POSITION TITLE: Natural Areas Trails Ranger (Hourly) (Hourly)
REQUISITION #: req8176
DEPARTMENT: Natural Areas
LOCATION: NIX SITE OFFICE BLDG
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Variable Hourly View Classifications & Benefits
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Part-Time Hourly - 6 months in length.
HOURLY RATE: $28.00 - 32.00 per hour (based on relevant experience)
SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 3: 00 p.m. MT on 8/3/2025.

To be eligible for this position, an applicant must have previously completed a comprehensive background investigation with Fort Collins Police Services for a Natural Area Trail Ranger position and been employed as a Special Commissioned officer with Fort Collins Natural Areas Department within the previous 13 months.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check, Motor Vehicle Report, and drug test required within four calendar days (96 hours) of offer.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

- Potential for paid personal leave and paid holidays

- Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, and financial assistance

- Wellness program, workout facilities

- Personal & professional learning opportunities plus potential for career mobility

- Collaborative work environment

Job Summary,

The City of Fort Collins is on watch for a part-time Natural Areas Trail Ranger who will patrol and assist visitors in some of our 52 conserved habitats like prairies, foothills, waterways, and forests. These properties are a treasure to the community. The Natural Areas Trail Ranger provides visitor and staff safety, assistance, and education as well as managing volunteer workers and the BARK (owner and dog volunteer) program.

Under the direction of a supervisory Natural Areas Ranger, this position requires effective communication skills related to conflict resolution and deescalating situations in a professional manner. Situations can engage a variety of people with diverse backgrounds which might include mental health and homeless community members. Subsequently, having former law enforcement, ranger, or military experience is beneficial. The position is temporary. The employee is expected to work 16-20 hours per week and may occasionally work additional hours for holidays with advance notification. Normal working hours will be determined based upon need for staffing, generally 7: 30 am - 5: 30 pm., two days per week.

This is an hourly position that does not provide sick leave, insurance or retirement benefits.

** This position requires a sanctioned Special Commission from the Fort Collins Police Department and employment as a Natural Areas Ranger within the previous 12 months from the position's posting date.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Patrols natural areas and trails to monitor visitor use and ensure natural resource protection.
• Enforces City municipal code within natural areas, city trails, and other City properties. Issues to violators, warnings, citations or summons.
• Implement prevention strategies in natural areas, trails, and city property.
• Responds to and mitigates multi-use conflicts and uses conflict resolution techniques as needed.
• Coordinates law enforcement activities with other agencies (Larimer County Sheriff, CSU Police) as appropriate.
• Knowledge of ecological ecosystems and human influences.
• Educates visitors on uses, safety, ecological values of natural areas, human impact on wildlife and plant life, etc.
• Conducts visitors use surveys, monitors trail conditions and conducts other surveys, etc.
• Monitors natural areas for wildlife activity and ecological changes, which may lead to changes in management of sites.
• Maintains records of illegal activities and produces incident reports and other general reports as required.
• Is required to testify in court in support of citations issued as necessary.
• May assist in investigation of crimes in natural areas and along the trails at the request of local police.
• Has situational recognition of conditions requiring the assistance of an armed law enforcement officer.
• May participate in management planning, policy implementation or coordination of other departmental maintenance projects.
• Ability to participate in prescribed burning and wildfire control as necessary with optional certification.
• Ability to respond to reports of injured visitors and provide medical assistance as needed.
• May speak to various citizen groups explaining the function of the ranger program and how protection of visitors and natural features are accomplished in natural areas.

Management Responsibilities

No

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, both individual and for teamwork.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated commitment to natural area/open space/public lands conservation and management.
• Knowledge and understanding of natural resource management practices and techniques.
• Ability to become knowledgeable of applicable municipal code.
• Skills in public relations and communications.
• Ability to operate specialized communication systems.
• Ability to become knowledgeable and work effectively with Fort Collins and Larimer County law enforcement and emergency services protocols and procedures.
• Prior medical training desirable (CPR, First Aid, First Responder, EMT) desired
• Ability to become certified as a (medical) First Responder or similar certification.
• Knowledge of Search and Rescue Techniques desired.
• Knowledge of visitor impact management assessment tools
• Ability to handle stressful & emergency situations.
• Strong skills with computers, ipads and other technology.
• Knowledge of natural ecosystems and human influences.
• Ability to become knowledgeable of regional, county and state fire, health and safety and animal welfare codes pertinent to natural areas and trails.

