Park Program Assistant



Park Program Assistant

Salary

$52,407.58 - $63,698.90 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

22/06-1274-ORPK

Department

Regional Parks Department (RPK)

Opening Date

06/16/2022

Closing Date

7/7/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

05

Position Information

Are you passionate about connecting people to parks?
 Do you have experience working in community outreach, recreation, and/or environmental education?  
Become a Park Program Assistant!

Starting salary $25.11/hour ($52,407/year), plus a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!*  

Sonoma County Regional Parks is hiring multiple Park Program Assistants in their Community Engagement Division. In this division, Park Program Assistants (PPAs) support, develop, and/or deliver environmental education, interpretative, recreation, and outreach programs and special events for a variety of audiences. As a PPA, you may also assist with the oversight of recreational facilities, equipment, and visitor centers. You will also assist with program evaluation, serve as a lead for interns and/or volunteers, and perform other program and visitor center administrative duties.

Note: One or more years of experience providing programming in parks in the areas of outreach, environmental education, and/or recreational programs is required to become a PPA.

The ideal Park Program Assistant candidates will have experience coordinating, implementing, and leading quality educational and recreational programming for diverse audiences and have an understanding of principles related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. The ideal candidates will also possess:

  • Organization skills necessary to manage multiple priorities
  • A positive and adaptable mindset and be self-motivated and goal-orientated
  • A passion for connecting people to parks and the outdoors with a multicultural perspective
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills including speaking in front of groups, on the phone, and via email

County of Sonoma's Regional Parks include 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.    

What We Offer

When you join the County of Sonoma, you become part of a challenging and rewarding work environment where you gain the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better your community. You can also look forward to excellent benefits* including:

  • Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
  • County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
  • An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
  • May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU).

The Sonoma County Regional Park's Department is currently recruiting for a Parks Program Assistant position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

 
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 coursework that directly relates to natural resource management, education, biology, forestry, behavioral/environmental/social science, recreation and leisure studies, community organizing and development, or a closely related field, AND one year of experience in educating or training about parks, the environment, or natural resources, and/or coordinating recreational programs, that included experience in performing clerical duties.

Required Certifications and/or Licenses: First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22) card, AND American Red Cross or American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) must be required during the six-month probationary period.  For certain assignments (e.g., aquatics), the American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer certificate is required within one year of employment.  Once obtained, these certifications must be maintained throughout employment in this classification.

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: practices and principles of education recreation, and training; fundamentals of instruction and curriculum development; natural resource management; natural and environmental science; community engagement, organizing and outreach best practices; common office procedures and use of office equipment and computer applications, including desktop publishing programs; use of office equipment and office procedures; use of basic hand tools, power tools, and equipment used in routine maintenance of facilities; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; modern monetary and record keeping.

Ability to: work at remote locations and act independently; communicate orally and in writing in a clear, concise, and effective manner for varied audiences, to include the public, students, interns, and County employees; relate to a wide variety of individuals from different socio-economic, cultural and ethnic groups; ; work outdoors with staff and the public in all types of weather; tactfully enforce educational and recreational facilities' rules; follow written and oral instructions; assists with lead responsibility for interns and/or extra-help staff by coordinating and reviewing work and by conducting training; meet deadlines; use current office software, including desktop publishing programs; read and interpret reports; perform basic arithmetic calculations; comply with common safety practices and procedures; detect safety hazards and take corrective action; perform moderate physical labor; perform light maintenance on facilities and interpretative displays.

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.
 
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses which state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
 
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 bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. 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.

Cash Allowance: In addition to monthly salary, a cash allowance of approximately $600 per month.

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.

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.

01
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  • CalJobs
  • California Parks & Recreation Society
  • Careers in Government
  • College or University
  • Conservation Job Board
  • Craigslist
  • DiversityJobs
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • Google Jobs
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Indeed
  • Instagram
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • LinkedIn
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • National Association of Counties (NACo)
  • Press Democrat
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • Start Here!
  • Twitter
  • Veterans Services Office
  • Women's Organization or Group
  • Workplace Diversity
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
02
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
  • I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
  • I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
  • I am only interested in full-time positions
03
This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions, and your level of proficiency.
  • Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position
04
For this question, and all subsequent questions, provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.

Please describe your related education and experience in parks, environmental education, interpretation, aquatics, and/or recreation which qualifies you for this position.
  • For education, include your degree(s), the names of related courses completed, and the number of units earned.
  • For work experience, include job titles, employers name, employment dates (mm/yy to mm/yy), and a description of your primary duties for each position.
05
Please describe an education, interpretive, aquatics, or recreation program you helped coordinate, implement, and/or deliver. Include details about the type program and your role and responsibilities.
06
Please describe a work situation in which you were involved in a difficult discussion or conflict with a client, customer, and/or co-worker. Explain how you handled the discussion, what actions you took to address the situation, and the outcome of the discussion.
07
Please describe your experience working with diverse populations such as senior citizens, youth, underserved communities, and/or people with disabilities.

Required Question

Agency
County of Sonoma (CA)
Address
575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone
(707) 565-2331