Park Ranger Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $51,300.00 - $64,125.00 Annually
Location : HAMILTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Chattanooga, TN
Job Type: FULL TIME
Job Number: 07/20/2026 - 1872
Division: PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION
Department: Recreation - Riverpark
Opening Date: 07/20/2026
Closing Date: 8/2/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITION.
THIS POSTING IS FOR THREE (3) VACANCIES.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES A CURRENT P.O.S.T. CERTIFICATION. ONLY APPLICANTS WHO POSSESS A CURRENT P.O.S.T. CERTIFICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES APPLICANTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMMISSION BY THE HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.AN NCIC AND FINGERPRINTING BACKGROUND CHECK WILL BE REQUIRED. APPLICANTS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PASS A POLYGRAPH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION.
Under general supervision and as a primary park visitor contact, interacts with the public to assist in the safe enjoyment of Hamilton County Park resources, programs, and activities; protects the use of Park lands and facilities; and performs other related work as required. This is a law enforcement position. Employees in this position enforce the laws of the State of Tennessee and the Hamilton County Park Rules and Regulations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, physical requirements, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.)
Tasks
Provides guidance, assistance, and informative programming to park users and visitors; provides reservation and/or check-in assistance to park visitors; compiles and forwards reports with recommendations; responds to emergency situations and events in parks; provides basic first aid, security and/or other assistance as required by the situation; ensures all visitors have a safe and enjoyable park experience; provides a security presence; enforces Federal, State, and local laws as well as park policies and regulations; contacts and requests back-up/assistance from other law enforcement or appropriate public service entities as warranted; works a rotating schedule with hours and days outside the traditional work week. Provides any and all job duties as a Hamilton County Park Ranger under the scope and limitations of authority as provided by document Park Ranger - Scope and Limitations of Authority Policy. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics
Knowledge of Hamilton County General Government policies and procedures.
Knowledge of Hamilton County Parks' history, wildlife, natural statistics, and recreation opportunities.
Knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, and policies regarding park lands and resources.
Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of bookkeeping, record keeping, and file management.
Skill in working in a highly dynamic work environment with changing program demands and priorities.
Skill in assessing situations and taking actions appropriate to the needs.
Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with employees, related agencies and representatives, law enforcement agencies, users of park facilities, interested parties and the public.
Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications.
Skill effectively communicating in both written and oral form.
Skill in communicating effectively in both oral and written form with a variety of people and organizations.
Ability to interact with persons of different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds in varied work situations.
Minimum Qualifications
The equivalent of a high school diploma and a valid driver's license is required.
Must possess a current and valid Tennessee P.O.S.T. Certification or possess a current and valid P.O.S.T. Certification from another state and be able to obtain a current and valid P.O.S.T. Certification from the State of Tennessee within six (6) months of date of hire.
Must be eligible for and maintain Commission by the Office of the Hamilton County Sheriff.
SAFETY SENSITIVE:
This position has been identified as "safety sensitive" under the definition of 49 CFR Part 40-Department of Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy. This position will be subject to drug and alcohol testing for the following: 1) post offer pre-employment 2) when there is reasonable cause 3) after an on-the-job accident or contributing to an accident 4) on a random basis 5) prior to return to duty after suspension and/or 6) as follow-up. This is additional and also subject to the Rules and Regulations of The Employee Handbook.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Incumbents must be able to retain all law-enforcement-related certifications and commission. Incumbents must receive and retain first aid, first responder and all other certifications and licenses required.
This position requires an NCIC background check which includes fingerprinting. Applicants will also be required to pass a polygraph and psychological evaluation during the Commission process.
Must be certified in basic life support including the use of an AED or have ability to obtain certification within six (6) months of date of hire.
Prior to operating a County-owned vehicle, all employees are required to complete the HC Defensive Driving course and/or an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) provided at the department level.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Preferred candidates will have a minimum of twelve (12) months of direct work experience in law enforcement.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be in excellent physical shape with high levels of energy to perform various duties and have visual acuity and awareness to recognize any sign of danger before it has time to escalate.
Must pass a new hire physical examination that is consistent with the essential functions of the position which includes the following:

• 3-minute box step test
• Drag 150lb dummy 10 yards in 60 seconds
• 20 push-ups within 1 minute
• 20 sit-ups within 1 minute

Must pass a vision and hearing test.
Must be able to swim.
Must pass a psychological evaluation that is consistent with the essential functions of the position.
Must be willing to and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons.
Work involves the risk of bodily harm and potential exposure to infectious diseases, infectious plants, poisonous plants, noxious fumes, etc.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Any overtime hours offered in this position are not guaranteed, are an estimate, and are subject to change.
All positions within Hamilton County Government are considered work in-person and require regular and punctual attendance.
All positions within Hamilton County Government may require work on Holidays or weekends. Additionally, irregular hours and shift work may be required, including possible extension of shift hours, at times with short notice.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Hamilton County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services. A copy of Hamilton County's Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) & Utilization Report is available on the County's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office home page.
https://www.hamiltontn.gov/Department_EqualEmploymentOpportunityOffice.aspx
Hamilton County Government
Meeting the needs of the people where they live, work, and play!
Hamilton County, Tennessee offers a lower cost of living, ease of getting around, a lively arts tradition, and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities.
Working for Hamilton County Government provides many great benefits - take a look at a few of those highlighted below...
On-Site Employee Health Clinic

