Park Ranger

Park Ranger

Employment Type: 0 - Full-time Regular
Pay Range: $55,364.00 - 83,046.00
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
Overtime Exempt: N
Elected Office / Department: PARKS

The Park Ranger is a technical and professional position responsible for all areas of daily operations, maintenance, and stewardship of properties within the Department of Parks and Recreation (“Parks”). The primary responsibility of this position is to provide positive customer service and recreational experience through operational and maintenance duties.

Generally, the hiring range is $55,364-$69,205 annually. Qualifications, education and experience as it relates to the position will be taken into consideration when determining hiring salary.

Your future is important to us.
Douglas County offers a comprehensive benefits package — including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans — plus a wide range of additional resources to support your health, growth, and overall well-being. View the full Employee Benefits Guide.

View the full job description here

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.)

Recreation Operations, Maintenance, and Stewardship

• Provide public access through proper gated areas, parking management, and checking park use reservations and permits
• Use a variety of hand tools, power tools, equipment, and machinery to perform routine maintenance
• Seasonally clear snow with a shovel or equipment
• Ability to perform strenuous labor for the entirety of the assigned shift in various weather conditions
• Support projects by organizing work, following priorities, meeting deadlines, and following up on assignments
• Collect relevant data and prepare technical documents, reports, and presentations
• Attend related meetings, training sessions, and conferences

Recreation-Centered Customer Service

• Provides recreation-centered customer service by building positive connections with visitors and community members to encourage responsible use and stewardship of County parks
• Check in reservations and inspect watercraft for aquatic nuisance species (ANS)
• Provide assistance, give directions, and explain rules and regulations to the visitors
• Resolve visitor complaints and take public suggestions to provide a quality experience
• Support recreation, special events, and volunteer opportunities
• Operate within the limits of the position

Recreation Safety

• Monitor properties, facilities, trails, and similar park areas (via foot, bicycle, motorized vehicle, and boat) to promote recreation safety and ensure proper use of the property
• Conduct routine patrols to promote positive experiences
• Responds to and supports recreational emergency situations and rescue operations
• Educate the guests about recreational opportunities and the rules and regulations

Administration

• Collect, track, and report data in a variety of software programs
• Prepare a variety of reports, documents, presentations, and maps to support business needs
• Perform other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or GED is required
• Bachelor's degree in recreation management, natural resources, recreation, wildlife biology, or a related field is preferred
• Two (2) years of related experience is required
• Six months of maintenance experience in a park setting is preferred
• A combination of education, experience, and certifications may be considered

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS:

• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License upon hire, with complying insurance. A review of motor vehicle records is required at the time of hire and periodically throughout employment
• First Aid and CPR/ AED certifications within 30 days of hire

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Closing Date: 4/17/2026 5:59PM MST. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

The job details outlined in this posting may represent a modified summary of the full job description. For a full copy of the job description CLICK HERE to view our job classifications.

In the event of an emergency/disaster in or near the County, all County employees are expected to make every effort to be available to assist the County Manager, Elected/Appointed Officials and Department Directors to ensure the continued operation of any and all necessary County functions. This may mean being available to perform additional duties and hours beyond what is normally required. In the event that an exempt employee does work more than 40 hours a week in support of County operations during an emergency, such employee may receive overtime or other appropriate wage compensation in accordance with existing County policies or at the discretion of the County.