Job title: Park Ranger
Department: Park Operations
Reports to: Park Operations/Landscape Manager
FLSA Status: Full Time, Non-Exempt
Salary Grade: Grade 1
Salary: $15–19/hr (commensurate with education and experience)
About Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (SFPC) is the nonprofit that manages and cares for Shelby Farms Park and Shelby Farms Greenline in Memphis, TN. SFPC is responsible for daily management, fundraising to meet operational budget needs, setting the vision for the Parks future, and stewarding its natural resources. SFPC team members are committed to our vision of creating a celebrated 21st-century park that defines and shapes a great city and that provides inclusive, equitable, and free access for every resident of the Memphis area.
About Shelby Farms Park
At 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. It features miles of trails, lakes and ponds, a buffalo herd, the Woodland Discovery Playground, the FedEx Event Center, a treetop adventure course, a sprayground, and an outdoor stage. It is a treasured asset for Memphis, offering inclusive and free access to all.
Position Summary
The Park Ranger is responsible for keeping Shelby Farms Park clean, green and safe to ensure an excellent visitor experience every day. The Ranger is a steward of the landscapes, natural resources and wildlife in our care and is focused on creating a healthy, thriving park for people and wildlife.
Key Responsibilities
- Inspects, maintains and improves grounds, facilities, structures, and site amenities.
- Provides life safety and emergency assistance to visitors; supports law enforcement, fire, and EMS.
- Actively engages with visitors to provide excellent hospitality and visitor experience; shares mission, park history, news and information with visitors.
- Performs inspections and preventative maintenance on all systems, grounds and facilities.
- Promotes wildlife preservation and environmental stewardship through the monitoring of wildlife conditions, assistance with injured animal response efforts, and the safe, humane, and regulatory-compliant removal and disposal of deceased animals.
- Collaborates with team to support facility rentals, events and programs.
- Manages litter, debris and recyclable materials daily to ensure a clean park.
- Opens and closes park entry gates and public buildings daily.
- Communicates and enforces park rules.
Skills and Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited high school or GED.
- Proven relevant work experience in outdoors, recreational, grounds, maintenance, wildlife, or natural resource management.
- Experience operating chainsaws safely and effectively for tree maintenance, debris removal, and vegetation control activities.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple projects through a work order system.
- Strong verbal communication skills that balance professionalism, diplomacy and compassion both internally and externally.
- Ability to provide and follow oral and written instructions clearly and effectively.
- Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
- Ability to perform routine maintenance on all park equipment and features.
- Ability to perform strenuous physical labor in an outdoor setting, including in inclement weather.
- Must be able to bend, stoop, reach and work at a constant pace; lift and carry 50 pounds; carry, climb and work on a ladder.
- Can safely operate park vehicles and equipment.
- Must possess a valid State of Tennessee driver’s license.
- Fluency in Spanish preferred.
Personal Qualities
- Demonstrates values of collaboration, accountability, authenticity, trust and learning.
- Commitment to the consistent production of high quality, detailed work.
- Organizes, plans, and schedules in an efficient, productive manner.
- Manages stress in a fast-paced, changing organization.
- Collaborative spirit; works well with team members and volunteers of different races, backgrounds and experiences; willingly does whatever needs to be done.
- Elicits confidence and builds rapport.
- Enthusiastic, dependable, self-motivated, and self-aware.
