Park Ranger 3 (Central Whidbey Area) Fully Commissioned Law Enforcement

Location: Central Whidbey Area State Parks
Close/Review: July 16th, 2025, at 11:55pm 

This permanent position is full-time year-round. There is dedicated housing available for this position.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is recruiting to fill one (1) full-time Park Ranger 3 position for The Central Whidbey Area State Parks. This position will be based out of Fort Casey Historical State Park. The Central Whidbey State Parks include Joseph Whidbey, Fort Ebey Historical, Ebey’s Landing, Fort Casey Historical, Keystone Spit, South Whidbey and Possession Point State Parks. This is an exciting opportunity to become the Operations Manager for the Central Whidbey Area.

Fort Casey Historical State Park and the Central Whidbey Area – Fort Casey is home to historic military batteries and the 1903 Admiralty Head Lighthouse, with its own interpretive exhibits and gift shop. The area comes alive with military and maritime history. Visitors can soak in the stunning views, fly a kite, fish or hike at this central west side Whidbey Island gem. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy beach exploration, bird watching or a picnic with family and friends. The Central Whidbey Area Parks feature beautiful beaches and bluffs overlooking the Puget Sound, from the Admiralty Inlet to a stunning view of the Mukilteo shoreline. The area has two popular campgrounds, located at Fort Ebey and Fort Casey, and recreational opportunities include exceptional mountain biking and hiking trails at the Kettles at Fort Ebey, as well as great crabbing and fishing.   

Park Housing is available at a subsidized cost. Housing for this position is located at Fort Casey Historical State Park in our 1,400 sq ft, 3-bedroom residence with a beautiful view of the Admiralty inlet and Point Wilson from the living room, and a large, enclosed backyard with a storage shed. While hiking in the park, don’t be surprised to see Stellar sea lions frolicking in the turbulent waters below. Fort Casey State Historical Park sits in the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve and is just 10 minutes away from the historic town of Coupeville, one of Washington’s oldest towns. Coupeville and other local communities including Oak Harbor, Freeland and Clinton offer ample work, school, shopping, recreation and cultural opportunities for your family. Fort Casey is centrally located on Whidbey Island and can offer quick escapes by ferry to the greater Seattle area or Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula.

Park Ranger 3’s lead routine operations within a park or park area and serve as the primary catalyst for implementing the area management plan from a concept or vision into operation. As a Park Ranger 3 you will be coaching, mentoring, supervising and leading your park team while coordinating multiple long-term plans and projects important to the successful operation of the park or area. You will be a part of a collaborative environment where you’ll be empowered to share your creative ideas and support area operations through coordination, planning and execution.

This position is not eligible to telework, as physical in-park/office presence is required to perform essential functions.

Want to join a great organization? The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages one of the largest, most diverse – and most beautiful – parks systems in the country. With more than 120,000 acres, the system includes 124 developed parks, including 19 marine parks, 11 historical parks, 35 heritage sites, 13 interpretive centers and approximately 500 miles of long-distance recreation trails. And the agency is staffed with nearly 1000 employees (summers), who are some of the most passionate employees you’ll find anywhere. We love what we manage and what we do. For more information on Washington State Parks, click here.  

Duties:

Under the direct supervision of the Area Manager (Park Ranger 4), this position serves as the Operations Manager for the Central Whidbey Area. This position further serves as the expert level Law Enforcement Officer for the area and supports administration, supervision, maintenance, and public service within the management area. 

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Perform administrative duties as an Operations Manager for the Park Area, implementing area strategies based on mission and goals as defined by Area Manager.
  • Assess operational needs of park area; raise issues with Area Manager.
  • Develop logistical plan for completion of park projects. Provide area manager with prioritized lists and necessary documentation.
  • Provide oversight for day-to-day operations of park area.
  • Develop staff schedules.
  • Prepare for emergency management. Ensure that all necessary plans are in place and up to date.
  • Develop and manage special projects in collaboration with work groups, weed boards, wildlife departments and other outside entities.
• Perform duties as the lead Law Enforcement Ranger for park area.
  • Maintain expertise of rules and regulations necessary to perform Law Enforcement duties.
  • Schedule appropriate Law Enforcement coverage based on demonstrable park needs.
• Participate in maintenance functions within the park area.
  • Assign, schedule, and complete lower-level maintenance projects for park area, where journey level skills are not required.
  • Ensure all safety requirements are met on job site.
  • Ensure all permitting requirements are met prior to commencement of job.
  • Responsible for the care and upkeep of park tools and equipment.
• Supervise staff and volunteers following all applicable Agency policies and procedures; statewide rules and regulations; and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • Provide oversight and instruction to staff.
  • Ensure staff meet training requirements.
  • Timely complete PDPs on an annual basis.
  • Hold staff accountable for meeting expectations; raise issues of significance with Area Manager.
  • Coordinate with Area Manager on personnel matters when necessary.
  • Supervise and provide oversight for work groups and volunteers.
• Leadership to area staff as defined by Area Manager.
  • Create an environment of collaborative teamwork and respect for all employees. Address concerns in a timely and effective manner.
  • Proactively communicate with staff in a positive and supportive manner.
• Represent Area.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two (2) years of experience as a fully commissioned Washington State Park Ranger.

OR

• Bachelor’s Degree  **Experience in a Natural Resource, Law Enforcement or Recreation field will substitute year for year for education. AND
• Two (2) years of professional experience as a Park Ranger, commissioned Law Enforcement Officer, or equivalent experience in a Natural Resource field. AND
• Having successfully completed a qualifying law enforcement academy (BLEA, POST, PLEA, or SLETP).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Supervisory experience.
• Project planning experience.
• Completion of trail maintenance classes.
• WA State Certified Pesticide Applicator’s License

NOTE: Applicants that are not currently employed as a Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Park Ranger, will first be screened for the required qualifications. It is important that you attach a copy of your qualifying law enforcement academy, and ensure you include this in the education section of the application form. (You must have graduated from a qualifying law enforcement academy and must have worked (2 yrs) as a Commissioned Law Enforcement Officer or Commissioned Park Ranger within the last 24 months.) 

Qualified applicants who are selected to move forward in the process will be emailed the required Personal History Review questionnaire to complete and will be required to submit a complete driving abstract (dated within the last 30 days).

Job Suitability Determination: Successful external applicants will have a history of law-abiding behavior and must pass a background investigation, drug and alcohol screening, medical/psychological/polygraph examination, and a physical ability test. Adverse background data may be grounds for immediate disqualification.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to remain flexible to respond to park emergencies.
• Ability to use learned knowledge and understanding of the organizational and political climate to make decisions and take actions that satisfy diverse interests and contribute effectively to organizational goals.
• Ability to focus on educating and influencing park users for voluntary compliance.
• Ability to consistently enforce governmental laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to initiate enforcement actions in a way that the public perceives as fair, objective and reasonable.
• Ability to work with the public, employees and other staff in a friendly, positive and approachable manner in order to create a positive work environment.
• Ability to make independent decisions that achieve desired results.
• Ability to collect data, make sound decisions from data gathered, and evaluate consequences.
• Have the demonstrated knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes required to effectively supervise and lead personnel.
• Ability to establish clear performance expectations, coach and mentor employees, provide regular feedback, and correct behavior when necessary.
• Ability to adapt to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.
• Ability to orally communicate effectively on a one-on-one basis and in small groups.
• Ability to write clearly and succinctly.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Accountability – Accepts personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of their work. Can be relied upon to achieve excellent results.
• Communication Effectiveness – Conveys clear, timely and persuasive messages that positively influence the thoughts and actions of others.
• Customer Focus – Builds and maintains internal and external customer satisfaction with the services offered by the organization.
• Ethics and Integrity – Earns the trust, respect and confidence of coworkers and customers through consistent honesty, forthrightness and professionalism in all interactions.
• Inclusiveness – Actively contributes to a work environment that embraces building relationships and recognizing the value of cultural, ethnic, gender and other individual differences, to enhance the attainment of organizational goals.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS 
(Validated through Psychological & Polygraph examination and fitness testing): 

1. No criminal activity while working in the criminal justice system.
2. No marijuana consumption within the past 12 months from the date of application received.
3. No possession of illegal drugs in the last ten years.
4. No crime committed as an adult, prosecutable under the statute of limitations.
5. No intentional deception in any stage of the testing process.
6. No intentional deception in the selection process of any law enforcement agency.
7. No domestic violence convictions.
8. No driving under the influence within the last five years.
9. Must meet the minimum fitness standards for law enforcement positions. Physical Ability Test (PAT) Information.
10. Possess sufficient physical stamina and dexterity to work arduous manual tasks over extended periods.
11. Willing to work Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and long and/or irregular hours and during inclement weather conditions.
12. Refrain from excessive alcohol consumption.
13. Must not have a substantial amount of driving violations that indicate a disregard for rules or laws.

FITNESS STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS: Applicants that are not currently employed as a Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Park Ranger will be required to pass a Physical Abilities Test (PAT). For more information click here.