained cooperative and effective working relationships with city employees, patrons, and the public.
***Eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.***
GENERAL INFORMATION
SELECTION/SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED
The selection process will involve application review and/or interview.
- Must be able to ride a bicycle 1 lap around Gragg Park in 4 minutes or less.
- Must be able to climb up and down 1 flight of stairs 3 times in 2 minutes or less.
- Must be able to lift boxes up to 40 pounds and move them a distance of 25 feet.
- Must be able to maintain all abilities outlined above.
SAFETY IMPACT POSITION Yes
If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.
SALARY INFORMATION
Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate’s qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.
Pay Grade 12
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during posting opening and closing dates shown. Applications must be submitted online at:
To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: or call 832-395-7091.
If you need special services or accommodations, call 832-395-7091. (TTY 7-1-1).
If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.
Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.
All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided.
EOE Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan.
Benefits include:
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellness
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Retirement pension
• 457 deferred compensation plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 days of vacation each year
• 10 city holidays, plus one floating holiday
• Flexible schedules
• Professional development opportunities
• Transportation/parking plan
• Section 125 pretax deductions
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
For plan details, visit
01
Are you a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces (United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) for more than 90 consecutive days and received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions?
- Yes
- No
02
How many years of experience do you have related to the description of this position?
- Less than 1 year experience
- 1 year but less than 2 years experience
- 2 years but less than 3 years experience
- 3 years but less than 4 years experience
- 4 or more years experience
03
Do you have at least one year of verifiable experience in the following? (Check all that apply that can be verified).
- Law enforcement
- Emergency Response
- Security Guard
- Customer service
- None of the above
04
What is the highest level of education you have completed?
- Less than a High School diploma/GED
- High School diploma/GED
- Associate’s degree
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
05
Previous work setting experience. (Check all that apply that can be verified).
- Working outside in inclement weather
- Foot patrol
- Handling public inquiries and complaints
- Assisting the public
- Standing for long periods of time
- Lifting objects up to 40 pounds and moving them a distance of 25ft
- Riding a bicycle
- None of the above
06
Which of the following programs are you proficient in? (Check all that apply).
- Excel
- Word
- Outlook
- None of the above
07
Do you have a valid/current driver’s license?
- Yes
- No
08
This position requires the candidate to be able to work irregular hours including weekends, holidays and evenings on any assigned shift. Would you abide by the requirement stated above?
- Yes
- No
09
Are you willing to respond to potentially dangerous situations?
- Yes
- No
10
Are you aware of the skills test that you will be required to take?
- Yes
- No
11
Are you aware that you will have to complete the Urban Park Ranger training course, Emergency Care Attendant, City of Houston Health Department training, and City of Houston Parking Management training within one year of hire or promotion?
- Yes
- No
12
Candidates for this position will be required to work immediately before, during or after an emergency or disaster. Would you abide by the requirement stated above?
- Yes
- No
13
Are you currently a City of Houston employee, who is still on probation (employed during the past 12 months or promoted during the past 6 months)?
- Yes
- No
14
A very important part of the hiring process requires the applicant to submit their highest level of completed education (High School diploma/GED/Associate’s/Bachelor’s/Master’s degree). Have you attached your education documents to your application?
- Yes
- No
Required Question