PARK RANGER

Salary : $60,069.96 - $75,517.56 Annually

Location : Visalia, CA

Job Type: Regular Full-Time

Job Number: 01921

Department: Community Services

Division: Parks

Opening Date: 01/18/2024

Closing Date: 2/8/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

Description

The City of Visalia is recruiting for Park Ranger. Please click herefor the recruitment announcement.

THE DEPARTMENT
The City of Visalia Parks Maintenance Division is part of the Community Services Department. The Parks Maintenance Division is comprised of one full-time Park Ranger and six hourly park maintenance staff that are responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of 37 parks and 11 restrooms. Many of these facilities operate on a 7-day, per week schedule.
Examples of Duties

THE POSITION
The Park Ranger works under general supervision of the Parks Maintenance Supervisor and patrols city parks and recreation facilities, enforces applicable city ordinances, county codes, and state laws relating to use of parks, trails, and city parks facilities. In addition, the Park Ranger will patrol and monitor activity at public parks, perform limited security enforcement, semiskilled parks grounds maintenance and related work in city parks and recreational facilities. This position requires nights and weekend work assignments.
Qualifications / Requirements

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will be a detail oriented, self-starter who understands the basic principles and practices associated with enforcing park ordinances. The incumbent should have knowledge of proper methods, materials, equipment, and tools used in the maintenance and operation of grounds and buildings associated with a park. They will also have the ability to maintain records, prepare clear and concise reports, exercise sound judgment, and communicate effectively in written and oral form. In addition, the new Park Ranger will establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the public and other employees. The ideal candidate must act with discipline and discretion in stressful situations involving visitor and employee safety and have experience with office equipment, including the ability to operate and learn computer software programs.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Any combination of training, education and experience which demonstrates an ability to perform the duties of the position is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skill and abilities would be:

• Two (2) years of experience in parks operations, security operations, law enforcement or related field.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid California Driver's License, by time of appointment.
• Successful completion of a law enforcement procedures (PC 832) course certified by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training required within ninety (90) days of appointment.
• Must possess or obtain within six (6) months of appointment, valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid certifications and maintain certifications according to statutory mandates during course of employment.

Click here to review the full job description.
Additional Information

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The City of Visalia offers a competitive total compensation package that includes:
Monthly Salary: $5,006 - $6,293
CalPERS retirement program
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
Onsite City Health and Wellness Clinic (no out of pocket expenses)
Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick Leave and much more...

Review the Benefits tab for more information.

EXPERIENCE VISALIA. ENHANCE YOUR LIFE. If work-life balance is important to you, consider living in a thriving community that offers the most affordable housing in California with a typical commute time of less than 20 minutes. With a population of over 143,000, Visalia offers small town charm with metropolitan amenities. Visalia has a world class health care system, our own Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, a flourishing arts community, a minor league baseball team, a downtown convention center, and numerous fine dining establishments

As the Tulare County seat, Visalia is the principal retail center in the region, and home to several large industrial employers. Visalia has a vibrant downtown district, safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, institutions for higher learning, and low cost of living. The City has many community parks, organized team sports, a municipal golf course and private country club, a multi-sport family-oriented regional sports park, and numerous outdoor and recreational activities.

Located in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley, Visalia offers easy access to the nearby mountains, national parks, lakes and rivers which provide year-round opportunities for sports and recreation within an hour or less. Visalia was ranked as the top Central Valley community and one of seven California cities in the top 25 of Gallup Sharecare's latest State of American Well Being Index. Our strong sense of community and social well-being keeps Visalians happy, healthy and moving forward. Come discover all Visalia has to offer!

The City of Visalia is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in the announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

Bargaining Unit: Employees in this class are represented by the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council (Group M bargaining unit). This bargaining unit may establish and collect dues for their members' independent from the City of Visalia. Those that elect to join may be required to pay dues per the provisions in the MOU.

Salary Policies: The salary range for the job is stated on the job announcement. Candidates are normally hired at the minimum of the salary range. Salary increases are given based upon employee work performance, up to a maximum of 5% per fiscal year.

Bilingual pay of $900 per year, pro-rated on a pay period basis, is available to those who are eligible and qualify.

A uniform allowance of $800 annually is provided for maintenance and care of department required uniforms or attire. Employees working in the following areas of the Police Department that are required to wear a uniform are eligible for uniform allowance: Dispatch, Records, CSO personnel, Property and Evidence, Crime Lab, Duty Officer personnel, and Parking Enforcement.

Holidays: Regular non-shift full-time City employees receive 11 paid holidays and one (1) floating holiday per year. In lieu of holidays, Police shift employees receive 4 hours of compensatory time off and 4 hours of regular pay in the pay period the holiday falls.In addition, shift employees receive one floating holiday in the pay period that includes January 1.

Vacation: Regular full-time employees earn 10 days per year. After 2 years, employees are eligible for 11 days; after 4 years, 14 days; after 9 years, 17 days; and after 16 years, 20 days of vacation per year. Employees are eligible for vacation usage after six (6) months of service. Employees hired from another governmental agency may be entitled to receive years-of service credit for their vacation accrual rate for such previous employment and applies only to the government agency the employee was employed with immediately prior to employment with the City of Visalia.

Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees earn 96 hours of sick leave per year, accrued per pay period. Employees are eligible for sick leave usage after three (3) months of service.

Annual Sick Leave Buy Back: After accumulating 480 hours, the City will automatically cash out all sick leave hours over 480 hours at 40% of the employee's pay rate.

Administrative Leave: Employees classified as FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime pay) currently receive 56 hours of administrative leave per calendar year. Any unused administrative leave hours are automatically paid out on the first paycheck in December.

Compensatory Time Off: Regular full-time employees classified as FLSA non-exempt (eligible for overtime pay) currently receive eight (8) hours compensatory time off per calendar year.

Health Insurance: The City provides employee health insurance which includes medical, dental, and vision care. Employee contribution rates are determined by employee's bargaining unit and plan selected. Health benefits are also available for an employee's dependents for an additional contribution rate. Eligibility for health insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire. Contribution rates are reviewed for adjustment annually.

Life Insurance: The City pays the premium for a life insurance and accidental death or dismemberment policy of $30,000. A supplemental life insurance policy may be purchased and paid through payroll deduction. Eligibility for life insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire.

Retirement: The City of Visalia is a member of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). New employees are covered under the 2% at 62 plan. (Employees with previous PERS qualifying service (Classic employees) may fall under the 2% at 60 plan.) Each pay period, the employee pays an employee contribution at the CalPERS established rate. The City pays an employer contribution towards the retirement benefit and employees are responsible for contributing 4% of the employer contribution in addition to the required employee contribution.

Social Security/FICA: City employees are not subject to regular Social Security (FICA) deductions. However, Federal law requires that the Medicare portion of the FICA is deducted.

Section 125: The City offers a voluntary Section 125 program whereby tax free contributions are put into a trust account and are available for withdrawal with documentation of an unreimbursed healthcare or dependent care expense (i.e. premium, dependent care, medical care).

Long Term Disability: Regular full-time City employees are eligible for disability insurance (up to 2/3 of their salary) in the event they are disabled for more than ninety (90) days. LTD premium cost is paid by the employee.

Worker's Compensation: Full-time and hourly employees who sustain an occupational injury or contract occupational illnesses receive standard Worker's Compensation benefits as prescribed by law.

Other Benefits: The City also offers additional benefits such as an employee assistance program (EAP), a pre-tax deferred compensation plan, and education assistance up to $1,500 per fiscal year.

As a potential applicant, you are about to participate in a series of events collectively called the employment process. Because the goal of the employment process is to obtain the most qualified candidates to fill City positions, examinations are administered to qualified applicants. These examinations are conducted in a variety of ways (written, oral, practical, and/or performance), yet they share a common purpose - to test applicants based upon the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job.

The employment process occurs in several stages which are described below:

Application: Perspective employees must submit a City of Visalia application and other documents required as outlined in the announcement by the closing time specified on the final filing date. Final filing dates and times are listed on the front of each announcement. Separate original applications must be submitted for each recruitment/position applied for.

Examination: Applicants will be evaluated and applicants who clearly appear to be more qualified in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities will be invited to take an examination or combination of examinations. Written, practical, oral, and/or performance examination scores, or a pre-determined combined examination score, will determine standing on the eligible list.

Exam Accommodations: If you are most qualified for the job, but need reasonable accommodations to take the exam, contact the Human Resources Division at least five (5) days prior to the exam. We want to work with you to design a fair and effective means by which you can demonstrate your ability to perform the essential functions of this job. Be prepared to furnish proof of the need for accommodation. Such proof should normally be a signed statement on letterhead by a professional who is qualified to make a diagnosis.

Eligible lists: Eligible lists contain names, in descending order of score, of applicants who have obtained passing scores. Eligible lists are maintained for no less than six (6) months and no more than one year unless otherwise determined by Human Resources. The City retains the authority to reestablish an eligible list for a specific job opening when deemed necessary. Separate eligible lists are established for each recruitment.

Selection: A departmental interview is conducted with the top candidates from the eligible list. The number of candidates interviewed depends on the number of vacancies.

Background Review: Depending on the position, prospective employees will be subject to clearing a background investigation which may include, but is not limited to, a reference check, credit check, criminal history review, social security verification, DMV record check, polygraph, and psychological evaluation.

Post Offer Medical Examination: Prior to starting work, all prospective employees are required to take a drug/alcohol screening administered by the City's medical provider and/or pass a medical examination. Candidates are cautioned not to quit or give notice to present employers until the medical examination has been completed and passed.

Probationary Period: Employees appointed to a new position through an open or promotional process are required to serve a twelve (12) month probationary period in their newly appointed position. Employees appointed to Assistant Communications Operator or Communications Operator positions are required to serve an eighteen (18) month probationary period. An employee maybe terminated without recourse for any reason and at any...