OPS TRAIL MANAGER- 37970637 1 1

Requisition No: 875503 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS TRAIL MANAGER- 37970637 1 1

Position Number: 37970637 

Salary:  $16-$18 PER HOUR, commensurate with experience 

Posting Closing Date: 05/17/2026 

OPS TRAIL MAINTENANCE (37970637)

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

This position is located in Lithia, FL

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

 An opportunity is anticipated for a self-motivated, hard-working individual to provide resource management, interpretive, maintenance, administration, visitor services, and protection experience to fill an OPS Trail Manager position at Alafia River State Park located in Lithia.  This position will be scheduled for up to 28 hours per week.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The OPS Trail Manager will focus on managing Alafia River State Park’s extensive twenty miles of mountain bicycling trail system. Trail manager will lead volunteer crews, routine inspections, conduct maintenance and repair, communicate needs and assessments, complete reports, work with park management on all aspects of the trail system, perform other duties as assigned. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

VISITOR SERVICES - Explains facilities and services provided for public use, enjoyment and education; meets visitors, answers questions, provides information and directions in an accurate and professional manner.  Attempts to resolve visitor complaints while maintaining good public relations.  Provides natural and cultural history interpretive programs and services via presentations, walks and other programs and unit specific services as directed.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT –Recognizes biological communities and the natural processes required for their maintenance.  Observes, maintains and protects the natural, cultural, historic and archaeological resources of the park.  Implements vegetation and wildlife management plans, maintains optimum species control via natural and chemical means.  Implements site restoration projects such as reforestation and erosion control.  Implements water resources management plans.  Collects and records resource management data.

MAINTENANCE - Maintains park structures, facilities, equipment and grounds through routine, preventive, and corrective maintenance practices. Conducts routine inspections to ensure proper maintenance standards are met.  Maintains cleanliness of grounds and facilities.

ADMINISTRATION - Prepares forms and reports on a wide range of subjects including visitation, vehicle usage, purchase requests and accidents. Answers telephone, operates park radio, computer and various office equipment. Conducts purchasing and fiscal activities in compliance with established procedures.  Answers correspondence and maintains park files.

PROTECTION - Performs routine patrols and security checks; ensures adherence to the Park Protection Plan.  Opens and/or secures park facilities as appropriate.  Interprets and enforces park rules pertaining to all natural and cultural resources and facilities and use thereof for the safety and enjoyment of the visitor.  Responsible for security of cash fund.

OTHER – Performs other related duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions/directions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to perform physical labor.
• Ability to operate radio equipment.
• Ability to perform cash register/point of sale transactions.
• Ability to interact with visitor inquiries in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to understand and apply rules, directives, policies, laws and regulations.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to participate in all aspects of resource management.
• Skill in utilizing motor vehicles.
• Ability to work outdoors.
• Ability to lift 40 pounds.
• Skill in using various types of heavy equipment, hand tools, small engines, power tools and operations of vehicles is required,
• Knowledge of good public relations.
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to work rotating shifts, including nights, holidays, and weekends.
• Ability to maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.
• Ability to operate personal computers.
• Ability to coordinate volunteer training, management, and scheduling.

Minimum Qualifications:

Valid Driver’s license. 

Pay:

$16-$18 per hour, commensurate with experience

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:

Alafia River State Park

14326 South County Road 39

Lithia, FL 33547

Standing out from the relatively flat topography of Central Florida is Alafia River State Park, a reclaimed phosphate mine with some of the most radical elevation changes in the state. This makes it a hot spot for mountain bikers who traverse the scenic and challenging International Mountain Bike Association trails.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes:

• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*).  
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan, for more information, please visit Corebridge Financial).
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• And more!

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

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours on average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

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.

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.