• No copay to utilize clinic services.
• Clinic services include routine office visits, sick visits, labs, flu shots, and more
• TextCare - Access to care 24/7 via TextCare, which is direct, unlimited access to medical care 24/7 through text message.

(Employee access to the clinic is available from day one. A covered spouse or dependent has access as soon as their health plan coverage is effective. Children age 3 and up who are covered by the County's insurance are eligible to be seen.)

• Telehealth - Two-way, real-time interactive communication between the patient and a practitioner through telecommunications, which may include audiovisual options.
• One to One Provider Network - Availability to utilize a network of providers that provide a high level of care at a lower copay/cost.
• Health Management Programs - Offered to help employees and their family members in managing the following health conditions: Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), and Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol)
• Nutritional guidance - Nutritional education provided to assist in making the appropriate food /health choices.

On-Site Employee Pharmacy

• Low-cost prescriptions available to those covered under the County health plan.
• Over the counter items offered at cost.
• RxLocal App - Mobile app provides a convenient way to stay connected and manage your health. Through the app you can request refills and ask questions.
• On-site Pharmacist available to answer questions and provide information.

Hamilton County Government offers competitive insurance coverage to fulltime employees.
Medical coverage is offered through Cigna to fulltime employees. The County pays a generous portion of the medical premium. Two options are available to choose from: LCP (Local Cost Plus) and OAP (Open Access Plus).

• The LCP has a smaller network that includes most providers and hospitals, with the exception of Parkridge facilities/providers.
• The OAP is a national network of facilities/providers that includes most providers/hospitals, including Parkridge.

Dental coverage is a voluntary benefit available to fulltime employees. Three coverage options are offered: Cigna High Plan, Cigna Low Plan, and Sun Life DHMO.

• The Cigna High Dental Plan covers orthodontia for children up to age 18. A national network of dental providers is available to choose from and this plan offers out of network coverage.
• The Cigna Low Dental Plan does not cover orthodontia. A national network of dental providers is available to choose from and this plan offers out of network coverage.
• The Sun Life DHMO plan is a prepaid dental plan that offers benefits through a network of plan dentists. A dental provider must be selected when enrolling and services must be provided by that provider for benefits to apply.

Life Insurance/Accidental Death and Dismemberment is provided through Symetra. The County provides $30,000 of Basic Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage at no cost to fulltime employees.
Additional voluntary benefits fulltime employees have access to enroll in are as follows:
-Individual Short-Term Disability (STD) -Voluntary Long-Term Disability (LTD)
-Flexible Spending Account-Health Care -Flexible Spending Account-Dept. Care
-Flexible Spending Account-Transportation -Accident Insurance
-Critical Illness Insurance -Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Hamilton County Government Retirement for Fulltime Employees:
Pension - Legacy Plan (hired prior to 10/1/2015), in which the employer contributes 14.70%.
Pension - Hybrid Plan (hired on or after 10/1/2015), in which the employee contributes 5% and the employer contributes 4%.
401K - Employer contributes 5% and the employee can contribute the amount of their choice.
457b - Employees have the option to contribute to this plan if they choose.
Pre-Retirement Seminar:
Hamilton County Human Resources provides a pre-retirement seminar to those considering retirement, two times per year (1st and 3rd quarter of each year). Seminar topics covered may include:

• Health insurance assistance, Medicare info and counseling.
• Internal steps to take when an employee is ready to retire.
• Estate Planning
• Personal Financial Planning
• TCRS (Tennessee Consolidated Revenue Service) - Ham. County Pension
• Deferred Compensation/457 Plan - Nationwide
• Social Security Benefits

Parental Leave:
Hamilton County provides eight (8) weeks of paid maternity leave and two (2) weeks of paid paternity leave following the birth of a child or placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption (age 13 or younger) or foster care.
Paid Time Off:
Hamilton County Government provides generous paid time off (PTO) to fulltime employees from the start of employment.

• Years 1 - 5: an employee will accrue 5.85 hours of leave, per pay period.
• Years 5 - 10: an employee will accrue 6.77 hours of leave, per pay period.
• Years 11-15: an employee will accrue 8.31hours of leave, per pay period.
• Year 15 and each year thereafter, an employee will accrue 8.93 hours of leave, per pay period.

At each anniversary, an employee can roll over up to 80 hours of unused