PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST - 37020696
Requisition No: 849007
Agency: Environmental Protection
Working Title: PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST - 37020696
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 37020696
Salary: $3,093.09 monthly
Posting Closing Date: 03/31/2025
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State of Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
Job Vacancy
Open Competitive
Closing Date: 03.31.2025
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 create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystem.
The Work You Will Do:
Park Services Specialist- 37020696
An opportunity is anticipated for a self-motivated, hard-working individual, to fill a Resident Park Services Specialist position at Faver Dykes State Park located in St. Augustine. This position is responsible for establishing and maintaining resource management activities and for establishing and maintaining good public relations and for carrying out a public information program for resource management practices. This position develops visitor service programs, and professional training programs for the park, prepares and tracks maintenance for all park equipment.
Contact: Renee Paolini, Park Manager; 386.446.6784
The Difference You Will Make:
This position represents the heart of the park. You will provide visitors with first-hand knowledge on every aspect of the park and what it offers to guests.
How You Will Grow:
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:
Faver-Dykes State Park
1000 Faver Dykes Road
St. Augustine, FL 32086
Faver-Dykes State Park is over 6,000 acres and is conveniently located on the outskirts of St. Augustine, America’s oldest city, and visitors can discover the Real Florida. The park offers visitors a relaxing experience to enjoy picnicking, hiking on nature trails, boat ramp launch for small boats, salt and freshwater fishing and canoeing and kayaking along the Pellicer Creek.
The park features magnificent birding and wildlife viewing opportunities and the Pellicer Creek is also a Florida Designated Paddling Trail. The park has a youth camp and a separate campground consisting of 30 sites located in a shady hardwood hammock. Anglers can catch a variety of species from the docks or launch a boat or canoe to enjoy paddling on the water. Several hiking trails are found on the property to explore plant and animal life.
Click the attached link to learn more about this beautiful park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/faver-dykes-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
Pay:
$3,093.09 Monthly / $37,117.08 Annually
Your Specific Responsibilities:
ADMINISTRATION - Prepares forms and reports on a wide range of subjects including visitation, fee collection, purchasing receipts, campground reports, incident reports, vehicle logs, etc. Conducts purchasing and fiscal activities in compliance with established procedures. Performs Ranger Station duties, registering campers, point of sale transactions, greets the public, answer phones, operates park radio, computers, and various office equipment. Work with Park Management to increase participation in the volunteer program and oversee the administrative duties required for compliance. Conducts recruiting, training and develops orientation program, monitoring and submitting hours into Vsys program. Serves as the park Interpretive Chairperson, develops, and implements interpretive programs, including guided walks and/or recreation skills programs. Maintains kiosk and information boards within the park utilizing signage and/or displays. Serves as park liaison between the park and Program Development Specialist at the District office.
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.
MAINTENANCE - Maintain Park structures, facilities, equipment and grounds through routine, preventive, and corrective maintenance practices. Conduct routine inspections to ensure proper maintenance standards are met. Maintains cleanliness of facilities and grounds, which includes mowing, trimming and pressure washing.
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. Participates in the removal of non-native plants with application of herbicides.
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.
Performs other duties as required.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of: Florida’s natural and cultural resources; basic prescribed/wildfire concepts required to manage/restore natural communities; cultural resource preservation and techniques; basic arithmetic; computers and related software;
Skill in: good public relations; communicating effectively verbally and in writing; operating a point of sale system and reconciling receipts; accurately preparing reports; interacting with all internal and external customers and the general public in a professional, tactful and courteous manner; performing grounds and facility maintenance which includes but is not limited to mowing, weed eating, pressure washing, painting; utilizing power tools, including but not limited to, chain saws, drills; basic plumbing, including but not limited to, repairing hose bibs, waterline repair; basic electrical work, including but not limited to, replacing outlets and circuit breakers; basic carpentry, including but not limited to, boardwalk and fence repairs; operating a variety of motorized equipment; operation of computers and various software programs; developing interpretive programs and public speaking.
Ability to: provide good public relation techniques with internal and external customers, plan coordinate and oversee park programs, special park activities, the park volunteer program including recruiting, screening, training, provide orientation program; manage the Vsys program to ensure volunteer hours are recorded; cultivate the volunteer program to increase participation; follow verbal and written instructions/directions; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; perform physical labor; which includes but not limited to cleaning restrooms, picking up trash, facility repairs and groundskeeping; operate radio and computer equipment; perform point of sale transactions and handle cash; 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; plan, organize and coordinate work assignments;; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; Ability to participate in resource management practices, which include, non-native plant removal, application of herbicide; work outdoors; lift 40 pounds;
Minimum Qualifications:
- Valid Driver’s License
- Successfully complete background/fingerprint check
- Successfully complete required pack test
Preferred qualifications:
- Previous prescribed burning experience
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Prior to being hired, applicant will be given a single opportunity to take and successfully complete a supervised moderate pack test at a date and location to be announced. Pack test requires applicant to complete a two-mile walk while carrying 25 lbs in less than 30 minutes.
DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable 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
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.
SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL, US, 32085
Nearest Major Market: Jacksonville