Park Ranger - Variable Hour Benefit Eligible

JOB LOCATION

5800 S Powhaton Rd Aurora, Colorado 80016-4284

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
 
Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Reservoir Ranger role provides critical public safety and natural resource management within the City of Aurora’s Open Space and Forestry Division. This position serves as a primary point of contact for the community while ensuring the protection of local ecosystems and city assets. Daily responsibilities include patrolling facilities, conducting boat inspections for aquatic nuisance species, and responding to emergency rescue operations. Ideal candidates possess a background in customer service or natural resources and feel comfortable enforcing city regulations through education and professional communication. Team members manage financial transactions and perform routine maintenance to keep our parks safe and accessible for all visitors. The role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to maintain calm during stressful situations. This is an essential opportunity for individuals dedicated to environmental stewardship and public service. Join our team to help preserve the beauty and safety of Aurora’s recreational reservoirs.

You’ll be working both indoors and outdoors, dealing with varying weather conditions and all types of terrain. This role requires you to enforce rules governing parks and reservoirs, while maintaining a strong focus on customer service.

If this sounds like the perfect place to put your knowledge of ecological principles and law enforcement practices to work, let's talk. We need someone ready to jump in.

The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, March 29, 2026. Please note that the City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first-come, first-served basis; as soon as we determine that we have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice. 

The hiring rate for this role is $20.00/hour.

This is classified as VHBE (Variable Hour Benefit Eligible), where the selected candidate will work up to 40 hours per week.  The selected candidate will be eligible to elect Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits as well as accrue paid time off and receive 11 paid holidays.

Provides public safety, natural resource management, and community outreach primarily at sites and facilities assigned to the Open Space and Natural Resources Division of the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Department. 

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides for operations including public safety, natural resource protection, and community outreach at sites and facilities assigned to the Open Space and Natural Resources Division.
• Enforces City adopted rules and regulations, investigates violations, issues summons, and appears in court.
• Patrols and provides for the security of City assets.
• Supports and or manages PROS community outreach programs including special events, volunteer service, and interpretive programs.
• Prepares for, responds to, and coordinates emergency response and rescue operations.
• Provides customer service and communicates effectively with members of the public and City personnel.
• Adheres to policies and procedures.
• Completes required financial transactions and record keeping.
• Resolves complex problems and conflicts.
• Produces reports, manages files and records.
• Performs routine maintenance operations.
• Assists with the hiring and supervision of contingent employees and volunteers.
• Responsible for maintaining current knowledge of relevant topics and legislative issues.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Education: 

• Bachelor's Degree in natural resources, natural environment, ecology, criminal justice, or a directly related field.

Experience: 

• At least one year of experience enforcing rules and regulations related to parks, open space, reservoirs, and other natural resources including experience providing significant support and or management for successful community outreach programs.   
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.

Licenses and Certifications Required: 

• Colorado Driver’s License with good driving history.
• Red Cross first aid & CPR, EMT, first responder, OC, special event management, volunteer management, certified interpretive guide, emergency water safety, ice rescue, wild land fire, and defensive driving preferred. 
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• None

Knowledge: 

• Knowledge of ecological principles and practices related to natural resources and stewardship of ecosystems: principles and practices of law enforcement related to parks, open space, reservoirs, and other natural resources: of effective and efficient community outreach programs such as special events, volunteer, and or interpretive program development and management.

Abilities: 

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and citizens.
• Handle sensitive or stressful situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Communicate effectively both orally, graphically, and in writing.
• Analyze problems to provide best options and assistance.
• Establish and fulfill goals and objectives.
• Make effective presentations. 

Skills: 

• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills, use of personal computers and related software that includes word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications.
• Operate a variety of equipment and vehicles including trucks, boats, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, etc.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Essential Personnel:

When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.

Physical Demands: 

• Heavy physical work requiring ability to lift a maximum of 100 pounds with or without assistance to handle emergency rescue operations.
• Frequent lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds with or without assistance.
• Considerable walking and standing in all types of terrain.
• Frequent performance of activities requiring full range of body movement including bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, climbing, and crawling.
• Ability to swim.
• Considerable hand/eye coordination to operate hand/power tools, power boats, and computer.
• Foot/eye coordination for operating boats, equipment, and vehicles.
• Vision to read reports, documents, manuals, and other written material.
• Speech communications and hearing to communicate with employees and citizens.

Work Environment: 

• Works both indoors and outdoors with exposure to varying weather conditions, noise, fumes, chemicals, and dust.

Equipment Used: 

Operates motor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, power boats, personal computers, and various maintenance equipment.

The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference:  Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.
           
The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer.  We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants.  It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
                                         
Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace.  A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.
 

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. 

Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.  

Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.