Company Description
This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A. Learn more about the City’s hiring process here: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/
Application Opening: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Application Deadline: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through Tuesday, September 8, 2026 and will close any time thereafter.
Contact: For questions about this position or how to apply, please contact Dorothy Young at [email protected].
Amid a dynamic and ever-evolving urban landscape, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department stewards one of the premier urban park systems in America. In 2017, San Francisco became the first city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city Learn More. Considered by San Franciscans to be one of the City’s most popular and effective public agencies, our Department currently manages more than 230 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages. Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced.
More than 2,000 talented individuals are part of our team, from gardeners, foresters, and recreation leaders to park rangers, custodians, electricians, painters and more. Our core mission, as it has been throughout our history, is to provide opportunities for San Francisco residents and visitors alike to gather, play, learn, relax, and enjoy nature in the city.
Job Description
Under the direction of the Superintendent of Parks and Open Space, the Natural Resources Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's Natural Resources Division. The essential responsibilities for this position include:
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Manages the conservation and restoration of San Francisco's remnant natural areas (e.g., Twin Peaks, Lake Merced, Glen Canyon) to preserve and promote biodiversity, restore native flora and fauna, promote soil and water conservation, and improve resiliency to climate change in accordance with the department's Natural Resources Management Plan;
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Implements the department's Natural Resources Management Plan to guide management actions related to natural resource protection, habitat restoration, trail and access improvements, capital projects and maintenance;
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Oversees the activities of Natural Resources Division staff (e.g., Chief Natural Resource Specialist, Natural Resource Specialist, Integrated Pest Management Specialist, Environmental Review Planner, Park Section Supervisor, Gardener) engaged in the conservation of natural ecosystems necessary to preserve, restore and enhance San Francisco's remnant natural areas;
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Oversees the department's Integrated Pest Management program to control pests throughout RPD's parks and facilities in accordance with San Francisco Department of Environment guidance and City's 1PM ordinance using a least-toxic decision-making model;
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Monitors expenditures for materials, equipment, supplies, labor, etc. to ensure spending is in accordance with the Natural Resources Division's approved annual budget;
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Enforces health and safety laws, rules, regulations (e.g., Cal/OSHA, City ordinances) necessary to ensure the safety of Natural Resources Division staff and public;
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Provides policy and technical guidance to groups (e.g., Executive Leadership) to ensure department actions are in accordance with the department's Natural Resources Management Plan and relevant laws and regulations (e.g., California Environmental Quality Act);
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Ensures the Natural Resources Division is free of discrimination and harassment to produce a hostile-free workplace using various resources (e.g., City/departmental policies, trainings);
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Communicates effectively orally and in writing with other department personnel, City agencies, community organizations, and regulatory agencies to achieve conservation and restoration goals;
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Coordinates resource management efforts with other department personnel, City agencies, community organizations, and regulatory agencies to achieve conservation and restoration goals;
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Drives a department vehicle to/from Natural Resource Division headquarters necessary to accomplish day-today responsibilities; and
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Serves as the department's expert on Natural Resource related issues.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
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Possession of baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Biological Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Earth Science or related field; AND
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Five (5) years of professional experience in the conservation and management of natural ecosystems, native plant communities and wildlife habitat.
Substitution: Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-to-year basis. One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester units/forty-five (45) quarter units.
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
Desirable Qualifications:
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Experience with contracting out projects, including providing input to the bid process and overseeing contractors to complete projects in natural areas (i.e. large tree removals, trail building);
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Experience making presentations to community members, commissions, or elected officials regarding projects, policies, or integrated pest management;
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Experience planning and leading large groups of volunteers alongside staff;
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Experience educating and advising City agencies, commissions, and community groups regarding the importance and impact of preserving natural areas;
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Knowledge of IPM’s effect on endangered species and habitats;
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Familiarity with Federal, State and Local Policies that affect natural habitats.
Verification of Education and Experience:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/
Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Additional Information:
Supervisory Test Battery (Weight: 40%): Candidates will be invited to participate in a computer-based examination designed to measure competencies in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to: Problem Solving; Leadership; Decision Making; Interpersonal skill; Human Resources Management; Team Building; Communication; Conflict Management and Process Improvement. For more information about this Supervisory Test (and a suggested reading list) please visit Supervisory Test Battery (STB). Please note: this examination is only held in San Francisco. A passing score must be achieved on the Supervisory Test Battery to continue in the selection process.
This is a standardized examination and, therefore, test questions and answers are not available for public inspection or review. Scores attained on the Supervisory Test Battery will be valid and 'banked' for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, you will not be required to take the Supervisory Test Battery. The Supervisory Test Battery may be used for many other classes; therefore, your test score may be applied to one or more of these classes if you choose to apply to future recruitments. If the selection process for the future announcement is held within one year of the date of this examination and it includes the Supervisory Test Battery, your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, you have the option to either (a) apply your test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the Supervisory Test Battery.
Retesting is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the examination and only in association with your eligibility for another announcement for which the Supervisory Test Battery is used. Please note that, should you retest, your re-test score would become your official score since it is the most recent.
Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (Weight: 60%): Candidates who receive a passing score on the Supervisory Test Battery (STB) will be provided via email, a Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (BCQ). Candidates will be evaluated on their relative knowledge, skill and ability levels in job-related areas. Candidates must achieve a passing score on the BCQ in order to be placed on the confidential eligible list in rank order according to their final score.
A passing score must be achieved on each of the above described exams in order to be included on the confidential eligible list. After the confidential eligible list is adopted the department may administer additional selection procedures to make a final hiring decision.
Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.
Eligible List Duration:
The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.
To find Departments which use this classification, please see the city’s Position Counts by Job Codes and Departments.
Certification Rule: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.
Exam Type: Combined Promotive and Entrance
Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.
The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.
Additional Information
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
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Information About the Hiring Process
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Conviction History
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Employee Benefits Overview
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Equal Employment Opportunity
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Disaster Service Worker
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ADA Accommodation
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Veterans Preference
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Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
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Right to Work
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Copies of Application Documents
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Diversity Statement
Where to Apply:
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.
Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.
Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
If you have any questions, you may contact Dorothy Young at [email protected]. Recruitment ID: 160012
Race and Social Equity Statement
We believe that parks and open space in San Francisco provides the opportunity to model equitable access for all. With this belief, San Francisco became the first city in the United States for which 100% of its residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park. The Recreation and Park Department’s goal is to close the gaps and improve equity and access to quality parks and open space, and recreation activities for historically marginalized communities.
We envision a department that proactively infuses racial and social equity in its internal operations. With a multi-disciplinary team of talented individuals - gardeners, recreation leaders, park rangers, custodians, craft shop personnel, park and recreation managers and more, the department is committed to doing its part to provide equitable access to parks and programs for all the communities we serve to enjoy, as well as foster a work environment where our differences are celebrated, and everyone has what they need to thrive regardless of their race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or country of origin.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
