About This Position
The City of Phoenix has over 190 Urban Parks, 32 community and recreation centers, classes, and sports programs for all ages, 29 pools, eight golf courses, and a variety of specialty and cultural venues and facilities. The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking to fill multiple Urban Park Ranger positions in the Natural Resources Division. Urban Park Rangers promote behavior that allows everyone to enjoy clean, safe, accessible, and inviting parks and programs. Urban Park Rangers provide 24-hour coverage in our urban parks, working four 10-hour shifts. These shifts run from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Saturday. Evening and overnight shifts receive shift differential pay. Newly hired Urban Park Rangers should expect to be assigned to the 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. shift upon hire.
Urban Park Rangers protect and monitor safe use of urban parks, enforce park rules and regulations, educate on public safety through contact and engagement, support and monitor emergency situations, and physically patrol and report issues with landscaping, restrooms, and facilities in urban parks. Park Rangers also communicate with department staff and first responders using a handheld device, patrol City property in a marked City vehicle, issue criminal, civil, and parking citations as well as trespass notices, complete daily patrol logs, incident reports, and may perform general first aid and CPR.
Urban Park Ranger Units focus on safe use of City urban parks, park patrols, public contact, community outreach, education and programming, and consistent enforcement of park rules/regulations and Phoenix City Codes.
Urban Park Ranger responsibilities include and are not limited to:
- Enforce Park rules, regulations, and ordinances as required while educating the public in urban parks.
- Issue criminal, civil, and parking citations, and subsequently defend those citations in municipal court.
- Issue trespass notices for violations of Parks Code of Conduct, following procedures outlined in city policy.
- Interact safely and communicate effectively with a variety of park users and other City of Phoenix staff during enforcement and emergency situations.
- Complete timely reports and daily park ranger logs with accuracy.
- Engage in community outreach by connecting human service providers with individuals experiencing addiction, homelessness, and other impediments to wellness while in City of Phoenix parks.
- Follow all City of Phoenix policies and regulations and represent the City of Phoenix with professionalism and integrity, both during enforcement interactions and otherwise while on duty.
- Maintain a valid driver's license and operate City-vehicles between and within urban parks, following all City of Phoenix safe-driver and accident reporting protocol.
- Communicate with department staff and first responders using a handheld device.
- Demonstrate superior seamless customer service, integrity, and commitment to innovation, efficiency, and fiscally responsible activity.
- Organize and manage outdoor educational and recreational interpretive programs, projects, and special community events to include communication with internal and external partners and participants, completing internal and external reports, and running meetings in person and through online media.
- Produce well-written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper English sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
- Develop and establish collaborative partnerships with a diverse set of people and organizations to include community centers community groups, non-profits, non-governmental agencies, and schools to develop, manage, and oversee public engagement for the Natural Resources Division.
- Collaborate with city staff across multiple departments to identify engagement needs and develop strategies for public involvement.
- Participate in public events and promote awareness of natural resource focused educational and recreational opportunities to the community.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
- Ability to use a computer for email communications, report writing, accessing training, and other uses as pertain to the job.
- Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with customers, City employees, and the public in face-to-face settings, in group settings, through electronic communications, or using a telephone.
- Ability to interact professionally and courteously with the public during enforcement or otherwise adverse situations.
- Ability to work individually or as a team.
- Knowledge in park and building maintenance practices and procedures.
SALARY
Pay Range: $21.44 - $33.27 per hour.
Hiring Range: $21.44 - $30.17 per hour.
Pay Range Explanation
- Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
- Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
- Promotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade increase.
- Demotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade decrease.
- Lateral transfers occur when there is no change to the last two digits of the pay grade.
- When there is a change in the first digit of the pay grade, there may also be a change to your classification or unit.
Your job classification can be found in eCHRIS > Personal Details under your name, located in the top left section of the page.
The pay grade and classification/unit of your current position may be found by looking up your job title on the job description page.
Benefits
A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:
- Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information.
- 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions.
- Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans.
- Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan.
- Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually.
- Dental, vision, and life insurance options.
- Employer paid long-term disability.
- Free Bus/light rail pass.
- Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year.
- Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days.
- Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period.
- Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi.
For more details, visit: Unit 007 Benefits
Minimum Qualifications
- One year of experience in public recreation, security, or related field.
- Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum qualifications may be substituted.
- Must be able to:
- Obtain and maintain First Aide/CPR certifications upon hire.
- Work assigned morning, evening, or overnight shifts, which include weekends and holidays.
- Hike long distance trails over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces.
- Work in a variety of weather conditions with exposure to the elements.
- Move objects weighing up to 50 pounds as required.
- All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
- This position requires the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
- For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.
- The City job description can be found here.
Preferred Qualifications
The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:
- Experience enforcing rules, educating the public and issuing citations.
- Experience using a computer for professional writing and data entry.
- Experience with conflict resolution and de-escalation.
- Experience with Phoenix City Code, Parks and Recreation Code of Conduct, PHX CARES and community resources.
- Experience performing educational programs.
RECRUITMENT DATES
Recruitment closes October 12, 2026. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.
This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.
How To Apply
Apply online by completing the required information and attaching,
as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
- Job interviews may be held by video or audio conference.
- If you are in need of computer resources, click here for free options.
- Arizona at Work has frequent classes to help with resume writing, interviewing skills, and general career guidance. Click here for more information.
- Explore other Employment Opportunities with the City of Phoenix.
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- If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at (602) 495-5700 or by text at (800) 367-8939. You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
REFERENCE
Park Ranger*Urban, JC:40133, ID# 63052, 09/28/26, USM, MR, Benefits:007
Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.
#DoWorkThatMakesPhoenixWork
City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.
