PARK RANGER - 37001077

Requisition No: 858993 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PARK RANGER - 37001077

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37001077 

Salary:  AGENCY TO UPDATE 

Posting Closing Date: 09/02/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

PARK RANGER (37001077)

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Position is located in Apopka, FL

Job Vacancy

Open Competitive

Closing date: 09/02/2025

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

An opportunity is currently available for a self-motivated, hard-working individual to provide resource management, interpretive, maintenance, administration, visitor services, and protection experience to fill a Park Ranger position at the Wekiva River Basin State Parks. 

The Wekiva River Basin State Parks include Wekiwa Springs, Rock Springs Run State Reserve and Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Parks and comprising of over 42,000 acres in three central Florida counties.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

VISITOR SERVICES - Explains facilities and services provided for public use, enjoyment and education; meets visitors, answers questions, provides information and directions.  Attempts to resolve visitor complaints while maintaining good public relations.  Provides natural and cultural history interpretive programs and services via tours, walks, and campfire programs.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Recognizes communities and maintains optimum species control via natural and chemical means.  Implements site restoration projects such as reforestation and erosion control.  Implements water resource management plans.

MAINTENANCE - Constructs, maintains, and repairs small buildings, fences, trails, service roads, fire lanes, boardwalks, campsites, picnic sites, boat ramp, docks, and all other necessary facilities.  Maintains cleanliness of grounds and facilities.

ADMINISTRATION - Prepares forms and reports on a wide range of subjects including fees, receipts, visitor use, visitor contacts, patrols, wildlife sighting and population counts, accidents, crisis and miscellaneous incidents, vehicle, boat, and equipment operations, property records, p-cards, purchase orders and requisitions, etc.  Answers telephone, operate radio equipment, personal computer and maintain logs.  Answers correspondence and maintains park files.

PROTECTION - Ensures Park rules are enforced pertaining to all natural, historical and archaeological facilities and resources and use thereof for enjoyment of the visitor.

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Good public relations. Basic arithmetic.

Skill in: 

Utilizing motor vehicles.  Using various hand tools, power tools, small engines such as lawn mowers and chainsaws

Ability to:

Work outdoors in all weather conditions. Perform physical labor including lifting 40 pounds.  Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.  Follow verbal and written instructions/directions.  Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.  Work independently with minimum supervision.  Deal with visitor inquiries in a tactful and courteous manner.  Understand and apply rules, directives, policies, laws and regulations.  Perform cash register transactions. Operate personal computers.  Prepare reports. Operate radio equipment.  Participate in all aspects of resource management. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Driver’s License
• Successfully complete background/fingerprint check

Position of Special trust Requirement:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP-422 (Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility). Any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a Level 2 State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. 

Pay: $2,896.67 Month/$34,760.00 Annually

Our Organization and Mission: 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s leading agency for environmental management and stewardship - protecting our air, water and land. The vision of DEP is to advance Florida’s position as a world leader in protecting natural resources while growing the state’s economy. DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly. 

Where You Will Work:

Wekiwa Springs State Park

1800 Wekiwa Circle

Apopka, FL 32712

With emerald springs feeding the Wekiwa River and lush tropical hammocks, this unique park just minutes from downtown Orlando is perfect for observing abundant wildlife or cooling off on a summer day.

Miles of trails beg to be explored on foot, bike or horseback, and canoes and kayaks are available on-site. It’s easy to see why visitors have been flocking to beautiful Wekiwa Springs since the mid-19th century.

Click on the link to preview this beautiful park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/index.php/parks-and-trails/wekiwa-springs-state-park

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:

HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us

HR_ER@dep.state.fl.us

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.