PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST - 37001701

Requisition No: 880620 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST - 37001701

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37001701 

Salary:  $3,176.43 monthly 

Posting Closing Date: 08/16/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

RESIDENT PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST- 37001701

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Job Vacancy

Open Competitive

This position is located in Lake Wales, Florida

Closing date: 08.16.2026

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

You will be working with a proven winning team that has one of the most diverse job descriptions in the country. An opportunity is available for a self-motivated, hard-working individual with strong resource management, visitor services, protection, and maintenance experience to fill a Park Services Specialist position at Lake Kissimmee State Park located in Lake Wales. 

The Lake Kissimmee Team also manages Catfish Creek Preserve State Park (total of over 14,000 acres) and duties include everything from normal park ranger tasks, assisting other parks and agencies, living history interpretation, Wildland fire management, disaster recovery teams, and heavy equipment to managing herds of cracker cattle and horses.

Duties and 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 programs.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – Implements ecological burning plan for fire type plant communities; recognizes fire type communities, control burning techniques and maintain fire lanes. Implements vegetation and wildfire management plans; recognizes communities and maintains optimum species control via natural and chemical means.  Implement site restoration projects such as reforestation and erosion control.  Implements water resource management plans.  Assists with all areas of resource management including equipment operations and prescribed and Wildfire activities.

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, facilities, and park equipment.

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.  Ensures visitor, facility, and park grounds safety.

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of good public relations; basic arithmetic; basic prescribed/wildfire concepts; livestock (cows and horses). 

Skill in utilizing motor vehicles; using various hand tools, small engines, power tools, use of heavy equipment and operations of various equipment. 

Ability to: follow verbal and written instructions/directions; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; perform physical labor; operate radio equipment; perform cash register transactions; deal with visitor inquiries in a tactful and courteous manner; understand and apply rules, directives, policies, laws and regulations; prepare reports; work independently with minimum supervision; participate in all aspects of resource management including prescribed and wildfire activities; work outdoors; lift 40 pounds;  establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; operate personal computers; assist in transporting lumber, fence posts, and supplies weighing 100 pounds or more.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid drivers’ license
• Successfully pass background and fingerprint check
• Successfully complete required pack test
• Reside on property

Position of Special trust Requirement:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP Directive 422, Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility. Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

Passing of moderate pack test must be completed prior to employment, and annually thereafter complete light pack test.  Prior to being hired, applicants will be given a single opportunity to take and successfully complete a supervised moderate pack test at a date and location to be announced.  The pack test requires applicant to complete a two-mile walk while carrying 25 pounds in under 30 minutes. 

Pay:

Base salary: $3,176.43 monthly/ $38,117.16 annually

Our Organization and Mission:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead 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:

Lake Kissimmee State Park

14248 Camp Mack Road

Lake Wales, Florida 33898

Florida's heritage comes alive with living history demonstrations of the early Florida cow hunters in an 1876-era cow camp.

Visitors enjoy boating, canoeing and fishing in the picturesque lakes. Nature students can hike over 13 miles of trails to observe and study the abundant plant and animal life.

Six miles of trails are open to equestrians. A large, shaded picnic area with pavilions is available. The park has full-facility campsites as well as a primitive camping facility.

The youth camping area can accommodate up to 50 people. The dark skies make stargazing a popular nighttime activity for campers.

The park is located off State Road 60, 15 miles east of Lake Wales.

Click on the link to preview this beautiful park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/index.php/parks-and-trails/lake-kissimmee-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).
• Tuition waivers.
• Total Compensation Estimator Tool
• And more!

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

Special Notes:

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_Recruitment@FloridaDEP.gov

An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 245-2511. DEP requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

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.