State of Maryland

A State Park Ranger Trainee is the entry level of work in the operation of a State park.  Employees in this classification interpret and apply Park rules and regulations to ensure voluntary compliance with park standards, coordinate forest and park programs, and inform visitors of forest and park resources.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a State Park Ranger Supervisor or other designated administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings and weekends.  Employees may be subject to call-in based on staffing needs.  The work is performed indoors and in the field under various weather conditions.  The work requires the ability to lift objects weighing twenty-five pounds or more and to travel throughout the State.  Employees may be required to wear protective clothing and equipment; carry specialized tools over uneven and rocky surfaces and bend or stoop in confined spaces.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The State Park Ranger Trainee, State Park Ranger I and State Park Ranger II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The State Park Ranger Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The State Park Ranger I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times, depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The State Park Ranger II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to plan, research, develop and present forest and park programs including orientation talks, environmental education programs, nature walks, promotional programs and demonstrations, tourism development programs, business partnership programs, and recreational programs as well as project reports, such as environmental impact studies;

Learns to coordinate and present outdoor education programs with community groups and school systems;

Learns to compile park use statistics, keep records and prepare reports of area activities;

Learns to research and analyze the effects of area activities, such as hiking, biking, and camping, and any proposed activities on the forest and park environment and resources and make appropriate recommendations;

Learns to monitor and report on water quality, erosion, visitor impact and other conditions, identify problems that can be corrected by immediate action, take appropriate steps as needed, and report more complex problems;

Learns to prepare correspondence in response to inquiries about the forest or park and its resources;

Learns to inform visitors about the significance of forest or park resources and operations;

Learns to plan the day-to-day activities of a recreational area providing facilities, such as camping and water-based recreation;

Learns to contribute text to create and revise interpretive materials, such as guidebooks, handouts and exhibits;

May learn to perform various tasks related to park operations, in developed and underdeveloped areas, including interpretation, coordinating and managing special events such as athletic races, fairs and fishing events; collecting user fees; coordinating volunteer programs and serving as liaison with groups and organizations supporting the park services system; and providing assistance and answering questions of visitors to the park system;

May learn to respond to events in the park including visitor and natural emergencies and maintenance and use of park facilities;

May learn to provide advice and direction to other State forest and park employees, volunteers and seasonal workers employed in the State park system;

May learn to assist in budget preparation by providing budgetary estimates for program, equipment, and maintenance needs for a specific area of park operations;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn the principles and practices of forest and park planning and development and program planning, design, and implementation;

Ability to learn the methods and techniques related to the operation and maintenance of State forests and parks and their systems;

Ability to learn the State’s historical, cultural, recreational, biological and geological features;

Ability to learn the animal and plant biology of the State;

Ability to learn natural resources management, principles, and practices;

Ability to learn the State budgeting, procurement and personnel management practices and regulations;

Ability to interpret features of parks, forests, and lands in Maryland so that material may be understood by the general public;

Ability to plan, develop and organize a variety of formal and interpretative programs;

Ability to prepare and review reports;

Ability to prepare displays of historical features, natural resources and natural sciences;

Ability to prepare historical and interpretive material for publication;

Ability to explain complicated concepts to visitors and groups;

Ability to assess, design and construct outdoor interpretative programs;

Ability to work with others.

Experience: Four years of experience in park management, recreation or a natural resources related field.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the field of park operations, recreation, education, business administration, forestry, social sciences or a natural resources related field for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in management and program clerical and assistance classification or management and program clerical and assistance specialty codes in the general, administrative, clerical, and office services field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.  

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professional classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.