Title: Natural Heritage Karst Technician

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $22/Hourly

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Blacksburg, VA

Agency Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage is currently hiring for two (2) wage Karst Technicians.

The Virginia Department of Conservations and Recreations (DCR) is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to conserve resources for a diverse commonwealth.

The Natural Heritage Karst Technician position will assist the Natural Heritage Field Cave and Karst Scientists in delineating the extent and assessing vulnerability of caves and karst areas associated with the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

The NH Karst Technician will be responsible for:

• Surface inventories of cave and karst features
• Biological inventories, exploration, photo documentation, and mapping of caves
• Hydrological monitoring and delineation using dye trace methods
• Report writing and data processing using Microsoft Access, ArcPro GIS, and other software.

The NH Karst Technicians position(s) will be based in Blacksburg, VA with primarily conducting fieldwork across the state of Virginia. Administrative/Office work will be performed remotely.

Wage/seasonal positions are not eligible for Commonwealth of Virginia benefits (health care, paid leave, etc.) and are limited to 1,500 hours from May 1 to April 30.

DCR provides the opportunity for wage employees to participate in tax deferred compensation programs, supplemental disability insurances, and supplemental retirement accounts made available through the Commonwealth’s provider network at the employee’s expense.

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

• Ability to perform strenuous field work year-round in a back-country, off-trail setting.
• Basic familiarity with karst systems and associated terminology.
• Experience with navigation, and collection of field data, using GPS based digital devices.
• Experience in safely performing work duties in caves (dark, tight, wet and muddy environments) that might require climbing, crawling, walking, stoop-walking, rope traversing, and climbing for prolonged periods of time.
• Competency in alpine style single rope vertical caving techniques (SRT); Experience in navigation through a cave using a cave map.
  

Additional Considerations

• Experience in cave survey, especially cave sketching and cave map drafting.
• Experience in rigging caves.
• Knowledge of ArcPRO and ESRI FieldMaps Application.
• Experience in performing hydrological dye tracing tests.
• Knowledge of subterranean biology, karst geology, or hydrology.
• Experience in MS Excel and MS Access.

Special Instructions

The selected candidate must be willing and able to work non-traditional hours, including weekends and holidays, frequent long days, overnight travel, and travel to conferences. The selected candidate must be able to carry a cave pack with personal and work gear while navigating a cave for prolonged periods of time.

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 and/or resume is complete with duties and skills associated with your work experience.

A valid Driver's License is required to operate a state vehicle or if operating a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the agency.

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

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

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.
    

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

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.