Park Ranger Jobs in Hayward, CA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $88,212.80 - $110,323.20 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: L041AD
Department: Parks Department
Opening Date: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 9/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 07
Description
The County of San Mateo Parks Department is seeking an experienced Park Ranger II to provide a variety of public services to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural, historical, recreational and educational resources of the County. Under supervision, Park Ranger II are responsible for maintaining trails and picnic areas, camping facilities; performing facility maintenance; assisting the public in taking full advantage of the facilities and grounds; and assisting with interpretive and recreational programs. Incumbents also supervise temporary employees and provide guidance and training to staff.
The ideal candidate will have:

• At least two (2) years of experience in park management, forestry, natural resource conservation, law enforcement, construction, emergency response or a closely related field.
• Practical experience in trail building and maintenance; facility cleaning and maintenance; customer service; working with volunteers; handling complaints; performing First Aid, CPR, and other safety procedures; interpreting and enforcing laws, rules and regulations; and performing basic construction and carpentry work.

This position requires outdoor physical labor and may include exposure to hazards, sun, bees, ticks, poison oak, nettles, pollen, etc.
Check out this video for a glimpse into the life of a Park Ranger! Discover the diverse tasks our rangers manage to maintain the beauty and safety of our parks.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is two years of experience in park management, forestry, natural resources conservation or a closely related field.
Licensure/Certification:
Possession of a class C California driver license or equivalent at the time of hire. Acquire within the first six months of employment a Red Cross First Aid Certificate and a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate. Acquire within the first year of employment a POST 832 Law Enforcement certificate.
Knowledge of:
Safety procedures, regulations and hazards related to parks; First Aid and CPR practices; appropriate responses to emergency situations; business and construction arithmetic, including percentages and decimals; computer operations for preparing reports and keeping records; principles and practices of quality customer service; basic supervisory principles and practices; park operation practices and procedures; principles and practices related to basic carpentry, plumbing, and electrical repair and construction; use of hand, electric, and pneumatic power tools; practices and procedures of trail building and maintenance; natural resource management practices including erosion control, habitat protection, non-native plant control and incompatible land use; diverse habitats and their primary plants and animals; landscaping and ground maintenance practices including pruning, lawn and plant care; tree conservation practices and procedures including removal; land use map symbols for the purpose of identifying elevation and trails; regulations and practices of protecting endangered species; effective instructional methods for a diverse customer population; practices and procedures of preparing and presenting interpretative programs; principles and practices of resource monitoring and data collection.
Skill/Ability to:
Maintain cleanliness of park and marina facilities; interpret information for the public; perform custodial, light construction, repair and maintenance work on facilities and equipment; use hand, electric, and pneumatic power tools; respond appropriately in emergency situations including administering CPR and First Aid; perform administrative tasks including keeping accurate records, making simple arithmetic calculations, handling cash, and filing; drive, operate, and maintain automobiles, light trucks, safety equipment and other motorized equipment safely; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; tactfully and effectively enforce rules and regulations governing facilities and resources; follow oral and written instructions including safety rules, procedures and practices; work courteously and effectively with the public and with co-workers; establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties; lead, assign work to, coach and counsel staff in a variety of parks, naturalist and marina activities; stand, walk, and bend for extended periods of time and have sufficient strength to lift items weighing up to 60 pounds.
Application/Examination
Open. Anyone may apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go toto apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
The examination process will consist of a training and experience application evaluation (weight: pass/fail) and a performance test (weight: 100%). The application evaluation will be based solely on the applicants' application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. Because of this process, not all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are guaranteed advancement through the examination process. Only those applicants whose training and experience most closely match the needs of the department will be invited to the performance test. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Application Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PSTTraining and Experience Evaluation: Monday, September 14, 2026
Performance Test (tentative): Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and/or Wednesday October 21, 2026
Departmental Interviews (tentative): TBD
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Arlene Cahill (08212026) (Ranger II - L041)
We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
INSTRUCTIONS - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Your job application and responses to the following questions are part of the examination process for this position so please answer each of the following questions completely and accurately. This information will weigh heavily in the application screening process and will also be used in the selection process. Your responses will be scored using a predetermined formula, weighted pass/fail. For multiple choice questions, read all response options carefully before making a selection. Your responses must be consistent with the education and work experience information in your job application and are subject to verification. Note: A resume will not be accepted in lieu of your answers to the questions.

• I have read and understand this important information.

02
Natural resource management practices, e.g., erosion control, habitat protection, non-native plant control and incompatible land use - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes the setting/environment in which you have most often applied this knowledge.

• A. City, county, state or national park
• B. Environmental, botanical or agricultural services/agency
• C. Other professional/work environments not listed in options A and B above
• D. Student or instructor in a training environment
• E. No work experience but willing to learn

03
Natural resource protection and conservation principles and practices - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes how long you have applied this knowledge.

• A. More than 3 years
• B. More than 2 years and up to 3 years
• C. More than 1 year and up to 2 years
• D. More than 6 months and up to 1 year
• E. 0 to 6 months

04
Natural resource protection and conservation principles and practices - Describe your qualifications in this area, including where you gained the knowledge and/or experience and your position/job title.
05
Enforce rules and regulations - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes the setting/environment in which you have most often performed this task.

• A. City, county, state or national park
• B. Law enforcement, code enforcement, local/state/federal regulatory agency or military
• C. Other professional/work environments not listed in options A and B above
• D. Student or instructor in a training environment
• E. No work experience but willing to learn

06
Maintain cleanliness of building facilities and public restrooms - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes the setting/environment in which you have most often performed this task.

• A. City, county, state or national park
• B. Facility maintenance or custodial services
• C. Other professional/work environments not listed in options A and B above
• D. Student or instructor in a training environment
• E. No work experience but willing to learn

07
Drive and operate light trucks and other motorized equipment - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes the setting/environment in which you have most often performed this task.

• A. City, county, state or national park
• B. Facility maintenance, agriculture/farming, construction/labor trades or military
• C. Other professional/work environments not listed in options A and B above
• D. Student or instructor in a training environment
• E. No work experience but willing to learn

08
Perform light construction/basic carpentry - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes how long you have performed this task.

• A. More than 3 years
• B. More than 2 years and up to 3 years
• C. More than 1 year and up to 2 years
• D. More than 6 months and up to 1 year
• E. 0 to 6 months

09
Perform simple arithmetic and handle cash - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes how long you have performed this task.

• A. More than 3 years
• B. More than 2 years and up to 3 years
• C. More than 1 year and up to 2 years
• D. More than 6 months and up to 1 year
• E. 0 to 6 months

10
Prepare and keep reports using a computer - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes how long you have performed this task.

• A. More than 3 years
• B. More than 2 years and up to 3 years
• C. More than 1 year and up to 2 years
• D. More than 6 months and up to 1 year
• E. 0 to 6 months

11
Prepare and keep reports using a computer - Describe your qualifications in this area, including where you gained the knowledge and/or experience and your position/job title.
12
Respond to emergency situations and administer First Aid and CPR - Considering your previous work experience, select one response that best describes the setting/environment in which you have most often performed this task.

• A. City, county, state or national park
• B. Fire, paramedic/EMR or military services
• C. Other professional/work environments not listed in options A and B above
• D. Student or instructor in a training environment
• E. No work experience but willing to learn

13
Respond to public complaints, inquiries an