Beach Ranger (Seasonal)

Job Title: Beach Ranger (Seasonal)

Department: Recreation/ Beach Operations

Location: Duxbury Beach  

Contract/Grade: Personnel Policies, Schedule B

Compensation: Starting at $15.00 per hour, dependent upon qualifications

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt, (non-benefit eligible)

Work Schedule: Variable; including weekends, nights & holidays; 20-40 hour per week

Reports to: Lead Beach Ranger/Beach Operations Administrator and Recreation Director

Number of Openings: 15

Schedule: March thru Sept., 6am-12:30pm/12:30pm-8pm, additional off-season hours as necessary

1. Nature of Work: Serve as ambassador to beach guests and act as a steward of beach environment including wildlife therein and their habitat. Assist with functions relative to compliance with beach regulations, endangered species protection and management. Interact with the public to provide information and answer questions as necessary. Communicate bylaws, laws, rules and regulations in a polite and professional manner. Manage authorized access to beach properties. Foster voluntary compliance with endangered species protection methods and beach rules and regulations through effective and professional communications with the public. Take enforcement action when necessary and only as a last resort when voluntary compliance efforts are unsuccessful. 

2. Supervision Received: Reports to Lead Beach Ranger under general oversight of Beach Operations Administrator.

3. Confidentiality: Employee has access to department-wide confidential information including employee records. Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and Public Records Act.

4. Accountability: Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adverse customer relations, damage to equipment, legal repercussions, monetary loss, labor/material costs, personal injury, and jeopardize programs.

5. Judgment: Guidelines may be in the form of administrative or organizational policies, general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to a specific department or functional area. Extensive judgment is required to develop new or adapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies.

6. Complexity: The work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles, techniques and practices relating to an administrative field. Assignments typically concern such matters as studying trends in the field for application to the work; assessing services and recommending improvements; planning long range projects; and devising new techniques for application to the work.

7. Nature & Purpose of Public Contact:  Employee interacts constantly with co-workers and the public. The employee deals with the public and other individuals on behalf of a department to communicate departmental practices, procedures, regulations, or guidelines. Excellent communication and customer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy in resolving complaints or concerns of the public.

8. Essential Functions:  The functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. Omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logical assignment to the position.

a) Understand and abide by Duxbury Beach Rules & Regulations, the Massachusetts Habitat Conservation Plan for Piping Plover Certificate of Inclusion and Duxbury Beach Management & Conservation Plan.    

b) Communicate and enforce Town of Duxbury Beach Rules & Regulations and Town of Duxbury Waterways Rules & Regulations to the public in a polite and professional manner.

c) Manage lawful access to Duxbury Beach shoreline, waterways and all associated ways and parking lots.

d) Educate general public on beach rules, regulations and endangered species habitat management.

e) Wear required uniform dress during shifts.

f) Maintain field equipment.

g) Attend meetings and trainings as requested (and any additional training on how to address specific issues providing an opportunity to ask questions and review information pertinent to the time of the season).

h) Write reports.

i) Assist water dependent users as directed.

j) Attend and complete trainings/meetings provided by the Beach Operations, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Duxbury Beach Reservation or other trainings/meetings approved by the Beach Operations Administrator.

k) All other assigned tasks.

9. Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

a) Education and Experience: Must have the ability to effectively communicate with co-workers, the public, governmental agencies and carry out specific tasks as assigned by supervisor.  High school education or equivalent with strong interest in beach, natural resources, conservation, environmental, recreation or business management, public relations, public administration or related field preferred or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Required to attend and complete trainings/meetings provided by the Recreation and Beach Operations Department and related agencies.

b) Special Requirements: Valid Driver’s License required as well as ability to operate related department equipment and vehicles. Must be eighteen (18) years or older.

10. Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

a) Knowledge:  Familiarity with current principles, practices, law, statutes, codes, ordinances, terms and conditions pertaining to endangered species management and protection, applicable Massachusetts General Laws, Town Bylaws, and regulations relating to the beach environment and maritime law.

b) Abilities: Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with government agencies, other town employees and general public, often in highly stressful situations. Ability to enforce rules and regulations firmly and impartially. Ability to deal effectively and cordially with all persons using the waterfront, waterways, beach and shorelines. Ability to operate vehicles in hazardous and severe weather conditions.

c) Skills:  Excellent organizational, and communication skills; basic computer skills.

11. Work Environment:  Work is performed under varying conditions, either in an office, in a vehicle or outdoors at the immediate surrounding shoreline and coastal areas with exposure to extreme weather conditions in secluded areas. The incumbent may be required to work outside of normal business hours. In addition, incumbent is required to work on weekends and holidays and may be required to be available to attend evening meetings and emergency situations.

12. Occupational Risk: Duties regularly present recurring exposure to hazardous conditions on land and in water as well as exposure to extreme weather conditions in secluded areas. Job frequently entails the possibility for serious injury or exposure to conditions that could result in total permanent disability or loss of life. Extreme care and safety precautions are required at all times. Special safety precautions, training, or protective clothing such as gowns, coats, gloves, glasses, hats or boots may be required.

13. Physical & Mental Requirements:  Physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

a) Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear, walk, run, use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. This position requires the ability to operate a keyboard and calculator at efficient speed. Regularly climb, stoop, crouch, kneel, and climb a ladder; frequently lift up to 25 pounds; occasionally lifts or moves more than 50 pounds.  Employee is required to detect odors.

b) Motor Skills  Duties: may involve close hand-eye coordination and physical dexterity. Manipulation and motor control under conditions that may require extreme accuracy could be needed in making repairs to electronic instruments or complex equipment, conducting laboratory tests, and performing microscopic experiments.

c) Visual Demands:  Constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes, routinely reviewing non-written materials such as instrumentation for analytical purposes. Specific vision abilities required include close, medium, and distance vision as well as the ability to adjust focus and distinguish colors.

External and Internal Job Posting

Posting is open to accept applications on Dec. 16, 2021, and will remain open until filled