PARK RANGER - 37001354

Requisition No: 865667

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PARK RANGER - 37001354

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37001354

Salary:  $2,896.67/monthly $34,760.00/annually

Posting Closing Date: 12/23/2025

Total Compensation Estimator Tool Park Ranger #37001354 State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection This position is located in Alligator Point and Sopchoppy, FL Closing Date: 12/23/2025

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

Park Ranger #37001354 Bald Point State Park and Ochlockonee River State Park are looking for a self-motivated park service professional to fill a Park Ranger position, providing visitor services, maintenance, protection, administration, and resource management. The applicant must possess good visitor service and administrative skills, be able to work independently and have the ability to perform a variety of skilled trade functions using assorted equipment and tools. The applicant must be able to work rotating shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

VISITOR SERVICES:

Explains facilities and services provided for public use, enjoyment, and education. Visitor interaction includes answering questions, providing information, assistance, and directions. Resolve customer complaints while maintaining good customer service and upholding the Florida Park Service image.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:

• Monitors, maintains, and protects the natural and cultural resources of the park. Implements resource management plans. Plans and participates in invasive species control using chemical and mechanical means. Implements site restoration projects. Participates in hydrological resource restoration and monitoring. Collects, analyzes, and records data.

MAINTENANCE:

Constructs, cleans, maintains, and repairs park grounds, facilities, and equipment. Conducts routine inspections to ensure proper maintenance standards are met and identifies and prioritizes needs. Completes basic repair tasks and construction in all trade skills. Maintains Park roads, trails, and fire lines using tractors and chainsaws. Conducts preventative maintenance on all park equipment.

INTERPRETATION:

Completes interpretive training to meet established guidelines. Participates in education and outreach, special events and festivals, programs, and personal interpretation. Represents the Florida Park Service to outside agencies and organizations, disseminates information and promotes interpretive opportunities.

ADMINISTRATION:

Abides by fiscal and purchasing guidelines. Acquires bids, quotes, and proposals for projects and equipment.  Purchases materials, tools, and equipment. Plans and leads work projects with employees, volunteers, and interns. Completes reports, timesheets, vehicle logs, P-Card purchasing, tracking sheets, wildlife sightings, invasive removal reports, etc. using a variety of computer applications. Operates Point of Sale computer on an as-needed basis.

PROTECTION:

• Provides protection of facilities and resources by applying rules, policies, regulations, and procedures. Takes appropriate action to ensure visitor safety and adherence to park rules, including identifying and investigating problems. Ensures adherence to Park Protection Plan. The duties of this position require the incumbent to reside on the property.

VOLUNTEER MANAGER: Recruits, screens, trains, and manages volunteers. Utilizes established system to coordinate the park’s volunteer and manpower augmentation program. Determines Park needs and coordinates volunteer placement. Develops volunteer job descriptions, procedural manuals, and evaluations. Plans and oversees volunteer schedules, tracks hours, prepares reports, and coordinates.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Natural and cultural resource preservation and restoration techniques Computer operations, point of sale systems, and basic arithmetic Effective customer service and public relations methods

SKILL IN:

Communicating effectively verbally and in writing Customer service, public relations, and public speaking Use of assorted hand tools, power tools, equipment and operation of vehicles and heavy equipment including manual transmissions Basic plumbing, electrical and carpentry

ABILITY TO:

Work independently with minimal supervision

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Perform physical labor

Work outdoors in inclement weather conditions Collect fees, operate computer, and reconcile transactions

• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing

Understand, apply, and follow applicable rules, directives, regulations, policies, and procedures

• Conduct inspections, identify needs, and investigate problems

Operate a variety of equipment including 4WD vehicles, ATV’s, tractors, hand tools, and chainsaws Complete interpretive training, present interpretive programs and coordinate special events

• Implement invasive removal and restoration programs, including chemical and mechanical treatments

Accurately prepare reports, collect and analyze data

• Troubleshoot and maintain facilities and equipment
• Perform basic repairs in all trade skills
• Maintain a valid driver’s license

Successfully complete ranger academy Successfully complete background and fingerprint check Work rotating shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays

Minimum Qualifications:

Valid Driver’s License Completion of Ranger Academy Take and pass CPR and First Aid certification within 6 months of employment Must successfully meet position-specific DRP Burn Standards for Prescribed Fire. Passing of moderate pack test must be completed prior to employment, and then annually thereafter complete the light pack test

Position of Special Trust Requirement:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP Directive 422, Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility. Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

Pay:

Base salary $2,896.67/monthly $34,760.00/annually

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 advance Florida’s position as a world leader in protecting natural resources while growing the state’s economy. 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:

BALD POINT STATE PARK:

146 Box Cut Rd Alligator Point, Florida 32358

OCHLOCKONEE RIVER STATE PARK:

429 State Park Road, Sopchoppy Hwy Sopchoppy, FL 32358

Bald Point State Park is managed together with Ochlockonee River State Park. Located on Alligator Point where Ochlockonee Bay meets Apalachee Bay, offers a multitude of opportunities for land and water activities. Coastal marshes, pine flatwoods, and oak thickets foster a diversity of biological communities that make the park a popular destination for birding and wildlife viewing.  A recent addition of over 7,000 acres makes Bald Point the second largest park in the panhandle at 12,154 acres.

Bald Point offers beach access for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and windsurfing. Facilities include restrooms, a fishing dock, and picnic pavilions.  A newly constructed accessible kayak launch provides easy access to Chaires Creek and Tucker Lake.   A full facility family campground and ranger station are planned and currently in the design phase.

Ochlockonee River State Park is located on the scenic Ochlockonee River just 4 miles south of Sopchoppy, and offers more than 543 acres with an array of recreational activities on land and water. The Ochlockonee River is a fantastic destination for boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, camping, picnicking and sunbathing. The beautiful trails through the pine flatwoods and oak thickets provide for excellent hiking, birding and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Facilities include restrooms, a fishing dock, picnic pavilions, accessible kayak launch, boat ramp, primitive youth camp, dump station and a thirty-site campground with water and electricity.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

Annual and Sick Leave benefits; Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year; State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options; Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

Tuition waivers; Total Compensation Estimator Tool And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

Special Notes:

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferable 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:

HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us HR_Recruitment@FloridaDEP.gov

An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 245-2511. DEP requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.