Position Title:

Watershed Ranger

Job Description:

Under direct supervision of the Watershed Supervisor, incumbent maintains, protects and preserves the Salt Lake City Watershed and related lands and City facilities in and above the foothills. Directly responsible for preserving and stewarding water quality before it enters the water treatment plants, the Watershed Ranger performs patrol, land management, maintenance, education, code enforcement, HAZMAT response and other duties as needed. Interacts with and educates the public, watershed residents and visitors, agencies, ski resorts, and other watershed stakeholders concerning watershed protection and preservation. Enforces, or assists in the enforcement of, watershed ordinances, rules and regulations. This is a uniformed position.

Position Salary Range:

$22.72 – $29.90

This position is eligible for full city benefits, including:

• Health Insurance (95% of premium paid by city)

• Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

• Paid vacation and personal leave

• Six weeks of paid parental leave from day 1 of employment

• Retirement contributions toward a pension plan and/or 401(k)

• A robust Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

• Up to $4,000 tuition reimbursement annually

• Discounted supplemental benefits like pet insurance and legal services

Key Responsibilities:

• Patrol - Maintains year-round watershed patrols in recreation, residential and construction zones, as well as backcountry areas, by whatever means available: foot, motor vehicles, mountain bikes, skis, snowshoes, boats, etc. Responsible for the enforcement of Watershed regulations. Must be able to use, and direct and supervise persons in, the appropriate methods to correct problems, repair damages, or mitigate hazards. Locates and corrects actual and potential hazards. Informs and educates users and user groups on the importance of watershed protection. Works directly with the appropriate law enforcement agencies to ensure enforcement, prosecution or forceful intervention when needed.

• Land Management – Under direction of the Watershed Supervisor, leads and/or participates in land management projects. This includes, but is not limited to, noxious weed mitigation and mapping, fire fuel reduction programs, trail building and maintenance, campground and recreation area management and associated tasks. Must have working knowledge of use of tools such as chainsaws, Pulaski, axes, etc.

• Education - Performs and leads completion of tasks related to the City’s Watershed educational programs, as directed by the Watershed Supervisor. Responsible for educational outreach on watershed policies. Delivers classroom and field-based watershed education programs. Helps develop and coordinate educational materials including displays, signage and brochures with other agencies.

• Maintenance – Performs regular watershed stewardship activities. Cleans and maintains watershed toilet facilities to City standards on a regular basis. Maintains watershed lands and recreation facilities. Performs semi-skilled maintenance work such as painting, carpentry, system maintenance, building repairs, roofing, and electrical maintenance, plowing, etc., using appropriate hand tools and machinery. May work with skilled maintenance workers as an assistant or apprentice level trainee.

• Code Enforcement - Monitors residential, commercial and ski resort construction within the watershed. Works closely with building permitting departments and other agencies to ensure construction compliance with watershed ordinance and regulations, including meeting minimum setback requirements and erosion control measures, and any other appropriate mitigation. Collects samples and evaluates data when appropriate.

• Fire Response - Responsible for the notification of authorities of any fire threatening the watershed. May on occasion be asked to put out small fires when they are identified during the course of routine monitoring and are easily contained with minimal equipment and risk Assists in the Utility response to wildfires impacting the watershed. Coordinates with local fire department and forest service on major firefighting efforts and restoration projects. Advises campers, canyon residents and others on fire prevention measures.

• HAZMAT- Responds to hazardous spills, initiates containment, and notifies appropriate agencies for cleanup. Maintains first response materials on vehicles. Notifies downstream users, including the water treatment plant, of the hazard to assist in decisions on facility operations. Files appropriate reports, and maintain records of the incident, along with any information on the cause, for appropriate cost reimbursement.

• Develops teams using seasonal employees and organizes and monitors volunteer groups to maintain watershed lands and facilities. May assist in the hiring, scheduling and management of seasonal employees and contributes to their performance appraisal.

• Collects and reports data from monitoring stations, including but not limited to weather, stream flow, snow fall, and trail usage. Inspects dams and reservoirs. Maintains records of observations and readings.

• Attends meetings with the other entities involved in the watershed. This includes governmental agencies as well as public and community groups. Makes presentations, answers questions and addresses concerns.

