Parks Ranger Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $65,958.88 - $92,810.77 Annually
Location : Sacramento, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Career
Job Number: 002061-26-YPCE
Department: Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment
Division: Park Safety
Opening Date: 09/04/2026
Closing Date: 9/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
THE POSITION
Please Note: a candidate must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and a drug use history to be considered for this position.
Park Safety Rangers assist the public in the use of recreation facilities, protect parks and their natural resources, and patrol parks to ensure public safety. Additionally, Park Safety Rangers are tasked with supporting the Incident Management Team responsible for homeless response, clean-up and outreach services. Incumbents in the position do not carry firearms.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
The ideal candidate will have knowledge of laws and regulations applicable to park management and visitor safety and understand principles and practices of enforcement of state and municipal codes, park operations and park visitor management. The ideal candidate will communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, meet and interact with the public and others in a pleasant and effective manner, and perform calmly and respond quickly and appropriately in stressful or emergency situations. Additionally, the ideal candidate will prepare clear, concise and complete reports.
DEFINITION
The Park Safety Ranger provides services through the enforcement of State and municipal codes, ordinances, rules and regulations to protect park patrons, public parks including median parkways, bicycle trails and recreation facilities within city limits. Issues citations or makes arrests for violations committed within park properties administered by the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Park Safety Ranger does not carry firearms.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This Park Safety Ranger is a journey and lead level classification. Positions in this classification are flexibly-staffed, and are usually filled by advancement from the lower level Park Safety Ranger Assistant classification. The Park Safety Ranger is distinguished from the lower level classification of Park Safety Ranger Assistant in that the latter is the entry level/training classification in the series performing a limited scope of duties and responsibilities. The Park Safety Ranger is distinguished from the Park Safety Ranger Supervisor in that the latter is the classification in the series performing the full range of supervisory duties.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
The Park Safety Ranger receives general supervision from the Park Safety Ranger Supervisor, or other higher level supervisory or management staff in the Department of Parks and Recreation. Incumbents train and provide regular guidance to Park Safety Ranger Assistant staff and occasionally provide direction to other career or non-career staff engaged in various duties at special permitted park events.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Patrols assigned park and public recreation areas on foot and/or in a vehicle; observe activity and determines if correction or intervention is required.
• Responds to calls for services from the City's 311 Customer Service Center, Police Department Dispatch and the Special Events Section within the Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Utilizes portable devices such as a mobile personal computer, two-way radio and cellular phone to maintain daily activity logs and reports, and to respond to calls from dispatch.
• Enforces rules, regulations, codes and ordinances related to park, parkway, bicycle trails or public recreation facility use; writes and issues citations to violators.
• Provides information to the public about park use and permit requirements, resolves customer and/or park use disputes.
• Inspects public park/recreation areas for safety hazards, damage to grounds, equipment and/or facilities. Writes report of findings and provides to the appropriate city department for action.
• Writes training procedures, trains and provides lead guidance and direction to Park Safety Ranger Assistant staff.
• Provides direction to non-career or other staff during permitted park events.
• Conducts investigations, writes incident and arrest reports, compiles and tabulates data, and provides reports to the Park Safety Ranger Supervisor, Recreation Superintendent, or the Special Events section.
• Conducts or assists Police Officers with criminal investigations and area searches.
• Collects and documents evidence, books evidence independently or in conjunction with a Police Officer.
• Interviews and locates witnesses, apprehend suspects on foot, detain and/or arrest suspects until suspect can be transported by the Police Department.
• Utilizes physical restraints such as handcuffs, oleoresin capsaicin (less-lethal spray super irritant), pepper ball (a launched less-lethal super powder irritant), or baton, when deemed necessary.
• Testify in court.
• Administers Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/first aid.
• Attends community and departmental staff meetings.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of

• Public park, parkway, bicycle and public recreation facility locations.
• Laws, regulations, codes and ordinances pertaining to public park, parkway, bicycle trail and public recreation facility use.
• Evidence collection and documentation techniques.
• State of California vehicle code.
• California state codes and regulations.
• CPR and first aid techniques.
• Departmental procedures and processes.

Skill in

• Effective verbal and written communication.
• Writing reports, citations and procedures.
• Operating a computer, two-way radio, cellular phone or other personal communication devices.
• Proper use of issued personal safety equipment.
• Driving an authorized emergency vehicle safely in all weather conditions.
• Administering CPR/first aid.
• Training/providing guidance to others.

Ability to

• Effectively and tactfully communicate with people of all socio-economic levels under stressful or non-stressful circumstances.
• Utilize sound judgment.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with city police officers, and other law enforcement/non-law enforcement staff, within and outside of the city.
• Observe and assess situations and determine the appropriate course of action.
• Interpret laws, regulations, codes and ordinances.
• Recall and record pertinent details, write accurate and concise reports and procedures.
• Apprehend suspects on foot; detain/arrest suspects.
• Read and interpret maps.
• Safeguard assigned personal safety equipment.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Experience
Two years of experience as a Park Safety Ranger Assistant with the City of Sacramento;
OR
Two years of experience in a position involving field investigations in code, ordinance or regulation violations.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent.
Substitution
Possession of an Associate Degree or higher from an accredited college or university with major coursework in park administration, recreation administration, natural resource management, criminal justice, or a closely related field may substitute for one year required experience.
PROOF OF EDUCATION
Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointmentUnofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.
An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential's evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Driver License
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment. Loss of the license is cause for discipline. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Certifications
Successful completion of a State of California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) PC832 Arrest, Search and Seizure course, or successful completion of a P.O.S.T. Introductory Certification Program at the time of appointment, or within 90 calendar days of appointment is a requirement for continued employment in this classification.
Felony Convictions
Free of felony convictions (California Government Code 1029).
Background:
Must pass a background investigation, which includes a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, and drug use history.
Medical/Drug Test:
Must pass a medical examination and drug test.
Work conditions
Must perform shift work as assigned, including days, evening, weekends and holidays.
Environmental conditions
Work outside in various types of weather.
Physical conditions
Walking, running, standing or climbing on slippery, even or uneven, paved or unpaved surfaces, may carry heavy objects of 50-100 lbs.
Probationary period
Must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level to gain permanent status.
THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.
1. Application: (Pass/Fail) - All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline;

• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
  • If applicants do not list current and/or past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
  • If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.

• Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.
• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
• If you're requesting Veteran's credit, a copy of your DD214 must be submitted online with your application or emailed to the Employment Office by the final filing deadline. Information regarding the use of Veteran's credit can be found in the Civil Service Board rules under rule4.9C.
• Applicants are responsible for attaching a copy of their DD214 to each position for which they apply.

2. Training and Experience Exam: (Weighted 100%) -The questions located at the end of the application are the Training and Experience (T&E) Exam. Responses to the T&E questions will be rated and scored. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. The exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. When completing the T&E questions, please note:

• Responses to the T&E questions must be submitted online; paper questionnaires will not be accepted.
• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the T&E questions.

3.Eligibility: Candidates who pass the Training and Experience Test will be placed on the eligible list. The hiring department may contact candidates for interview at any time during the life of the one-year list. Candidate's eligibility expires one year from the date of notification of a passing score for the Park Safety Ranger examination.
4.Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail)- All candidates that pass the examination and are in one of the top three ranks will have their application forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
5. Background Process: If considered for appointment, candidates must pass a background investigation, which includes a criminal history check, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and a drug use history to be considered for this position.
6. Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass LiveScan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled