Position Information
Join Sonoma County Regional Parks Department as a Park Aide - Extra-Help.This is an exciting opportunity to discover your parks and learn about our County's diverse wildlife and landscapes! Regional Parks is hiring multiple temporary, extra-help Park Aides to work in various locations across the County. As a Park Aide, you will support routine park operations and a variety of Sonoma County Regional Park programs. On-the-job training in park rules, procedures, interpretation, and operations is provided to all Park Aides. In addition, you may assist with:
- Registering campers and collecting fees for day-use and camping
- Explaining park rules and responding to visitor inquiries
- Maintaining and/or monitoring park natural resources
- Performing maintenance and janitorial tasks, including cleaning restrooms
- Supporting special park events and festivals
Park Aides can also support the Natural Resources Division with Vegetation and Wildlife Management. As a member of that team you may also:
- Participate in habitat and permeability enhancement projects
- Provide information to members of the public regarding wildlife
- Participate in wildfire fuel reduction projects
- Perform invasive plant management and removal
The ideal candidates for these positions will possess:
- A passion for parks and serving the community
- Experience providing customer service to a diverse population
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Point of sale and cash handling experience
- Ability to work independently and on a team with a positive mindset
- Organization skills necessary to manage multiple priorities
- Valid Basic First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and Emergency Cardiac Care cards
The following are desired for some positions, but not required to be considered:
- Completion of one or more parks-related college-level courses or trainings
- Bilingual skills (English/Spanish)
Work locations may vary and work assignments include irregular hours on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. These positions will be primarily field based, working outdoors in a variety of environmental conditions. A candidate's flexibility in workdays and work hours is highly desirable. Park Aides are required to wear a County issued uniform and will receive a voucher toward the purchase of safety boots.
County of Sonoma's Regional Parks includes more than 50 parks, trails, and beaches from Petaluma to Gualala and Sonoma to Bodega Bay. Many offer wild landscapes while others feature sports fields, playgrounds, campgrounds, boat launches, and an environmental education center. Regional Parks also offers a range of recreation, education and natural resource programs that enhance the quality of life and well-being of individuals, families and communities. Please visit http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov to learn more about the various programs and resources offered by the Regional Parks Department.
EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYMENT Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as: long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations.
Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.
This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include experience in a position involving public contact, or performing janitorial, and/or physical manual labor. Coursework or training in park management, natural resources, forestry, environmental studies, or a closely related field is desirable.
Desirable Certifications: Possession of a valid American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and an Emergency Cardiac Care card is desirable.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of: basic janitorial techniques; occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
Ability to: follow oral and written instructions; use hand tools and light machines; perform moderately heavy physical manual labor; detect safety hazards within a park area and report problems to supervisor; prepare a simple record of daily fees on a standardized form; deal effectively and tactfully with the public and County personnel; ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures; tactfully explain rules, regulations, laws and ordinances; safely drive and operate light motorized vehicles.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting-a-Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer are contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted on-line at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of the job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: RR
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan : Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
