Department of Civil Service

Starting Salary

$59,298

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,613 annual downstate adjustment. In addition, appointees who work in the following locations will receive an additional supplemental local pay in the following amounts: the counties of Orange, Putnam and Dutchess - $1,343; the five boroughs of New York City, Rockland, and Westchester Counties - $2,017; and Nassau and Suffolk Counties - $2,352.

*Additionally, appointees who work in the mid-Hudson region (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, or Westchester counties) or downstate region (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau or Suffolk counties) may receive up to an additional $15,000 geographic pay differential

Salaries may increase pending approval of 2024 contract.

Where the Positions are Located

Forest Ranger 1 positions exist at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and are located throughout the state.

Duties

As a Forest Ranger 1, you would be required to participate in a formal residential training program lasting approximately 26 weeks. Upon successful completion, you would work in an assigned patrol area, and elsewhere throughout the state for emergencies and special assignments. You would be required to work out of your home and the location of your residence must comply with current Division residency requirements. Forest Rangers perform a wide variety of duties related to overseeing the care, custody, and control of DEC administered lands and as such will be required to be engaged in extensive foot, bike, canoe, boat, snowshoe, or ski patrol on assigned state land areas. The care, custody and control of state land also requires that Forest Rangers will routinely interact and assist DEC land managers to help them best manage state lands and public use.

As a Forest Ranger 1, you would be a sworn Police Officer, authorized to investigate complaints and enforce provisions of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and other state laws to protect the State's lands, other natural resources, and the people who use them. You would be required to carry firearms and complete necessary annual training for State certification. Forest Rangers conduct search and rescue operations for lost or injured persons throughout New York State; conduct wildland fire management operations including wildfire suppression in New York State and when requested for national firefighting efforts; and coordinate and assist in incident response efforts to natural and manmade emergencies and disasters. Forest Rangers educate the public concerning the proper use of public lands and resources; visit schools, fire departments, and organizations to promote resource protection; teach national and state-certified courses to other agencies, volunteer groups, and fire departments concerning search and rescue, wildland fire suppression, and wilderness safety and etiquette; and foster and develop volunteer assistance from the local communities to support the Department's wildland firefighting and search operations. At times you will be expected to work weekends, holidays, and long irregular hours. You may also directly supervise volunteers and seasonal Assistant Forest Rangers and Wildland Firefighters.

Additional Requirements for Appointment

You must meet the below requirements to be appointed and for continued employment.

Background Investigation: Because of the nature of the position there is an investigative screening that will include a thorough character investigation, including a polygraph. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment. Misdemeanors or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.

Driver's License Requirement: You must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.

Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug screening test and are responsible for the clinical lab fee. Upon appointment, all probationary Forest Rangers are subject to periodic, unannounced drug testing from the initial date of hire up to and including the completion of field training. All permanent Forest Rangers are subject to a yearly random drug test. Failure to meet these standards may result in your disqualification and/or discipline. Cannabis use is not permitted for employees in this title. Cannabis use will be tested for during the pre-employment screening process and may be the basis for disqualification for employment or may be a basis for removal from employment. A complete statement for drug testing for this title can be found at http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm .

Fingerprinting and Fee Requirements: Fingerprinting is required prior to appointment. You will be required to pay the processing fee.

Firearms: You must be legally eligible to carry firearms. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment and a misdemeanor may bar appointment.

Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include Vision: Distant visual acuity should be correctable to better than, or equal to 20/30 (Snellen) in each eye; if correction is required, binocular visual acuity not less than 20/40 without correction. Binocular peripheral vision should not be less than 170 degrees. Color Vision: You must have satisfactory color vision perception. Hearing: The average hearing level (HL) for the three test frequencies of 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz will not exceed 25 dB in either ear, and no single hearing level will exceed 30 dB at any of these three test frequencies in either ear. Hearing loss at 3000 Hz will not exceed 40 dB HL in either ear. A complete statement of the physical and medical standards is available at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/ehs/forms.cfm .

Physical Skills and Abilities Testing: If you are considered for appointment, your physical skills and abilities will be evaluated through tests of strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, and swimming. These physical skills and abilities tests will be conducted by the Department of Environmental Conservation. To obtain a statement of the requirements of these tests, contact the Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Forest Protection at (518) 402-8839, or rangers@dec.ny.gov

Psychological Evaluation: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position. Failure to meet standards will result in your disqualification.

Tattoo Policy: You must comply with the Department of Environmental Conservation's, Division of Forest Protection (DFP) tattoo policy which requires all members to present a neat and professional appearance at all times. Tattoos are not permitted on the head, face, scalp, neck or hands. Tattoos which are visible on the lower arms, or lower legs, shall be reviewed by the regional Captain and if the tattoos are deemed to be in contradiction to a professional appearance the Forest Ranger shall be required to wear a tattoo sleeve, skin tone in color, long sleeve shirts or avoid shorts as applicable. Forest Rangers employed by DFP prior to September 1, 2008, are exempt from the portions of this policy which address tattoos; however, they may not acquire any additional tattoos that contradict the above guidance. Existing tattoos which are exempt because they were acquired prior to September 1, 2008, may not be expanded and may not be modified without permission of the Division Director. For additional information on this policy, contact the Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Forest Protection at (518) 402-8839, or rangers@dec.ny.gov

United State Citizenship and New York State Residency: Although not required for taking the test, you must be a citizen of the United States at the time of appointment. If appointed, you must be at least 21 years old and possess and maintain New York State residency pursuant to the Public Officers Law.

If you are interested in an examination for this position, visit the Careers Opportunities in New York State Law Enforcement page for further information on how to apply.

Issued 7/12/2024