Mountain Ranger Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $59,460.00 Annually
Location : Denver Metro, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026 CPW PM
Department: Department of Natural Resources
Division: Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Opening Date: 09/01/2026
Closing Date: 9/30/2026 5:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: Various
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: kristi.ryan@state.co.us or patrick.warnes@state.co.us
Type of Announcement: A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
Hiring Pay Rate: Please note that all employees new to the State Personnel System are paid on a bi-weekly basis.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department Information
THIS POSITION HAS OPENED TO RECEIVING APPLICATIONS UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE
** CPW is hosting a Park Ranger and District Wildlife Manager Hiring Q&A session Sept. 10th at 6:00 p.m MST. Interested attendees can register for the webinar through this link: REGISTER (This session is recorded for those that cannot attend and will be uploaded to Colorado Parks & Wildlife YouTube channel) More information regarding this position can be found at the CPW Steps to Becoming an Officer website.
A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It's our mission to manage and conserve Colorado's natural resources for the benefit of people today - and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.
We invite you to explore our website at to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado's natural resources for today - and tomorrow.
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.
In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical, Vision and Dental plans (learn more about the wonderful Benefits the State of Colorado has to offer here)
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFEOur Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.
Description of Job
This position functions at an entry level training classification into the Park Manager series:

• Year one Working Title: "Park Ranger Trainee"
• Years two and three Working Title: "Park Ranger"

As a Park Ranger Trainee, this position attends a Colorado Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) certified law enforcement academy and at the successful completion of this training, is certified as a Colorado Peace Officer in accordance with the official duties and authority of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. After certification, additional training incorporates classroom education and field exercises that provide knowledge and practical experience to optimize successful performance in the role and support career progression. Park Ranger Trainees work within the Field Services Unit and are trained in CPW park operations, State's laws, rules, regulations, statutes, beginning supervision, and park management techniques. IMPORTANT NOTE: Candidates offered a position must be willing and able to accept an assignment to a State Park and remain at that Park for a minimum of two years.
Specific learning objectives during the first year include but are not limited to:

• Participates in POST training to achieve certification, is ultimately commissioned at the discretion of the Director of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and applies knowledge and techniques in a field setting.
• Disseminates and communicates information concerning park management, data, regulations, public outreach, and conducts educational and interpretive activities to internal and external stakeholders (schools, civic groups, sporting clubs, etc).
• Understands the responsibilities and expectations of a Park Ranger to represent the Division in a professional manner.
• Applies natural resource management plans, stewardship plans, improvement projects, habitat assessment, inventories, and other field training in order to protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems in and around state parks.
• Participates in various certification training including Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue, and other valuable training.
• Performs patrols through operation of boats, Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV), and snowmobiles.
• Enforces Park's laws and regulations and investigates alleged law violations, seizes equipment and arranges for disposition of illegal activities under the leadership of a commissioned officer.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
Four (4) years of appropriate work experience in natural resource management, outdoor recreation management, parks enforcement, or parks administration. Appropriate work experience includes the following:

• Preparing and delivering environmental education and/or interpretation programs for park visitors on a regular basis, park enforcement (any title of the law, county or municipal code enforcement that applies to laws regulations) in a park (equivalent to a State, County or National park) or outdoor recreation setting.
• Applying the principles, practices, and techniques of natural resource management to resolve problems and effect improvements in habitat and/or environmental impact statements; supervising, planning, organizing, and/or directing a program for the development and utilization/protection of a park or outdoor recreation facility.
• Assisting in/overseeing the collection, recording, presentation, and/or analysis of research data (related to natural resources, recreation, forest management, etc); professional forest or range management; designing, conducting, analyzing and interpreting the results of resource management experiments; and protecting the quality of natural resources/the environment.

OR
A combination of education in any field of study and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to four (4) years. Note: If you are using education to meet minimum qualifications and are expected to graduate after 9/30/2026 and before 12/31/2026, please specify in the application's supplemental question.
Transcripts must be submitted at the time of application as a document uploaded to your application if you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications. Please be advised that if your transcripts are not attached and you do not meet the substitution criteria described below, you will be removed from consideration and you would need to submit a new application before the closing date/time with your transcripts to move forward in the consideration process. Note: If you expect to graduate after 09/30/2026 and before 12/31/2026, please specify in the application's supplemental question.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Qualifications
The below assessed throughout the process and at different steps:

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Experience providing customer service
• Experience leading/mentoring others
• Experience with public speaking/presenting and/or facilitating meetings
• Knowledge of or experience with Park Management techniques and/or principles
• Ability or experience working in a team environment
• Knowledge of or experience with working in outdoor conditions, including principles of safety in the outdoors.
• At least a bachelor's degree in natural resources management, natural sciences, earth sciences, environmental science, biology, ecology, forestry, geology, range management, wildlife biology, wildlife management, zoology, *outdoor recreation management, *parks administration, or *parks management

Conditions of Employment

• Must be willing and able to submit to, and pass a background investigation, which includes the following:
  • Felony convictions
  • Domestic Violence charges/convictions/restraining orders
  • Driving under the Influence/Impaired and/or boating under the Influence/Impaired convictions
  • Misdemeanor convictions that preclude being P.O.S.T certified as a Colorado Peace Officer.
  • Fingerprint submission and check
  • Polygraph
  • Moral turpitude
  • Suitability interview, and psychological examination (administered by a third party professional organization)
  • Drug Screening (administered by a third party professional organization).
  • Medical physical exam from a medical professional (administered by a third party professional organization).
• Must be able to wear a full duty uniform, including a ballistic vest, body-worn camera, and a duty belt weighing approximately 20 pounds, for extended periods (up to 8 hours or more per shift).
• Must be willing and able to obtain a State of Colorado drivers' license no later than the first day of employment if selected for hire.
• IMPORTANT - Federal law maintains prohibition of illegal drugs. If you have used marijuana within the past 12 months preceding your employment and/or used any illegal drugs within the past 36 months preceding your employment you will be disqualified from the process and will not advance further.
• If you have been convicted of a felony or any domestic violence charge, and/or been convicted of any misdemeanors which preclude POST certification as a Colorado Peace Officer you will be disqualified from the process and will not advance further. Please see link: Decertifying Misdemeanors Colorado POST.
• If you receive a conditional job offer, you must pass the POST Academy and CPW's Field Training Program within the 12-month probationary period.
• Candidates offered a position must be willing and able to accept an assignment to a State Park and remain at that Park for a minimum of two years.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
• Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.
  To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who:
  
  • Have an assigned State fleet vehicle
  • Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position
  • Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle

APPEAL RIGHTS:
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personn