Park Ranger Specialist (Discovery Center)

~ Arizona State Parks and Trails Mission Statement: Managing and conserving Arizona's natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people both in our parks and through our partners. ~

Discovered by two young cavers, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts in November 1974, the caverns were kept a secret until February 1978 when Tene and Tufts told James and Lois Kartchner, the property owners.

It all began with a drop of water...A shallow inland sea covered this area 330 million years ago, depositing layers of sediment that eventually hardened into limestone. Kartchner Caverns' wide variety of decorations, called "speleothems", began forming drop by drop over the next 200,000 years. Water seeping from the surface dissolves minerals on its trip through the limestone. When the cavern walls are no longer able to hold the dissolved calcite, the drops deposits there tiny mineral load. Over time, these minerals have created the beautiful speleothems and variety of colors found in the cave. Kartchner Caverns is a "living" cave; the formations are still growing!

To learn more about Arizona State Parks and Trails, visit our website.

Position Overview

• Arizona State Parks and Trails has an opening for a Park Ranger Specialist (Discovery Center).
• Location: Kartchner Caverns State Park, 2980 Route South 90, Benson, AZ 85602
• This is a Temporary/Seasonal Position - May work up to 40 hours per week and up to 1500 hours per year.
• Must be able to work weekends, evenings and holidays. 

Responsibilities

• Conducts tours daily and participates in the development of interpretive programs.
• Greets visitors and acts as host and informational resource for park visitors.
• Keeps parks facilities clean.
• Performs a variety of skilled work activities associated with the operation and maintenance of a state park.
• Has the authority to interpret and ensure compliance with park rules and regulations; prepares routine correspondence, attendance and fiscal reports.
• Collects fees, operates visitor's contact station and maintains security of facilities.
• Assists in some maintenance to facilities, grounds, vehicles, equipment and specialized systems.
• Performs some routine maintenance to park facilities, including house cleaning, painting, landscaping and related tasks.
• Performs some custodial duties on park facilities.
• Maintain inventory counts of supplies, materials, salable items; updates inventories and informs supervisor regarding stock needs.
• Attend training pertinent to interpretive skills and cave tour content.
• Conducts other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Work Environment / Physical Demands:

• Ability to work underground in a cave environment with high temperature and high humidity.
• Ability to walk distances for extended periods of time and perform physical work of moderate difficulty in high temperatures and high humidity.
• Ability to provide cave tours to the public in a confined, semi-dark work area, underground, for extended periods of time, surrounded by staff and park visitors.
• Ability to conduct underground cave walking tours, consisting of walking a 1/2 mile distance in a 1.5 hour time period during an eight-hour period average work day.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Knowledge of customer service. Knowledge of basic techniques used for displaying and interpreting objects/artifacts and natural resources to visitors.
• Knowledge of local area natural resources and attractions.
• Knowledge of general office procedures and equipment use. Knowledge of general janitorial and custodial techniques.
• Skill in public relations and information dissemination.
• Skill in public speaking and presentation techniques.
• Skill in general office procedures and equipment use. Skill in basic math, collecting fees and general revenue functions.
• Skill in operating communication equipment.
• Skill in use of some hand tools and maintenance equipment.
• Ability to work underground in a cave environment with high temperature and high humidity.
• Ability to do some research and reports.
• Ability to maintain and perform upkeep of facilities and grounds.
• Ability to communicate with the public in intense settings.
• Ability to conduct four tours a day.
• Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment.

Additional Information

• Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)
• Eligible for Arizona State Retirement System pension.
• Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment for newly hired State of Arizona employees.