ARIZONA STATE PARKS AND TRAILS

Address: 2980 S. Hwy 90, Benson, AZ 85602

Salary: $20.00 - $22.00 / per hour 

Grade: 17

Closing Date: December 9, 2025

The Park Ranger Senior serves as the supervisor for day to day operations of the cave on the preservation, conservation, protection and methodology of the caverns and Kartchner Caverns Cave Unit . Ensures proper conservation and preservation initiatives and measures are in place and practiced. Supervises staff and volunteers. Provides safe working measures and protocols for inside the cave. Trains or assists in training subordinate staff. Does cave tours and/or other interpretation programming when called upon. Collaborates with the Cave Resource Manager.

Duties include:
- Administer and supervise day to day operations for the Cave. Prepare schedule for the open and close of the cave. Prepares cavern(s) for tours. Oversee, schedule and perform specific daily, weekly, monthly and annual task and procedures that are done to maintain the health of the cave ecosystem and safety standards for the staff and visitors. Oversight of all aspects of the Cave operations, customer service, interpretive planning, overseeing manages assigned park staff and volunteers on the conservation, preservation and protection of the living cavern as established in the Annual Operation Plan. Provice communication to all staff and departments across Kartchner Caverns State Park. Inventory Cave Unit supplies and make purchases.

- Lead, develop, and mentor staff to problem solve, while using best management practices. Adherence to Agency policies and procedures; human resource management. Complete one on one sessions with supervised staff in Cave Unit. Make purchases for the Cave Unit office. Develop and provide cave tours to park visitors and/ outreach programs when requested.

- Assist and communicate with Resource Manager with oversight of facility care standards, cave unit annual operating plan development, updating, and implementation. Reviews and makes recommendations of current policy, principles and laws pertaining to Park operations, protection of natural, cultural and environmental resources. • Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

- Understands and provide maintenance to the cave lighting system and cave maintenance needs. Communicates and collaborates effectively between the Cave Resource Manager, Kartchner Caverns leadership team, Cave Unit Rangers and Southern Region Construction Services team on cave maintenance projects and lighting system.

Knowledge of:
Outdoor recreation and park management, outdoor/environmental and/or history/archeology education. Principles and processes for providing customer service satisfaction, safety, security, sanitation, operation maintenance, and public relations procedures and practices. Park rules, department policies, facility operational standards, and emergency response procedures. First Responder Training, EMS or First Aid training or equivalent experience. Knowledge of fees and revenue functions, general office procedures and outdoor parks and recreation. May require knowledge of Arizona Revised Statutes and law enforcement techniques. Audio and visual equipment. Federal, State and Agency laws, statutes, policies and procedures. Emergency medical procedures.

Skills in:
Skill in effective communication both written and verbal, active listening. Skill in public speaking both in a lecture setting and impromptu. Skill in customer service satisfaction, critical thinking, and issue resolution techniques to de-escalate upset or non-compliant visitors. Conflict resolution.
Addressing visitor complaints, emergency situations, and other stressful work issues while maintaining a professional demeanor. Skill in the development of training and education programs involving parks safety training or other related programs. May require supervisory skills relevant to supervising employees and volunteers and special assignment personnel.

Ability to:
Work unsupervised in a constantly changing and dynamic environment. Ability to work and collaborate with coworkers to produce innovative concepts and resolve issues in a way that promotes a positive and healthy workplace culture. The ability to develop, modify, maintain and manage special assigned programs, projects and or duties specific to the operation of the park and the park goals. Ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of customers visiting the facility and successfully meeting their needs. Work in extreme temperatures and 99% humidity.

Any combination of training and experience that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs); typical ways KSAs are obtained may include but are not limited to: relevant degree from an accredited college or university, coursework and work experience relevant to the assignment.
Two years above high school with 12 semester hours of related course work. Three years experience in park operations, public programs, public events, customer service, outdoor recreation, park management.

Obtain and maintain an Arizona Class D driver's license.
Must possess and maintain a current Arizona Driver's license appropriate to assignment.
Obtain CPR/First Aid within 90 days.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
● Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
● Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
● 10 paid holidays per year
● Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
● Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
● Deferred compensation plan
● Wellness plans
● Parental Leave - Up to 12 weeks per year pid leave for newborns or newly placed foster/adopted child.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Eligible for Arizona State Retirement System pension. Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment for newly hired State of Arizona employees.

Recruitmenthr@azstateparks.gov

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (480) 604 -7331. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Having trouble applying for this position?
Email HRIShelpdesk@azdoa.gov or call (602) 542-4700 for assistance.