ARIZONA STATE PARKS AND TRAILS

Address:  Benson, Arizona

Salary: $20.00 - $22.00 / per hour 

Grade: 17

Closing Date: January 20, 2026

The Park Ranger Senior serves as a resource supervisor leading daily cave operations, ensuring the preservation and protection of the Kartchner Caverns Cave Unit. This unique role oversees conservation practices, supervises staff and volunteers, maintains safe cave operations, supports training, provides tours and interpretive programs as needed, and collaborates closely with the Cave Resource Manager to protect this exceptional natural resource.

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. Provide 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.

- Understands, maintains, and supports the cave lighting system and overall cave maintenance needs, a responsibility that frequently requires critical thinking and effective problem-solving in a sensitive cave environment. Communicates and collaborates closely with the Cave Resource Manager, Kartchner Caverns leadership team, Cave Unit Rangers, and the Southern Region Construction Services team to plan, coordinate, and implement cave maintenance and lighting system projects.

- Other duties as assigned for the position

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 cave resources and conservation methods.resources. 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.

The ideal candidate is a passionate cave enthusiast with strong leadership and problem-solving skills, who collaborates effectively across teams and is motivated to work in a unique environment focused on stewardship, safety, and long-term resource protection.

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.