Ranger / Naturalist II

The Position

Ranger / Naturalist IIs support the operation, development, and conservation of East Bay Municipal Utility District's watershed, fisheries, wildlife, and recreation areas. This job classification works in watershed and recreation areas located in either the East Bay area or in the Sierra Foothills' Mokelumne basin. The responsibilities of this position do not include law enforcement duties.

There is one current vacancy at Lafayette Recreation Area in the East Bay Watershed & Recreation Division. The hiring list established by this recruitment will be used to fill additional vacancies that may occur in the East Bay or Mokelumne Watershed and Recreation division over the next 12-24 months.

Ranger / Naturalist II positions perform a wide range of duties that include natural resource management public engagement, facility maintenance, and emergency response. Rangers maintain trails, fire roads, fences, gates, spring boxes, and may assist heavy equipment operators with the construction and upkeep of stock ponds, culverts, and erosion control structures. They operate a variety of vehicles and equipment, including trucks, powerboats, tractors, skid-steers, chippers, and mowers, and regularly use hand and power tools such as chain saws, pole saws, weed eaters, leaf blowers, augers, and drills.

Rangers provide visitors with information, enforce rules and regulations, interpret natural and cultural features, answer questions, and field complaints. Those assigned to recreation areas work weekends and holidays and have extensive contact with the public. Responsibilities include renting boats, issuing permits, handling cash, and performing bookkeeping tasks. Rangers also maintain picnic sites, public restrooms, fishing and boating docks, and other facilities. Additional responsibilities include landscaping, vegetation management, lawn / irrigation maintenance, and tree maintenance.

Rangers respond to emergencies and participate in wildland fire prevention, suppression, and prescribed burning. They collect fisheries and wildlife data and use / oversee a variety of integrated pest management methods to control vegetation, including manual / mechanical control, prescribed fire,

grazing, and pesticide application.

Rangers may direct temporary / part-time workers and may assist in training new staff members.

The salary range for Ranger Naturalist II is $8,232 per month increasing to $8,644, $9,076, $9,530, and $10,007 after 6, 18, 30, and 42 months, respectively.

EBMUD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, marital or registered domestic partnership status, age for individuals age forty or older, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental or physical), medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veterans status, family or medical leave status, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical condition), pregnancy disability leave status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and other categories protected by federal, state and / or local laws.

Requirements

1. Completion of the twelfth grade or its equivalent, AND

2. One year of experience of a type equivalent of EBMUD's class of Ranger / Naturalist I, which has included maintenance and operations work in recreation, fisheries and wildlife, or range and forestry.

3. Must possess physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the job including : swimming ability sufficient for self-preservation and to learn and perform lifesaving techniques; sufficient physical strength and agility to take boats out of water and drag fire hose up a hill.

4. Willingness and ability to work within conditions that routinely include exposure to adverse weather conditions; exposure to fire, insects, plants, animals, wildland firefighting and other potential hazards.

5. Willingness and ability to work shifts, weekends, holidays, and paid overtime as needed; wear an EBMUD provided uniform. May be required on a scheduled basis to be clean shaven as required to wear respiratory protection equipment.

6. Possession of a valid California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. To be considered under the "equivalent combination of education and experience" provision, it is your responsibility to include in your application materials written evidence of employment performed at the level of the typical duties of this position and / or coursework in subject areas directly related to this position. For more information, see our FAQ page at http : / / www.ebmud.com / jobs / job-resources / job-faqs-frequently-asked-questions / .

The Selection Process

1. Submit a completed EBMUD application and the required supplemental question responses online at www.ebmud.com by 4 : 30 p.m., Friday, October 31, 2025. Only application materials submitted online during the filing period will be accepted.

2. Candidates must achieve a passing score on each test part in order to advance to the next step in the selection process.

3. Qualified applications and supplemental responses will be competitively evaluated, with applicants demonstrating the strongest qualifications for the position to be invited to a performance test, expected to be held in December 2025 at EBMUD's Orinda Watershed headquarters. The test will include physical endurance, strength and agility (please see "WORK CAPACITY 'FIELD' or 'PACK' TEST" below), writing and arithmetic ability, mechanical aptitude, local flora and fauna identification, and any other job-related areas.

4. Those passing the work capacity test and scoring highest on the remainder of the performance test will be invited to a panel interview, expected to be held in early January 2026, which may include a work sample project to further evaluate job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities, and to rank candidates for further consideration.

5. Successful candidates will be placed on the hiring list, based on rank, for further consideration to fill the current regular vacancies, as well as others occurring over the next 12 to 24 months.

6. The probation period for this position is 12 months. For those holding civil service status the probation period is 6 months.

7. All employment offers are conditional, pending the results of a Live Scan background screening. All selected finalists must participate in the Live Scan background screening process to remain in consideration for EBMUD employment.

PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE

WORK CAPACITY "FIELD" or "PACK" TEST

Testing : The work capacity test portion of the performance test will consist of walking two miles in 30 minutes on a level surface while wearing a 25-lb. pack carried over your shoulders / on your back. No jogging or running will be permitted. The work capacity test is pass / fail only. A weighted vest will be provided.

Background : The goals of passing this work capacity test are to better protect the firefighter's personal safety and health, to protect co-workers' safety, and to improve the firefighting operation and function. Therefore, the work capacity test is intentionally stressful, and passing is a good indication of minimum fitness in the areas of aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance.

Preparation : We recommend consulting a physician before substantially increasing your level of activity or beginning to train for this test. This is especially important if you are over 40; have been inactive; have a history of a heart condition, chest pain, or loss of balance; and / or have a joint or bone problem that could be made worse by a change in physical activity. Applicants are strongly urged to train for moderate-level work capacity at least four weeks before taking the work capacity test.

Once you have been cleared to begin training, you will need : adequate footwear, comfortable clothing, a 25-lb. backpack, and an accurately measured, safe, and level course. Training should start by walking short distances without a pack, gradually increasing distance and carrying weight up to the required pace (2 miles in 30 minutes) and weight (25-lb. backpack).

Supplemental Information

As the first step in the selection process, responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted online with the regular EBMUD application. Please provide thorough, accurate descriptions of assignments you have personally performed. Should you respond with comments such as "see application" or "see resume" instead of addressing the questions directly, your application may not be considered.

For questions 1-11 Rangers perform a wide variety of duties and often work under adverse conditions. Indicate your willingness to perform these duties.

For questions 13 - 16, please indicate the year(s) when you gained the experience, the total amount of your experience, and the employer, organization, or setting where you obtained the experience. Please provide clear, concise, and detailed answers.