Work in Parks

Thank you for your interest in Onondaga County Parks. Our current openings are listed below.
Please contact the park for more information about the specifics of each job. 

updated 3/20/23

PART-TIME

Beaver Lake Nature Center
Job: Summer Camp Naturalist
Duties/Requirements: Responsible for implementing Beaver Lake Nature Center’s popular full day summer nature camp. Counselors teach and lead groups of campers ages 5 to 13 in nature based and outdoor recreation activities including natural history and field studies, hikes, games, crafts, canoeing, storytelling, and other projects and activities. Positions are scheduled for 40 hours/week, June 12 – August 18. Express interest by emailing: blnc@ongov.net. Now hiring for Summer 2023 positions.

Jamesville Beach Park & Oneida Shores Park
Job: Lifeguard
Duties/Requirements: Click here for more information.

Highland Forest Park
Job: Administrative Assistant & Lodge Closer
Duties/Requirements:
Administrative Assistant: Valid Driver's License.  Available nights, weekends and holidays throughout the employment period.  Proficient customer service skills, answering phones, file keeping, timekeeping, purchasing.  Experience with personal computer, cash management and register operations skills, and ability to communicate rules and policies to the public.
Lodge Closer: Must be available nights, weekends and holidays throughout the employment period.  Customer service skills, and ability to communicate rules and policies to the public.

Oneida Shores Park
Job: Campground Security - NEW
Duties/Requirements: Must be 21 years of age, must have driver's license, must posses strong customer service skills and be able to work overnight.  Must be comfortable working alone, maintaing order and making sure rules are followed.  Hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 pm - 6 am.

Job: Campground Host
Duties/Requirements:
Click here to visit Oneida Shores Park Camping page for more information.
Special Benefit: Camp for FREE!

Onondaga Lake Park
Job: Seasonal Aide - Marina Attendant
Duties/Requirements:
Marina Attendants are responsible for a wide variety of routine manual activities pertaining to grounds maintenance and facility upkeep in/around a Marina environment.  Ability to perform light to medium-duty manual labor in an outdoor setting under a variety of weather conditions; use a variety of hand and power tools; operate basic motorized equipment, including but not limited to UTV, push-lawnmower, hedge trimmers, string-trimmer, power-washer, leaf blower, etc.  Basic light-duty janitorial/custodial tasks, as needed.  Face-to-face customer interaction including, but not limited to, assisting Marina tenants/boaters with launching, docking, slip reservations, addressing customer complaints/concerns, etc.  Basic understanding and knowledge of boating rules/laws and navigation nomenclature helpful, but not required.  Ability to work around water/docks required.  Physical ability commensurate with the demands of the position.
2023 Dates of Employment (approximate): April 17 - November 3.
Flexibility with hours is available for those applicants who attend school/college in the ‘shoulder seasons’.

Job: Seasonal Aide - Lakeview Amphitheater Grounds Maintenance
Duties/Requirements:
Amphitheater Grounds Maintenance crew are responsible for a wide variety of routine manual activities pertaining to grounds and facility upkeep in/around Lakeview Park at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater.  Ability to perform light to heavy duty manual labor in an outdoor setting under a variety of weather conditions; use a variety of hand and power tools; operate basic motorized equipment, including but not limited to UTV, push and ride-on lawnmower, hedge trimmers, string-trimmers, power-washer, leaf blowers, etc.  Ability to work around water/docks required.  Physical ability commensurate with the demands of the position.
2023 Dates of Employment (approximate): May 15 – September 22.
Flexibility with hours is available for those applicants who attend school/college in the ‘shoulder seasons’. 

Job: Seasonal Aide - Long Branch Park Grounds & Event Maintenance
Duties/Requirements:
Long Branch Park Grounds and Event Maintenance crew are responsible for a wide variety of routine manual activities pertaining to grounds maintenance and facility upkeep in/around Long Branch Park.  Ability to perform light to medium-duty manual labor in an outdoor setting under a variety of weather conditions; use a variety of hand and power tools; operate basic motorized equipment, including but not limited to UTV, push-lawnmower, hedge trimmers, string-trimmer, power-washer, leaf blower, etc.  Basic light-duty janitorial/custodial tasks, as needed.  Face-to-face customer interaction including, but not limited to, event set-up assistance, picnic and public event logistics, addressing customer complaints/concerns, etc.  Physical ability commensurate with the demands of the position.
2023 Dates of Employment (approximate): May 15 – August 18.
Flexibility with hours is available for those applicants who attend school/college in the ‘shoulder seasons’.

Job: Seasonal Aide - Visitor Center Attendant
Duties/Requirements:
Visitor Center Attendants are front line staff members required to greet visitors, answer phones, disseminate information, responds to general questions/complaints/comments from the public, performs light cleaning, monitors and keeps brochure racks stocked, occasionally collects monies/admission fees, and other duties, as assigned.  Candidate must be possess good oral communication skills, use tact and courtesy when dealing with the public and problem solve with little to no direct, constant supervision.     
2023 Dates of Employment (approximate): April 1 – October 29.
Flexibility with hours is available for those applicants who attend school/college in the ‘shoulder seasons’. 

Park Rangers Office
Job: Park Rangers 
Click here for more information about the Park Ranger positions and application forms.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Job: Laboratory Technician - NEW
Duties/Requirements: Reporting to the Senior Veterinarian, this position aids the Animal Health department with diagnostic tests. The primary responsibility will be the operation and maintenance of the elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV) PCR lab. Additional duties include completing other diagnostic lab work such as hormone analysis, complete blood counts, chemistry panels, etc. Click here for full job description. 

Job: Zoo Ticket Booth
Duties/Requirements: Provide outstanding customer service and assistance to zoo patrons as they enter the zoo doors. Must be able to handle money & credit card transactions and frequently deal with groups of all sizes & ages. 

Job: Zoo Base Attendant
Duties/Requirements: Provide outstanding customer service and assistance to zoo patrons answering questions, and taking reservations via the phone and in person. Support Zoo staff by being being familiar with safety protocols and acting as the the communication hub of the zoo via the radio.  Assist as needed with special projects. Upon occasion/as needed, fill in as a ticket booth attendant.  This entails the operation of a cash register as visitors enter the zoo and purchase zoo admission.  Generally this position will be at the Zoo's main desk but will fill in at the ticket booth to help cover absences, lunches, and if needed on busy days.

• Other part-time positions may become available at anytime. Feel free to complete the online application even if you don't see a current position that you are interested in. Each park has different needs and you may want to contact the individual park(s) that you are interested in to see what positions are available, click here for park contact information.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old (except for lifeguards) and be willing to work a flexible schedule including nights & weekends. Most positions, except where indicated, are available immediately.

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Interested in becoming part of our team full-time? All full-time positions are civil service, and passing of a specific civil service test may be required. Click here to visit the Onondaga County Personnel Department website for more information on what civil service is all about, current openings throughout the county, civil service tests and more.

During your visit to Onondaga County Parks, you may be photographed, videotaped, or filmed by Onondaga County Parks or authorized parties. Your attendance/admission serves as permission for use of these images by Onondaga County Parks. Commercial photography or filming is prohibited without permission of Onondaga County Parks.