Salary: $24.00 – $26.90 Hourly
Location : Houston, Texas
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 31998
Department: Parks and Recreation
Division: Greenspace
Opening Date: 08/10/2023
Closing Date: 11/9/2023 11:59 PM Central
POSITION OVERVIEW
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
DIVISION/ SECTION: GREENSPACE MANAGEMENT
WORKDAYS & HOURS: MON-FRI (Occasional Weekend Rotations) 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
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 a Park Naturalist to join its Greenspace Management Division.
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:
- Provides educational services by explaining regulations; answers community. requests, needs and complaints; and provides information about the surrounding regions and natural area management.
- Prepares, assembles, and distributes educational materials and conducts educational presentations and training programs.
- Assist staff and prepares discussions about park features, biological inventories, and ecological assessments of natural areas.
- Conducts vegetation management, natural area restoration, and invasive species removal utilizing manual, mechanical, and chemical methods.
- Directs research and study for staff, students and other groups to emphasize scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, natural areas, and historic sites.
- May be required to train and supervise volunteers in nature programs, greenhouse operations, or various park activities.
- Supervises, coordinates, trains, and evaluates personnel job assignments.
- Performs miscellaneous tasks as assigned.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position occasionally requires stooping or bending. Occasional light lifting such as three or four reams of papers or books (up to 20 pounds or an equivalent weight) and is physically demanding and will require walking and standing in outdoors approximately 70% of the time. There are routine discomforts from exposure to moderate heat, cold, moisture/wetness and unpleasant air conditions. May involve routine exposure to soiled materials and light chemical substances such as cleaning solutions.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (field or wildlife), environmental science, natural science, or a closely related field.
Knowledge of local flora (plants) and fauna (animals) is required.
Required to become a Texas Master Naturalist within 12 months of hire.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
One (1) year of experience in environmental/outdoor education and program planning and implementation are required.
Directly related professional experience may be substituted for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
None
PREFERENCES
Preference will be given to applicants who have a valid driver’s license and comply with the City of Houston’s policy on driving (AP 2-2).
***Preference shall be given to 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.
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.
Pay Grade 18
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.
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: For application status inquiries, please contact 832.395.7091.
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.
If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.
If you need special services or accommodations call 832.395.7091 (TTY 7-1-1).
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 identify, 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
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
03
What field of study is your degree?
- Sciences related to flora, fauna, field or wildlife
- Environmental Science
- Natural Science
- Closely related field (i.e. biology, environmental sciences)
- None of these
- I do not have a degree
04
Please check the following applicable boxes in which you have verifiable experience. (Check all that apply)
- Vegetation management
- Natural Area restoration
- Invasive Species removal
- None of the above
05
How many years of experience do you have in environmental/outdoor education, program planning and implementation?
- 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 years but less than 5 years experience
- 5 years or more experience
- None of the above
06
Do you have a valid/current driver’s license?
- Yes
- No
07
Do you understand that work days for this position will occur on both weekdays and weekends?
- Yes
- No
08
Do you agree to become a Texas Master Naturalist within 12 months of hire?
- Yes
- No
09
Have you entered all work history on the application? Failure to include all employment will result in a delay in processing your application.
- Yes
- No
10
Do you possess knowledge of local flora (plants) and fauna (animals)?
- Yes
- No
11
If you answered YES to the question above, please provide some examples. If no knowledge, type “N/A” as your answer.
Required Question