Urban Park Ranger Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT VERIFICATION (PROOF) OF THEIR QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE, LICENSURE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND/OR APPLICABLE EDUCATION AT THE TIME OF FILING APPLICATION.

FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE REQUIRED VERIFICATION WILL RESULT IN THE REJECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.

Application Opening: July 28, 2026
Application Deadline: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through August 10, 2026 and will close any time thereafter.
Work Arrangement: Onsite; In-person
Salary Range: $81,952 - $99,632 annually
About the Recreation and Park Department
Amid a dynamic and ever-evolving urban landscape, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department stewards one of the premier urban park systems in America.  In 2017, San Francisco became the first city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department's commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city Learn More. Considered by San Franciscans to be one of the City's most popular and effective public agencies, our Department currently manages more than 230 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits-Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.  Included in the Department's responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced.

More than 2,000 talented individuals are part of our team, from gardeners, foresters, and recreation leaders to park rangers, custodians, electricians, painters and more. Our core mission, as it has been throughout our history, is to provide opportunities for San Francisco residents and visitors alike to gather, play, learn, relax, and enjoy nature in the city.

About Park Patrol
The Recreation and Park Department's Park Patrol endeavor to provide a competent and effective public safety service to all persons by preserving peace, protecting life and property, and enforcing Park Code.

The 8208 Park Ranger is the entry-level class in the series. As a Park Ranger, you will be responsible for providing public safety, park information and protecting Recreation and Park Department properties. Under immediate supervision, you will patrol assigned areas on foot, by bicycle, truck, and patrol car in an effort to prevent damage, destruction or theft to parks, recreation grounds and facilities. Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Patrols and inspects buildings, facilities, parks, and other department properties to deter violations, enhance public safety, and assure they are properly secured; responds to dispatcher notifications from alarm companies; checks equipment to see that fire hazards are not present; identifies and reports hazards, maintenance issues, and vandalism to Dispatch to generate work order; checks and secures/locks rest rooms and other properties at night and unlocks for daytime use; responds to calls for services; maintains the security of the buildings/facilities.
2. Removes road obstructions, lifts and places barricades (20 or more) at road closures as required; prevents improper, prohibited, or unsafe use of recreational facilities, fields, parks, roads, and equipment by park users; directs vehicle and pedestrian traffic during events, emergencies, and closures.
3. Provides assistance, directions, and park information to the public; interacts with park users, community stakeholders, and the unhoused population.
4. Acts as a public officer, apprehends or cites persons engaged in acts of vandalism, theft and other criminal activity in accordance with Park codes, Health and Safety codes, Municipal police codes and other applicable laws and regulations and turns subjects over to the police department.
5. Writes reports when arrests are effected as a result of criminal actions, utilizing department systems for monitoring, reporting, communication, documentation, and maintaining records (e.g. report writing systems, radio communications).
6. Enforces regulations related to dogs, wildlife, and environmental protections; coordinates response on wildlife issues such as rescue, protection and preservation of park wildlife with appropriate agencies; ensures protection and preservation of park resources.
7. Enforces parking regulations by issuing parking citations for vehicles illegally parked on Recreation and Park Department property.
8. Enforces rules and regulations on Recreation and Park property by issuing citations for the park code and any applicable state or municipal code, such as park misuse, alcohol and drug usage, permit violations, and any other applicable offense.
9. Performs other duties as assigned

Reasons You May Love This Job

• Getting to work outdoors
• Having a direct effect on people's lives
• Being challenged daily
• Working with an excellent team
• Opportunity to learn about San Francisco and its extensive history
• Developing your knowledge, skills and abilities
• You will work in a department with integrity, which trusts, engages and values its employees

Working Conditions
This classification requires considerable walking and standing, exposure to physical injury and other danger inherent in security work and arduous working conditions, including inclement weather.  We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so employees will be required to work any shift and assignment, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and be required to wear a uniform.

Experience: One (1) year (equivalent to 2000 hours) of work experience as a police officer, member of a military police unit, park ranger, security officer/guard, or a similar position which actively protects life and property or issues citations and performs code enforcement (i.e., park, vehicle and/or penal code).
License and Certification: Possession of a valid driver's license.  Must obtain a valid California Class C driver's license by the date of appointment.
Note: Must obtain California Penal Code Section 832 Powers of Arrest Certification within 6 months of employment.
Substitution
Successful completion of Basic P.O.S.T. Academy may substitute for the required experience.
Possession of thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units in criminal justice, administration of justice, or related field from an accredited college or university may substitute for the required experience.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
Desirable Qualifications
The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring:

• Two (2) or more years of verifiable work experience as a police officer, member of a military police unit, park ranger, security officer/guard or a similar position which actively protects life and property or issues citations and performs code enforcement (i.e., park, vehicle and/or penal code)
• Possession of an associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice, administration of justice, or related field from an accredited college or university
• Current State of California security guard, baton and chemical agents (e.g., tear gas) license
• Possession of First Aid, CPR or First Responders certificate
• Demonstrated good driving history record
• Ability to effectively use basic computer programs and smart phone
• Ability to analyze a situation to make effective decisions under stressful conditions
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to communicate exceptionally with others
• Ability to write clear and concise reports
• Ability to provide strong customer service

Verification of Education and Experience
Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Applicants are required to submit verification confirming they meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated above prior to the filing deadline.  ALL VERIFICATION DOCUMENTATION MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE APPLICATION AT THE TIME OF FILING.  See below for guidelines regarding experience and education verification, if applicable:
Experience: Verification of qualifying work experience must be on the employer's business letterhead and include the applicant's name, job title(s), description of job duties, dates of employment, type of employment (part-time/full-time), number of hours worked per week, and signature of the employer or the employer's authorized representative.
Education: If you are submitting education verification, information on how to verify education, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.
Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Park Ranger Core Exam (Weight: 100%): Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in a multiple choice exam designed to measure knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job related areas which may include but not limited to: knowledge of park areas, facilities and locations operated by the recreation and park department; knowledge of departmental regulations governing use of park and recreation facilities; knowledge of operating electronic equipment; ability to act quickly in emergencies; ability to remain calm and think clearly in difficult, stressful, frustrating, and/or confrontational situations; ability to follow patrol procedures and observe any suspicious activity and violation of park misuse; ability to interact effectively with public safety agencies, members of the general public, and departmental staff; skill in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to prepare simple operational reports; and the ability to carry out written and oral instructions.

The multiple-choice exam will be administered either on a computer or in a paper format. Qualified candidates will be notified of the type of exam format in their exam appointment notification.

This is a standardized written multiple-choice examination. In accordance with Civil Service Rule 111.11.4, inspection privileges do not apply to the questions and answers in this examination

The score you achieve on this examination shall be valid and 'banked' for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, you will not be required to take this test again should you apply and be found eligible for a future announcement for which this particular test is used.   If the test for a future announcement is held within one year of the date of this examination, your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, you have the option to either (a) apply your test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the test. Re-testing is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the examination and only in association with your eligibility for another announcement for which this test is used. Please note that, should you re-test, your re-test score would become your official score since it is the most recent.

A passing score must be achieved in order to be placed/ranked on the Eligible List. The hiring department may administer additional position specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

Eligible List Duration: The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of twelve (12) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification Rule: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of t...