Senior Park Aide (Lyons Ferry State Park) Permanent

Senior Park Aide

Under the supervision of a Park Ranger, this position is essential to Washington State Park's mission of operating, enhancing, and protecting our park's recreational, cultural, historical, and natural sites. This position assists and contributes toward all aspects of park operations and will lead work responsibilities. The Senior Park Aide serves primarily at Lyons Ferry State Park but also supports the combined work unit including Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site. Currently, Lyons Ferry functions as a day use park, but its campground will be updated and reopened. This position is not eligible to telework, as physical on-site presence is required to perform essential functions. Lyons Ferry State Park is part of the Blue Mountain Area and is located at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers. This scenic landscape has been an oasis for animals, local communities, and its location is significant to many tribes. The park's geography was shaped by the Ice Age Floods, and water continues to sculpt this landscape. As a Senior Park Aide, you would be the team leader for the Lyons Ferry park aides. This position also works closely with the Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site team. Responsibilities include guiding routine operations, ensuring projects and tasks are completed, ground maintenance, building maintenance, fee collection, communicating within the Lyons Ferry and Palouse Fall team, providing information by educating visitors on rules and regulations. This position is essential in ensuring that staff they lead are respectful, honest, empathetic, and inclusive to all.

Join our team in this beautiful, historical location where the rivers meet and basalt cliffs soar!

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Leads and provides guidance to Park Aides for routine operations.
• Coordinates and assigns duties to Park Aides to ensure projects and tasks are completed.
• Assists rangers and maintenance staff in maintaining all facilities in a condition that is operationally functional, clean in appearance, and safe for the public and staff, including park grounds, structures, utility systems, vehicles, equipment, tools, trails, fences, restrooms, turf, and irrigation systems, and swim beach.
• Communicates with Rangers and Maintenance staff on issues that arise for facilities, ground maintenance, and park equipment.
• Independently operates Park vehicles to perform maintenance duties.
• Provides information including educating the public regarding park rules and regulations, local events, and park activities.
• Operates booth where rentals and passes are sold.
• Performs administrative functions such as CRTs and bank deposits; adheres to the Revenue Manual and Security of Assets Plan.
• Proficiently operates CAMIS.
• Uses Microsoft Outlook as an organizational communication tool.
• Participates in agency and area training requirements including workshops, first aid, defensive driving, etc.
• Follows agency uniform standards.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• Option 1: Twelve (12) months of experience in building maintenance or grounds keeping, or performing semi-skilled/general carpentry, electrical and/or plumbing repair work and a valid unrestricted driver's license (other than corrective lenses) and at least 18 years old.
• Option 2: Six (6) months cumulative experience as a Park Aide (or equivalent) and a valid unrestricted driver's license (other than corrective lenses) and at least 18 years old.
• Option 3: Twelve (12) months' experience in a special employment program (Washington Conservation Corps) with a park's agency. A combination of experience (WCC and Park Aide) may be used provided candidate has at least three months experience as a Park Aide (or equivalent) and a valid unrestricted driver's license (other than corrective lenses) and at least 18 years old.

Additional knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Familiarity with irrigation systems.
• Ability to work independently while using good judgement and problem-solving skills in decision making.
• Awareness and willingness to follow safety policies and protocols.
• Promotes cooperation and an eagerness and capacity to learn new skills.
• Self-starter who can see a project through to completion.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Core competencies:

• Communication and Operational Leadership: Ability to direct the work of others, coordinate tasks, and ensure productivity. Possess strong communication skills to lead peers and non-permanent staff while serving as a primary point of contact for the general public.
• Facilities & Grounds Maintenance: Proficiency in the upkeep of structures, utilities, and natural landscapes using various tools and equipment.
• Public Stewardship & Customer Service: Providing high-quality information, educating visitors on rules/regulations, and representing the agency's mission.
• Safety & Risk Management: Proactive identification of hazards and adherence to safety protocols (First Aid, Defensive Driving, Water Sampling).
• Resourcefulness & Problem Solving: Independently identifying maintenance issues or equipment failures and reporting or resolving them efficiently.
• Digital & Professional Literacy: Proficiency in standard organizational tools (Microsoft Outlook) and agency-specific software.
• The Ability to take Action to Learn and Grow: Adapting to change and applying new approaches.
• Learning to navigate systems, processes, tools, and technology.
• Practicing self-awareness by reflecting on personal strengths, growth areas, and biases.
• Taking responsibility for learning and adapting, rather than relying on others to fill gaps.
• The Ability to take Action to Meet the Needs of Others: Welcoming and valuing different identities and perspectives.
• Helping and supporting people and communities from all backgrounds.
• Collaborating with others to overcome challenges and find solutions.
• Developing mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships.

Requirements:

Uniform Information: All permanent Senior Park Aides are required to wear a uniform. A complete and properly worn uniform helps establish the professional identity of a Park Aide and promotes respect as a Washington State Parks employee. All permanent Senior Park Aides will receive 2 shirts and 1 baseball cap every calendar year, 1 jacket, 1 beanie/knit cap and a brim hat every two calendar years, an outerwear jacket every five years, and a boot and clothing stipend of $150 per calendar year. Clothing stipends are intended to offset the cost of clothing worn in the workplace such as pants, boots, raingear, etc.

Working Conditions: Position works five (5) days a week; Core work hours are typically 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Work schedule varies and often requires weekend work. Incumbents may be expected to adjust the work scheduled to meet business needs. A flexible work schedule may be considered at incumbent's request and is subject to supervisory approval. Incumbent is expected to maintain regular and reliable attendance to accommodate facility, grounds, equipment, and customer needs. Travel and overnight travel may be required periodically between parks and/or statewide for meetings, training, and other field work. Travel will be necessary in all types of weather conditions and climates.