Who We Are
With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.
We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.
The mission of Denver Park Rangers is to maximize public safety, protect park resources and provide service to visitors. Park Rangers patrol mountain and urban parks daily by foot, bicycle and vehicle, assisting local law enforcement and fire department in the event of an emergency or hazardous situation.
What We Offer
The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The starting range for this position is $26.00/Hour. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:
A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
457B Retirement Plan
140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year
Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date
If the incumbent meets requirements per CSA rules, Park Rangers may be able to earn a shift differential in pay for working during night hours or evening hours at 12% of current hourly pay rate and 7% of current hourly pay rate, respectively.
Location
In this position you would be required to work weekends, nights, and holidays, and the hours in this position may vary. A flexible 4 (10) shift work week is available as well as a 5 (8) shift work week. District assignments are still to be determined.
What You’ll Do
These positions will lead the work of on-calls, volunteers, and contractors and connect park visitors experiencing homelessness to emergency and long-term services. These are full-time, benefitted opportunities to work within one of the largest and most diverse park systems in the region consisting of both urban and mountain parks. The districts for the 3 positions being filled are yet to be determined.
Specifically, as an FTE Park Ranger you will:
Patrol urban parks through motorized and non-motorized means to protect public safety and park resources; perform visual surveillance and assessment of the use of park facilities to ensure compliance.
Interpret rules and regulations relative to the facility/park and its condition and interpret information about the park system and natural resources; assure public safety, park security and resource protection by providing education to park visitors to encourage the proper use and enjoyment of urban parks.
Ensure permit compliance and manage conflicts between visitors; issue warnings and citations for violations of municipal park ordinances; may need to appear in court if required.
Ensure permit compliance and manage conflicts between visitors; issue warnings and citations for violations of municipal park ordinances; may need to appear in court if required.
Report hazardous conditions which might interfere with safe usage of facility/park, report accidents to proper authorities and respond appropriately to coordinate and assist with medical emergencies and other incidents.
Provide information to the public about facility and assistance to the public about park resources; assist facility users in resolving problems and complaints concerning facility/park quality, availability, and the actions of other users.
Interact with the public to increase awareness of parks rules and regulations and act as a community advocate; communicate with diverse and multi-lingual community members, represent the department at various public events.
What You’ll Bring
Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:
A bachelor's degree or higher in Parks and Recreation, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Management, Criminal Justice or a directly related field
Professional experience in various Park Ranger related duties; experience with lead work or supervision, and park regulation compliance preferred
Possession of current: CPR/First Aid Certification, Wilderness First Aid Certification, Wilderness First Responder Certification, Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG), or Certificate of Park Ranger Technology from an Accredited College
Bilingual skills (Spanish is preferred)
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and/or GPS units (to track/document field work)
Required Minimum Qualifications
Education: Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET, or TASC Certificate
Experience: One (1) year or two seasons of park experience in public relations, natural science, open-space, or regulation compliance experience
Equivalency: Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirement
License/Certifications: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Must possess a valid Denver Parks and Recreation Enforcement Official Certification by the end of the Ranger Training Program. Possession of CPR and First Aid Certifications by the completion of probation. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment
Application Deadline
These positions are expected to stay open until April 30, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than 4/30/26 at 11:59 PM to ensure consideration.
application deadline must be communicated according to updates to the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.
Job Profile
CN2570 Park RangerTo view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.
Position Type
UnlimitedPosition Salary Range
$23.89 - $35.84Target Pay
$26.00/hourAgency
Parks and RecreationRedeployment during Citywide Emergencies
City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor.
The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.
It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.
Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.
For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.