State Park Ranger Lead
Department
DNR - Maryland Park Service - State Wide Operation
Date Opened
5/21/2025 11:59:00 PM
Filing Deadline
6/5/2025 11:59:00 PM
Salary
$60,987.00 - $98,313.00/year
Employment Type
Full-Time
HR Analyst
Emilee Knott
Work Location
Allegany
Baltimore County
Caroline
Frederick
Garrett
Harford
Kent
Montgomery
Queen Anne's
Somerset
St. Mary's
Worcester
Introduction
This is a position specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies for the position and may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification/function. Future vacancies may also be filled via other recruitments. The resulting eligible list will be maintained for one year.
GRADE
16
LOCATION OF POSITION
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS:
• Cunningham Falls State Park, 14039 Catoctin Hollow Road, Thurmont MD 21788 (Frederick County) ** includes Gambrill State Park, 8602Gambrill Park Road, Frederick MD 21702 (Frederick County)
• Freedman’s State Historical Park, 23222 Georgia Avenue, Brookville MD 20833 (Montgomery County)
• Gunpowder Falls State Park, 2813 Jerusalem Road, Kingsville MD21087 (Baltimore/Harford counties) ** includes North Point State Park,8400 North Point Road, Edgemere MD 21219 and Hart Miller Island State Park (Baltimore County)
• Janes Island State Park, 26280 Alfred J. Lawson Drive, Crisfield MD21817 (Somerset County)
• New Germany State Park, 349 Headquarters Lane, Grantsville MD21536 (Garrett County) ** includes Dans Mountain State Park, 17410 Recreational Area Road SW, Lonaconing MD 21539 (Allegany County);Savage Highlands State Park, 1600 Mt. Aetna Road, Frostburg MD 21532(Allegany and Garrett counties); Big Run State Park, 10368 Savage River Road, Swanton MD 21561 (Garrett County)
• Point Lookout State Park Complex, 11175 Point Lookout Road, Scotland MD 20687 (St. Mary’s County) ** includes Greenwell State Park, 25420 Rosedale Manor Lane, Hollywood MD 20636 (St. Mary’s County); Newtowne Neck State Park, 20600 Newtowne Neck Road, Leonardtown MD 20650 (St. Mary’s County); St. Mary’s River State Park,21250 Camp Cosoma Road, Leonardtown MD 20650 (St. Mary’s County)
• Tuckahoe State Park Complex, 13070 Crouse Mill Road, Queen Anne MD 21657 (Queen Anne’s County) ** includes Martinak State Park, 137Deep Shore Road, Denton MD (Caroline County), Wye Island NRMA, 632Wye Island Road, Queenstown MD 21658 (Queen Anne’s County),Sassafras NRMA, 13761 Turners Creek Road, Kennedyville MD 21654(Kent County), and Cypress Branch State Park, 10803 Galena Road, Millington MD 21651 (Kent County)
• Pocomoke River State Park, 3461 Worcester Highway, Snow Hill, MD 21863 (Worcester County)
Main Purpose of Job
A State Park Ranger Lead is the lead level of work in the operation of a State park. Employees 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 assign, review, and approve the work of and train lower-level Park Services Associates. Employees in this classification do not supervise, but may lead temporary employees and other park service employees. Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a designated park supervisor. Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays and 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 lifting objects weighing twenty-five pounds or more and traveling throughout the State. Employees may be required to wear protective clothing and equipment, carry specialized tools, walk over uneven and rocky surfaces and bend or stoop in confined spaces. The State Park Ranger Lead is differentiated from the State Park Ranger II in that the State Park Ranger Lead assigns, reviews, and approves the work of and trains lower-level State Park Rangers, and the State Park Ranger Lead performs the full range of duties under general supervision. The State Park Ranger Lead is differentiated from the Park Services Associate Supervisor in that the Park Services Associate Supervisor has full supervisory responsibility for State Park Rangers.
POSITION DUTIES
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Park Service, is currently accepting applications for State Park Ranger Lead positions, that serve as the Lead Ranger for an operational area of a State Park and will perform front-line operational duties of day use areas and facilities, which entails administrative duties and providing information and educating the public on resource management, visitor compliance with DNR and park regulations and policies, and monitoring visitor impact to ensure protection of resources, grounds and park facilities. In addition, the selected candidates will provide assistance to visitors in support of the management of natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources. The candidates will be responsible for directing full-time personnel, and hiring, scheduling and leading the efforts of seasonal employees and volunteers. Weekend and holiday work will be required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: Seven years of experience, three years of experience in forest or park management, recreation, or natural resources management, or preparing, developing or delivering programs that interpret natural, historical, cultural or recreational features and an additional four years of experience in park management, recreation or a natural or cultural 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, history or a natural resources or history related field and three years of experience in forest or park management, recreation, or natural resources management, or preparing, developing or delivering programs that interpret natural, historical, cultural or recreational features for the required experience.
2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the field of     park management, recreation, education, business administration, forestry, social sciences, history or a natural resources related field for five years of the required experience.
3. 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.
DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Three years of professional field-level experience working in a park setting
• Two years of professional experience in training and leading a team in the performance of their duties
• Experiencing in leading and organizing volunteers
• Excellent communications skills (verbal and written)
• Experience in developing and presenting natural resource and/or cultural and historic programs
• Experience performing grounds, building and infrastructure upkeep
• Experience working with community and government agency partners to provide public safety, resource protection and coordination
• Certifications and/or training pertaining to park operations: Emergency Medical Responder or First Aid or CPR; Search and Rescue; Natural, cultural or historic programming, presentations, Scales and Tales, or interpretive training; Personnel Leadership Training
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Employees in this classification may be assigned duties that require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a phone number where they can be reached.
SELECTION PROCESS
Please make sure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not accept information submitted after this date. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be considered for this position. Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Report all education and experience related to the essential functions and qualifications of this position.
For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire.
EXAMINATION PROCESS
Your application is part of the examination process. The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of this position. The rating will be based on the information provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you provide all the experience and education related to this position completely and accurately.
BENEFITS
STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
The online application is strongly preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to: Department of Natural Resources, Human Resources, 580 Taylor Avenue, C-3 Annapolis, MD 21401. The Human Resources Unit is not responsible for applications sent to any other address.
Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the application.
If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management at Application.Help@maryland.gov ; ATTN: Recruitment and Examination Division. Please note, standard business hours for the help desk are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Inquiries made after hours will be reviewed no earlier than the following business day.
If you need to make adjustments to a submitted application or if you have general inquiries regarding this recruitment, please contact Emilee Knott at Emilee.Knott@maryland.gov.
Supplemental materials and/or edits to your application will not be accepted once the announcement deadline has passed. Candidates will only be able to submit an application once, so it is extremely important that you are following the application instructions.
Please provide ample time to complete the application template. If you are having technical difficulties submitting an application on the day of the deadline, it is strongly advised that you complete the JobAps physical application template and hand deliver to DNR - HRS at 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 before 4:30 p.m. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources cannot guarantee that late submissions, as a result of technical difficulties, will be accepted.
TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay
Candidates with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.