Description

• People who like to get outside and enjoy nature, do physical work, and contribute to a truly important mission - maintaining a fantastic Parks system for everyone!
• Individuals who are interested in a longer-term career with State Parks. Many permanent staff, including members of our executive team, started their careers as Park Aides.
• Students who are looking for summer work.
• Active retirees looking for work that keeps them moving and doing good in the world. Less than full-time work is a possibility in many locations.

• Temporary positions are eligible for vacation and sick leave.
• Holiday pay might be available to you depending on when and how long you work.
• Great teammates who care about their work.
• Learning and refining a set of very practical and transferrable job skills.
• Being in nature is good for your physical and mental well-being.
• Wildlife sightings! From chipmunks and quail, to orcas and moose, and everything in between.

• Weekend work is expected, and you might be asked to work evening shifts.
• Our Parks are busiest on spring and summer holidays, so we need more of our workers to be on schedule those days. Getting time off around a holiday is not guaranteed.
• Bathroom cleaning is a task that most Park Aides get to experience fairly regularly.
• Most positions are at least moderately physical – walking, raking, bending, kneeling, lifting and moving lighter items (and heavier ones with assistance). If that is not appropriate for you, but you are still interested, read the announcement carefully to determine if there might be a position dedicated to less physical work at the park(s) you are interested in.

Park Aide Recruitment Video - Typical Day - Washington State Parks

To read about other current and former Park Aides' experiences, click Here!
Riverside State Park- (located in Spokane County) is a 14,000-acre camping park along the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers in Eastern Washington. The park supports a wide variety of recreational activities and is rich in history. Freshwater marshes, running rivers, and beautiful countryside make up the terrain.

• Bowl and Pitcher offers two picnic shelters without electricity and 30 unsheltered picnic tables available first-come, first-served. The shelter closest to the main day-use parking lot has one picnic table and the shelter across the river has four picnic tables.

• The park provides a 600-acre off-road vehicle area for all-terrain vehicles. All-terrain vehicles are only permitted in the off-road vehicle area.

• An equestrian area features 500-acres with loop trails and 40 miles of linear trails for horseback riding.

• Lake Spokane Campground which offers 10 standard campsites, 1 group campsite, a swimming area, picnic lawn< and public boat launch.
• Nine Mile Recreation Area which offers day use picnic area, swim beach, fishing, and boat launch.
• Boat-in campsites offering 10 campsites for boaters including docks, fire pits, picnic-tables and primitive restrooms.

Duties

Under the supervision of the Park Ranger, Park Aides perform a variety of tasks at a State Park, beach, or historical area. A typical work day may include anything from registering campers and collecting camp fees, to cleaning facilities, mowing lawns, or explaining park rules. The specific duties will have some variation by park location.
Primary duties include, but are not limited to:

• All positions- Maintain park facilities through light routine maintenance and janitorial services.
• Perform grounds maintenance work, such as cutting grass, weeding flower beds, pruning shrubs, raking leaves, and picking up litter.
• Maintain park lawns using a mower, weed eater, trimmer, and various maintenance tools.
• Provide park information to visitors and answer phones.
• Register campers, collect, sort and count revenue; prepare bank transmittals and deposits.
• Perform daily garbage collection and litter control.
• Clean restrooms and stock cleaning supplies.
• Clean rental properties and perform general housekeeping duties including washing windows, scrubbing floors, mopping, and sweeping.
• Drive light truck or other state vehicle to transport supplies and equipment within the park area; haul refuse and garbage.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be a minimum of 17 years old.
• Possess a valid (unrestricted) driver's license. - If your DL is out of state (other than WA State), you will be required to show proof of a valid and current unrestricted driver's license at the time of the interview.

• Kayaking experience.
• Vessel operation experience.
• ATV experience.
• Experience working a chainsaw.
• Possess bilingual skills (Spanish language preferred).

Supplemental Information

To ensure consideration, please complete the online job application and profile at State Parks Jobs.

NOTE: Prior to a new hire, a background check, including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
This position is included in the non-supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Diversity strengthens the workforce in competence and ability.
• Celebrating diversity appreciates and values individual differences.
• Diversity serves an increasingly heterogeneous society.
• Diversity helps ensure the relevance of a state park system, its mission, properties, and programs to all people of this state today and in the future.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strengthens our ability and commitment to serve all citizens.

For more information about these positions, please contact Jenee Kramer at Jenee.Kramer@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-98569.