Department:
Parks Recreation and Natural Resources
Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.
Join Our Team – Protect and Enhance Sarasota County’s Natural Parks!
Become part of a passionate team dedicated to preserving and restoring Sarasota County’s natural areas. In this dynamic role, you’ll oversee park operations, lead habitat restoration projects, coordinate volunteers, manage events and educational programs, and support nature-based recreation initiatives.
Apply today and help make a difference in our community!
About the Position
Primary sites include Urfer Family Park, Celery Fields, and Rothenbach Park, with other parks as assigned.
Job Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following...
Park management and oversight
- Conduct regular reviews of park facilities and amenities to ensure safe, enjoyable experiences; respond promptly to maintenance and repair needs
- Plan and implement natural area management, including habitat restoration, invasive species control, exotic/feral animal management, and prescribed burning
- Develop and execute park management plans, ensuring compliance with contracts, grants, archaeological, and environmental regulations
- Organize and lead educational programs, events, and initiatives that promote conservation, fire management, and species/habitat protection
- Manage partnerships agreements, grant applications, and contractual projects to support park operations and long-term conservation goals
Customer Service
- Enhance visitor experiences by managing customer service, responding to inquiries or complaints, and coordinating facility reservations and rentals
- Develop and organize promotional materials for park activities and programs, and manage partnership applications
- Collaborate with other County work units, participate in team meetings, and support joint projects and staff initiatives
Volunteer management
- Recruit, coordinate, and train volunteers for single-day events and ongoing programs; track hours and registrations in Volgistics
- Assist in planning, developing, and implementing volunteer events and programs
- Collaborate with community partners, including Friends of Sarasota County Parks (FOSCP), and participate in joint projects
Programming
- Plan, develop, and implement customer-focused, nature-based programs and outdoor recreation opportunities across the park system
- Assist with program marketing and ensure events are promoted via Parks Guide, online platforms, email, social media, and RecTrac
- Create and support partnership opportunities to enhance programming
About the Schedule
Work Hours:
- Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
- Sunday - Thursday
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
About You
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological or physical sciences, or a related field -AND- three (3) years of related professional experience
- -OR- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological or physical sciences, or a related field -AND- two (2) years of related professional experience
- -OR- Progressively responsible professional experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college degree
- The ability to obtain FDACS pesticide applicator license within six (6) months of employment.
- Valid Florida driver's license by date of hire.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Pass moderate or arduous pack test and shelter deployment within one year from hire date and maintain annually
- Certified Natural Areas Manager obtain within three (3) years (time period may be extended if courses are unavailable)
- Completion of Basic Wildland Firefighting (S-130/190), Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290), Wildland Fire Chainsaws (S-212) and Completion of ICS 100-200 within three (3) years (time period may be extended if courses are unavailable)
Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment in any class for a period of five (5) years.
Physical Demands: Employees must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs using a handling device (dolly, cart, etc.) or working with another team member to lift and/or move excessive poundage of 50 plus pounds.
About Everything Else
Starting Pay: $57,577.60 - $63,003.00/ annually, based on experience
Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).
If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:
1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
- If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)
2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)
Benefits:
- Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
- For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
- Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.
- Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)
A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.
We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.
Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.
A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.
Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).
Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.