Step outside, your career awaits!

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is hiring for the position of Park Ranger.

This recruitment is open is open until filled. First review of applications will be December 5, 2025.

Do you love the outdoors and want a career that lets you protect, preserve, and share it with others? The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join our Park Ranger Program, a vital part of our Open Space and Trails Division.

With over 50 miles of scenic trails, 1,500 acres of protected Nature Preserve, and stunning coastal views, Rancho Palos Verdes offers an extraordinary natural setting and you can help keep it that way. This recruitment will be open until filled with a first review of application scheduled for the week of December 15th.

DEPARTMENT

The Recreation and Parks Department is responsible for managing and operating a comprehensive park system, administering services in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve and coordinating numerous community activities and events in its 12 urban parks. The Recreation and Parks Department oversees departmental administration, open space management, recreational facilities, programs and classes, special events, the REACH program serving the needs of the developmentally disabled community, and support services.

PARK RANGER PROGRAM

Our team includes a Senior Park Ranger and three Park Rangers who patrol and care for the City’s trails, open spaces, and beaches. Park Rangers educate visitors, promote responsible recreation, and enforce City regulations to ensure safety and preserve the environment.

This role offers a 4/10 work schedule (four 10-hour days per week), giving you flexibility, work-life balance, and plenty of time to explore the beauty you help protect. Patrol shifts typically run from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 or 9:00 p.m., depending on the season.

What You'll Do

As a Park Ranger, you’ll spend most of your time out in the field, hiking and driving through the City’s open spaces. Your day-to-day work will include:

Engaging with visitors to educate them on park rules, safety, and trail etiquette
Patrolling the Nature Preserve trails and beaches to ensure safe and responsible use
Enforcing City ordinances through education and, when needed, citations
Maintaining open space areas by installing signage, cleaning graffiti, and closing trails when necessary
Writing clear patrol reports and updating OSM resources such as the website, maps, and social media posts
Collaborating with partner agencies including the Fire Department, Lifeguards, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and LA County Sheriff’s Department

POSITION DETAILS

This non-sworn, non-exempt position is represented by the Rancho Palos Verdes Employees Association (RPVEA). It is an entry-level opportunity to build a rewarding career in park operations, natural resource protection, and community engagement.

Under general supervision, Park Rangers patrol and monitor parks to enforce City rules, assist visitors, maintain facilities, and ensure the safe, enjoyable use of our open spaces.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

About

You’re self-motivated, professional, and passionate about protecting natural spaces. You enjoy working outdoors, interacting with the public, and being part of a supportive, team-oriented environment. You bring:

Knowledge of open space, trail, or resource management
Strong communication and conflict-resolution skills
A commitment to safety, stewardship, and community service

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is an active, outdoor position. Park Rangers must be able to:

Work in variable weather conditions
Hike up to 5+ miles per day
Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 lbs. (and occasionally up to 75 lbs. with assistance)

DEFINITION AND CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Under general supervision, a non-sworn position, patrols and monitors parks to enforce City rules, regulations, codes and ordinances and resolves disputes or conflicts among park patrons; involved in visitor services, maintenance and repair of park facilities, interpretive programs, safety enforcement and performs related work as required.

This is the entry-level class in the Park Ranger series. This class is responsible for providing professional and technical assistance to the public so that they may enjoy and safely use parks, natural recreation and historical areas. Park Rangers perform both routine non-professional park operations duties as well as professional and technical park operation and management duties.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Patrols city parks, beaches, natural recreation areas and other facilities by foot and vehicle enforcing rules and regulations, City codes and ordinances and issues citations as warranted; and to safeguard and preserve park facilities.
Maintains peace and order by taking action ranging from warning and counseling individuals to ejecting or detaining for citation issuance.
Provides courteous, high quality service to members of the public by personally responding to requests for service and appropriate referral.
Performs routine and spontaneous maintenance as scheduled, observed or directed.
Explains park policies and regulations; enforces cleanliness and sanitation standards.
Conducts environmental inventories of parks to detect fire hazards, plant diseases, insect infestations, etc.; initiates control measures to correct or control environmental hazards or conditions.
Prepares and maintains appropriate records, reports and correspondence.
Interprets the natural and historical features of the park to park visitors; answers questions asked by the public and prepares exhibits and publication materials.
Assists with the planning and assignment of work for auxiliary/temporary staff and volunteers in conducting area programs.
Notifies Police and Fire authorities in the event of an emergency or hazardous situation and assists local law enforcement when necessary; may use CPR or first aid to assist.
Provides assistance with security, crowd control and traffic flow for various City programs, functions and events.
Unlocks facilities, conducts safety inspections and secures facilities.
Required to work evenings, shifts, holidays and weekends.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in parks and recreation management, natural resource management, public administration, business administration or closely related field and one (1) year of full-time, or equivalent paid experience related to parks, recreation programs, forest, natural recreational or historical area programs.

An Associate's degree and three (3) years of full-time, or equivalent paid experience related to parks, recreation programs, forest, natural recreational or historical area programs.

Graduation from high school or GED and five (5) years of full-time, or equivalent paid experience related to parks, recreation programs, forest, natural recreational or historical area programs.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Must obtain American Red Cross First Aid Certificate, AED and CPR Certificate for infant, child, and adult within 30 days of employment.
Employees will be required to attend PC 832 training within six (6) months of employment.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices involved in protecting and maintaining parks and natural areas.
General security practices, radio procedures, resource and referral information.
City rules, regulations, codes and ordinances as they relate to park usage.
Principles of park and recreation facility management, operation, landscape maintenance and equipment repair.
Principles, practices and methodology of developing and preparing historical and natural science interpretive programs, and exhibits.
Record keeping and report writing.
Natural resource management.
Basic principles of employee and volunteer supervision and training.
Safety principles and practices, including basic first aid and adult and/or child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) methods and automated external defibrillator (AED) operation.
Applicable safety precautions and procedures related to the program area(s) and facilities to which assigned.
Principles and practices of basic public relations techniques.
Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment and computer applications.
English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
Techniques for effectively dealing with individuals of various ages, various socio-economic and ethnic groups, and effectively representing the City in contacts with the public.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff.

Ability to:

Read, interpret, apply and enforce park rule, regulations, codes, ordinances and state and federal laws related to the administration of park and natural preserve areas.
Analyze, defuse and resolve problem situations; discern potential dangerous situations; gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
Plan, oversee, implement, and coordinate assigned program operations and activities, as well as staff, contractors, and volunteers.
Plan and prepare activities, reports, and other related program materials.
Organize and direct the work of others (i.e. temporary/seasonal staff or volunteers).
Understand the organization and operation of programs and facilities necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
Work independently while supervising facilities and user groups.
Understand, interpret, and apply facility use policies and procedures.
Provide courteous assistance to facility patrons.
Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decision and/or recommendations.
Handle rescues, medical emergencies and injuries in a calm and effective manner, including providing basic first aid and adult and/or child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Maintain facilities and equipment in a clean, safe, and secure manner.
Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs.
Operate City vehicles.
Effectively use a wide variety of hand tools and certain power tools.
Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
Communicate effectively with a wide variety of the public including tourists, violators and park patrons as well as City staff in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources. If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact us at (310) 544-5332 no later than five (5) business days before the test date.

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

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