Required Qualifications

Minimum

High School Diploma or GED and or functionally related licenses or certificates

Preferred

College degree or equivalent work experience. Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources Management, Parks and Recreation Management, Wildlife Biology or related field.

Experience Requirements

• 3-6 months related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses/Specialized Training

• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license. Must have and maintain acceptable background information including criminal conviction history, motor vehicle record, wildlife poaching or other natural resource violations, and credit history. Must successfully pass Fort Collins Police Services Pre-Employment Interview/Truth Verification Testing. Must successfully complete Police Service Officer Skills Academy Certification within 6 months of hire including defensive tactics component. Must successfully complete Ranger Skills Academy within 6 months of hire. Must successfully complete medical first responder training such as Emergency Medical Responder, Wilderness First Responder or similar training with first 12 months after hire.

HIRING PROCESS INFORMATION

For those applicants who meet the minimum hiring standards and qualifications, the subsequent hiring process will include the steps listed below, with each candidate being invited to participate in each successive step only if they successfully pass the previous steps. Note, these steps may not be administered in this specific order.

Manager's initial interview - This interview may be held virtually for out-of-area applicants.
A limited criminal background investigation and brief integrity interview
Conditional Job Offer - An offer of employment, contingent upon passing certain physical and psychological assessments, in order to be favorably considered for a final job offer.
Final Job Offer - For those who satisfy the assessments detailed in the Conditional Offer.
Although subject to change, the potential start date is August 18, 2025.

COMMUNICATION:
Communication for this process will be conducted primarily by email unless time constraints dictate otherwise in which case contact will be made by phone or text message. Therefore, we must have your current email address and cell phone number. Please ensure you check your email messages (and spam folders) regularly.
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

POST OFFER BACKGROUND CHECK, MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT, AND DRUG TEST REQUIRED WITHIN FOUR CALENDAR DAYS/96 HOURS OF OFFER.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.Job Summary,

The City of Fort Collins is on watch for a part-time Natural Areas Trail Ranger who will patrol and assist visitors in some of our 52 conserved habitats like prairies, foothills, waterways, and forests. These properties are a treasure to the community. The Natural Areas Trail Ranger provides visitor and staff safety, assistance, and education as well as managing volunteer workers and the BARK (owner and dog volunteer) program.

Under the direction of a supervisory Natural Areas Ranger, this position requires effective communication skills related to conflict resolution and deescalating situations in a professional manner. Situations can engage a variety of people with diverse backgrounds which might include mental health and homeless community members. Subsequently, having former law enforcement, ranger, or military experience is beneficial. The position is temporary. The employee is expected to work 16-20 hours per week and may occasionally work additional hours for holidays with advance notification. Normal working hours will be determined based upon need for staffing, generally 7: 30 am - 5: 30 pm., two days per week.

This is an hourly position that does not provide sick leave, insurance or retirement benefits.

** This position requires a sanctioned Special Commission from the Fort Collins Police Department and employment as a Natural Areas Ranger within the previous 12 months from the position's posting date.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
Patrols natural areas and trails to monitor visitor use and ensure natural resource protection.Enforces City municipal code within natural areas, city trails, and other City properties. Issues to violators, warnings, citations or summons.Implement prevention strategies in natural areas, trails, and city property.Responds to and mitigates multi-use conflicts and uses conflict resolution techniques as needed.Coordinates law enforcement activities with other agencies (Larimer County Sheriff, CSU Police) as appropriate.Knowledge of ecological ecosystems and human influences.Educates visitors on uses, safety, ecological values of natural areas, human impact on wildlife and plant life, etc.Conducts visitors use surveys, monitors trail conditions and conducts other surveys, etc.Monitors natural areas for wildlife activity and ecological changes, which may lead to changes in management of sites.Maintains records of illegal activities and produces incident reports and other general reports as required.Is required to testify in court in support of citations issued as necessary.May assist in investigation of crimes in natural areas and along the trails at the request of local police.Has situational recognition of conditions requiring the assistance of an armed law enforcement officer.May participate in management planning, policy implementation or coordination of other departmental maintenance projects.Ability to participate in prescribed burning and wildfire control as necessary with optional certification.Ability to respond to reports of injured visitors and provide medical assistance as needed.May speak to various citizen groups explaining the function of the ranger program and how protection of visitors and natural features are accomplished in natural areas.
Management Responsibilities

No