Title: Southern Piedmont Region Operations Steward - LE

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $55,000 - $65,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Agency Website: www.dcr.viriginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

As a member of the Stewardship Section of the Division of Natural Heritage, this position will work closely with a team of natural areas stewards managing the state natural area preserve system which protects outstanding examples of Virginia’s natural communities and provides habitat for rare plants and animals. The Southern Piedmont Region contains two state natural area preserves currently concentrated in Halifax County. These preserves protect exemplary natural heritage resources within the Piedmont of Virginia. Preserves contain multiple forest community types, wetland and riparian habitats, and a variety of grasslands, all of which support numerous rare species and natural communities. This position is critical to the maintenance and operations of the natural area preserves within the Southern Piedmont Region. Additionally, there are five primary natural resource management project types: conservation silviculture, prescribed fire, invasive species management, deer herd management, and maintenance of trails, fire lines, and management roads.

This position is responsible for:

• Law enforcement duties of a sworn DCR Conservation Officer on state natural area preserves, enforcing state laws and DCR regulations and developing/maintaining working relationships with local law enforcement organizations.
• Developing and implementing site safety and emergency action plans
• Maintaining preserve infrastructure such as roads, kiosks, and trails
• Managing public access; maintaining property boundaries; working with part time field staff and volunteers; and frequently assisting with natural resource management projects.
• Working closely with the Southern Piedmont Region Supervisor/Steward to plan and execute these projects.
• May occasionally work with State Parks staff and other state agency partners to complete project tasks.
• Supervise wage staff, contractors, and volunteers on project work in the field as needed.

The Operations Steward will work in all sorts of weather, occasionally on weekends, and occasionally travel overnight.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers paid leave; 13 paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan for classified positions, and VaLORS for law enforcement positions); and is a federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

DCR’s Mission is to conserve the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources of the Commonwealth. We invite you to learn more about DCR’s efforts to CONSERVE.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated advanced knowledge and experience in applied ecology, natural resources management, forestry, wildlife management, conservation biology, or related biological science.
• Demonstrated experience in prescribed burning and/or forestry/silvicultural practices.
• Demonstrated experience in invasive species management and/or habitat restoration.
• Demonstrated experience in operating and maintaining a variety of tools (e.g., herbicide sprayers, chainsaws), vehicles (e.g., UTVs, trucks, tractors), and equipment (e.g., trailers).
• Experience in trails construction and maintenance and/or maintaining outdoor recreation facilities and/or infrastructure (e.g., roads, parking areas, gates, kiosks, fire control lines, marked boundaries).
• Proficiency and experience with navigating off trail and collecting field data using a variety of recording methods, including mobile applications and/or GPS receivers.
• Proficiency with computers and applications including word processing, data management, and analysis with spreadsheets.
• Experience with GIS software for mapping and spatial information management.
  

Additional Considerations

• Demonstrated experience in fire leadership positions.
• Experience in conducting timber sales including evaluation of outcomes.
• Knowledge or working experience with law enforcement principles and specific knowledge of the laws and regulations pertaining to the conservation and use of natural resources of Virginia.
• Experience supervising contractors, volunteers, and wage staff and experience in administrating projects including budgeting and planning.
  

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position. Submission of an online application is required for this position. DCR does not accept applications, resumes, cover letters, etc. for this vacancy in any other format. When applying for jobs, please ensure your online application or resume is complete with duties and skills associated with your work experience.

Position requires incumbent to be or become a Sworn Conservation Officer, possess, or maintain certification as a law enforcement officer in Virginia through DCJS which includes attending the agency's law enforcement academy located in Salem, Virginia, and successfully complete a physical agility test and state exam. Candidates selected for hire are provided living accommodations during the academy. Successful applicants shall not have a felony conviction(s) or have pled no contest to a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in VA; shall not have a misdemeanor conviction(s) involving moral turpitude, including larceny, concealment, uttering, embezzlement, or perjury; shall not have conviction(s) for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; shall not have positive results on pre-employment drug screening.

Conditions of employment require the successful completion of a physical exam and behavioral assessment is required to be identified as suitable for the position prior to beginning employment.

Selected candidate(s) will need to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. DCR participates in E-Verify.

DCR employees are encouraged to visit Virginia State Parks! Check out our employee discounts.

• Free parking or admission to all Virginia State Parks.
• DCR classified, retired, and wage staff (after six months of service) are entitled to overnight facility discounts such as:
  • Free camping outside of the Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day period in sites designed for up to six people.
  • Free camping Sunday night through Thursday night (excluding the night prior to a holiday) from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
  • Fifty percent discount on cabins (up to 3 bedrooms) outside of Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, for a maximum of 14 nights. All reservations require a two-night minimum. Bunkhouses, camping cabins, and yurts are included; one night yurt stays only receive a 25% discount.

Minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people with National/Federal Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TT

Contact Information

Name: N/A

Phone: N/A

Email: HR@dcr.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.