Requisition No : 829895

Agency : Environmental Protection

Working Title : OPS PARK RANGER - 37970968

Pay Plan : Temp

Position Number : 37970968

Salary : $15.00 hr

Posting Closing Date : 06 / 05 / 2024

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OPS PARK RANGER

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

OPEN COMPETITIVE

Closing Date : 06.05.2024

Our Organization and Mission :

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship - protecting our air, water and land.

The vision of DEP is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystem.

The Work You Will Do :

OPS Park Ranger- 37970968

An opportunity for a self-motivated, hard-working individual to provide maintenance, visitor services, resource management, administration, and park protection.

This OPS Park Ranger position will work up to 40 hours per week. The rural Van Fleet State Trail runs through the Green Swamp, the headwaters for some of Florida's most popular paddling destinations including the Withlacoochee, Hillsborough, and Peace rivers.

The trail is 29.2 miles long, has a paved surface eight feet wide, and has only one curve as it travels from Polk City to Mabel.

The position reports to work at the Van Fleet State Trail Ranger Station on Green Pond Road to begin the workday.

Landscapes include the river swamp, bottomland forest, pine flatwoods, former citrus lands and cattle ranches.

Contact : Kyle Blair, Assistant Park Manager

352.394.3969. Travis.Blair@dep.state.fl.us

The Difference You Will Make :

The Division of Recreation and Parks provides resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting, and restoring natural and cultural resources.

How You Will Grow :

DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.

Where You Will Work :

Van Fleet State Trail

7305 US Highway 27

Clermont, FL 34714

Officially designated as part of Florida's statewide system of greenways and trails and is one of Florida's most rural, paved rail-trails.

Also designated as a National Recreation Trail®, the Van Fleet State Trail runs through the Green Swamp, the headwaters for some of Florida's most popular paddling destinations including the Withlacoochee, Hillsborough and Peace rivers.

Click on the link to preview this beautiful park : https : / / www.floridastateparks.org / parks-and-trails / general-james-van-fleet-state-trail

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida :

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes :

Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*). For more details consult with People First at 877-562-7287 or go to : https : / / www.

mybenefits.myflorida.com / health / eligibility and enrollment / ops employees

• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). (For more information, please click Corebridge Financial );
• Flexible Spending Accounts;

For a more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com .

Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

Pay :

$15.00 per hour-paid bi-weekly (40 hr week)

Your Specific Responsibilities :

Maintenance : Maintains cleanliness of grounds, facilities, and restrooms including trash and litter cleanup. Operates a variety of equipment including lawn mowers, weed eaters, blowers, saws, motor vehicles, tractors, etc.

Constructs, maintains, and repairs small buildings, fences, trails, boardwalks, picnic sites, and all other necessary facilities.

Maintains Park vehicles and equipment.

Visitor Services : Explains the facilities and services provided for public use, enjoyment and education; meets visitors, answers questions, provides information and directions.

Attempts to resolve visitor complaints while maintaining good public relations. Interprets the trail’s natural and cultural history.

Resource Management : Opportunity would be given to participate in prescribed fire. Position would assist with removal of non-native plant removal using both physical and chemical means.

Other daily responsibilities include, but not limited to, extensive driving, pulling, and backing trailers, administrative duties, and enforcing park regulations.

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Knowledge of :

Knowledge of basic plumbing and electrical work

Ability to :

• Ability to maintain and clean all park facilities
• Ability to maintain park grounds through the use of standard ground keeping equipment.
• Ability to work outdoors in all types of Florida weather
• Ability to lift 40 pounds
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Must be able to maintain a valid State of Florida driver’s license
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Ability to work a rotating schedule including holidays and weekends
• Ability to deal with visitor inquiries in a tactful, efficient and courteous manner; understand and apply rules, directives, policies
• Ability to operate vehicles including small trucks and UTVs

Minimum Qualifications :

• Valid driver’s license
• Successful completion of background / fingerprint check

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT : This position is a Position of Trust. Any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a Level 2 State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.

S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce.

Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses :

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and / or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735).

Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.

0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Last updated : 2024-05-23