• Performs other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two (2) years post-high school study in one or more of the following fields: forestry, land or watershed management, field hydrology, water treatment or related fields; plus, two (2) years’ work experience in the same aforementioned fields. Experience and education may be substituted one for the other on a year-to-year basis. Military and law enforcement experience may also be considered on a yearly basis.

• Knowledge of basic watershed ordinances and regulations protecting the watershed.

• Familiarity with HAZMAT regulations (40-hour HAZMAT training preferable); ability to respond to emergencies.

• Strong background in environmental education and related principles.

• Ability to make minor repairs and perform routine maintenance with little supervision; operate chain saws, hand and power tools, and sanitary equipment in a safe manner, and occasionally perform physically demanding work, including backcountry travel on foot carrying equipment.

• Proven effectiveness in dealing with the general public and other governmental agencies. Ability to relate well with fellow employees, other department representatives and the general public.

• Ability to use and operate a personal computer with applicable software, including Microsoft Office products.

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

• Must pass and maintain Utah Department of Agriculture herbicide applicators license, Utah Registered Stormwater Inspector certification. New hires are required to complete and pass these tests in addition to a functional capacity test prior to the end of their initial employment probationary period.

• Ability to patrol the watershed and engage the public without assistance.

• Possession of a valid state driver’s license or Utah driving privilege card.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred BS in forestry, geography, environmental studies, ecology, land or watershed management, field hydrology, water treatment or related field.

• Ability to speak and write in Spanish.

• Ability to ski and/or snowboard at blue level or above.

• Winter snow safety/avalanche training.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Heavy physical activity. Required to push, pull or lift medium to heavy weights, and to stand, sit or walk uncomfortably for extended periods.

• Must be able to carry medium to heavy weight and load for extended periods of time in uneven terrain on foot.

• Exposure to extreme heat, cold, dampness, noise, odors, dust, grease, elevation extremes and health and occupational hazards as may be expected when working in mountainous areas throughout the year. Some exposure to fire and hazardous materials. Considerable trail and driving hazards, especially in the winter. Requires physical ability to access watershed areas by whatever means available including by foot, motor vehicles, skis, snowshoes, boats, etc.

• Exposure to stress because of human behavior.

• Subject to standby and call back situations and must respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

• Position requires regular evening, weekend, and holiday shifts.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified.

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

POSITION TYPE

Full-Time

POSITION SALARY RANGE

$22.72 – $29.90

DEPARTMENT

Public Utilities

Full Time/Part Time:

Full time

Scheduled Hours:

40

Need help applying? Please call our Recruitment team at 801-535-6699 or email careers@slc.gov .

BENEFITSFull-Time roles with Salt Lake City Corp are eligible for a generous, robust benefits package including:

• Health Insurance (95% of premium paid by city)

• HSA or Flex Account (HSA – City contributes $1,000 - $2,000 annually into account, no match required)

• Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

• City-paid retirement contributions toward a pension plan and/or 401(k)

• A robust Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

• Up to $4,000 tuition reimbursement annually

• Discounted supplemental benefits like pet insurance and legal services

• Wellness clinic for employees and their families

Paid Time Off

• 12 vacation days to start

• 12 paid holidays & 1 personal holiday

• Up to 80 hours of personal leave annually

• 6 weeks of paid parental leave to all new parents

• Additional time off credit possible for rehires or new hires coming from another public jurisdiction

VETERAN EMPLOYER:

Salt Lake City is proud to be a partner of the Utah Patriot Program, providing employment opportunities for Veterans, Military and spouses. We are also a proud National Service Partner.

ABOUT SALT LAKE CITY CORP

Our Salt Lake City family serves a population of over 200,000. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the City is committed to providing resources, access, and opportunity to all and continue to recruit and retain talented people from all backgrounds. Our employees make a real difference with the work they do every day and are actively shaping our beautiful City's future.

We aspire to shape a better community and workplace, and as such, we are committed to pay equity. We are proud to have achieved gender pay equity as a leader in the Utah community by creating a workplace where there is equal opportunity for all.

The City is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Salt Lake City will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at 801-535-7900.