Exam Bulletin - State Park Interpreter III

Department of Parks & Recreation

Exam Code: EX-2746

Examination Plans Included:

  • STATE PARK INTERPRETER III - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

STATE PARK INTERPRETER III: $6,435.00 - $7,996.00 per Month

View the STATE PARK INTERPRETER III classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • STATE PARK INTERPRETER III - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2746

For STATE PARK INTERPRETER III, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02746

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00102828 - STATE PARK INTERPRETER III

Either 1

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a District Interpretive Specialist, Exhibit Coordinator, State Archeologist II, State Historian II, State Park Interpreter II, or State Park Naturalist II, including substantial responsibility for State park interpretive programs.

Or 2

Four years of experience performing the duties of a State Archeologist I, State Historian I, State Park Interpreter I, or State Park Naturalist I, including substantial responsibility for State park interpretive programs.

Or 3

Experience: Five years of experience in the planning and development of natural history, museum, or historical interpretive programs, including at least two years in a supervisory or program administrative capacity. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with a degree in interpretation, social sciences, natural science, communications, or closely related field. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Position Description

00102828 - STATE PARK INTERPRETER III

Plans, directs, and supervises the activities of a staff engaged in interpretive program activities; plans, develops, and implements statewide interpretive programs; coordinates the activities of interpretive program sections with other units in the Department; recommends policy with respect to acquisition and preservation of items of interpretive value; coordinates the Department's interpretive program with the programs of other departments; educational institutions, interpretive associations, and other agencies; supervises, trains, and evaluates the performance of subordinate staff; addresses interested groups; develops reports and other interpretive material.

Special Personal Characteristics

Willingness to travel throughout the State and to work irregular hours and weekends.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Natural science and historical research methods and procedures, California anthropology, exhibit preparation techniques
  2. Methods and practices of restoration, preservation, and interpretation of historical objects
  3. Literature and publications dealing with California natural history
  4. History of California and the historical features of the State
  5. Principles of public administration, personnel management, supervision, and training
  6. Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives
  7. A manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives
Ability to:
  1. Write complete plans and specifications for specialized interpretive projects
  2. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals, organizations, and other agencies contacted in the course of the work
  3. Analyze situations accurately and take an effective course of action
  4. Communicate effectively
  5. Supervise, train, and evaluate the work of a technical staff
  6. Keep necessary records and prepare reports
  7. Effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the STATE PARK INTERPRETER III Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Parks & Recreation

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

State Park Interpreter III Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks
  1. Conducting research regarding the cultural and/or natural history of an area or site (e.g., trails, historic area, historic buildings, plants and animals, geology, habitats and ecosystems).
  2. Assessing the quality of information (e.g., accuracy, objectivity, diverse perspectives) obtained through research.
  3. Identifying physical, biological, or cultural resources (e.g., flora and fauna, archeological collections, significant architecture, communities) that may serve as the subject or setting for educational or interpretive programs.
  4. Developing goals and objectives for educational or interpretive programs.
  5. Developing and/or reviewing educational or interpretive program content, materials or media and integrating information gathered from research into a presentation that is relevant to the audience.
  6. Assisting in the development of planning documents (e.g., project plans, strategic plans, educational or interpretive plans).
  7. Preparing reports (e.g., fiscal, statistical) for delivery to support plans or proposals.
  8. Reviewing feedback to identify trends and/or issues in order to inform the planning, modification, and development of educational or interpretive programs.
  9. Evaluating existing educational or interpretive programs and resources (e.g., staff, exhibits, facilities, technology) to determine relevancy and/or effective use.
  10. Identifying the resources needed (e.g., financial, personnel, materials, facilities, marketing) for proposing and implementing new educational or interpretive programs/projects.
  11. Monitoring budgets for educational or interpretive programs and providing information regarding expenditures (e.g., financial, personnel, materials and facilities).
  12. Presenting structured educational or interpretive programs.
  13. Planning and participating in outreach and/or special events.
  14. Coordinating with local media, organizations, and/or schools to market educational or interpretive programs, or special events.
  15. Serving as lead in planning, assigning, and reviewing staff and/or volunteer work; assisting with work schedules.
  16. Tracking resource data (e.g., expenses, inventories, collections, vendor and donor information, staff or volunteer hours) utilized for educational or interpretive projects and/or program management.
  17. Fostering partnerships with various entities (e.g., schools, businesses, tribal entities, non-profit organizations, governmental and professional organizations).
  18. Providing coaching to staff and/or volunteers.
  19. Facilitating meetings and/or trainings.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Parks & Recreation

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Parks & Recreation
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
Phone: (916) 902-8674

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Parks & Recreation reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)