Title: District Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement - District 2

State Role Title: Law Enforcement Officer II

Hiring Range: $65,000 - $75,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: MAIN STREET CENTRE

Agency Website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is hiring! DCR is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to work for a diverse commonwealth.

Join our Office of Public Safety and Law Enforcement as a District Ranger, assigned to District II, which comprises eight parks in the Northern Virginia region. Often termed the Potomac District, these parks operate on an annual budget of $2.8 million with 38 classified staff and approximately 200 wage staff greeting an estimated 1 million visitors with revenues topping $3 million. Three of the parks provide overnight camping, and two of the parks have cabins. The five Potomac River parks all offer paddle-in campsites. Popular day-use activities within these parks are miles of hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, and water trails. Additionally, these parks provide a variety of natural, cultural, historical, educational, and recreational programs. Guests in this district are most commonly from the NOVA/DC, Richmond City, and Maryland State areas. The history of this district varies with civil war, civil rights, railroad, Native American, and Civilian Conservation Corps history all playing major roles in the stories of District 2 parks.

This position serves as a sworn, commissioned, and certified law enforcement officer as defined in the Code of Virginia § 9.1-101, with responsibility to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth and the regulations of the Department. As one of Virginia’s Law Enforcement Rangers, the successful candidate supports park programs and services with special emphasis on providing public safety, law enforcement, and resource protection by enforcing park rules, regulations, and state laws. Duties include conducting law enforcement patrols, basic investigations, and responding to calls for public safety and law enforcement services.

Operating under the Deputy Chief of Public Safety & Law Enforcement, or designee, with input and coordination with the District Manager, the primary purpose of this position is to ensure the protection of people, property, and resources on land owned, leased, or operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation through articulated and displayed specialized knowledge of public safety and law enforcement activities. This will include providing law enforcement services by patrolling agency properties in a vehicle, on foot, and by other modes of transportation. This will also include assisting with covering law enforcement staffing at specific parks in the event of staffing shortages, special events, special operations, and search and rescue operations. Additionally, this position will respond to and conduct initial and supplemental investigations of incidents, serve as a resource for public safety and law enforcement matters, assist Law Enforcement Rangers assigned to specific parks with law enforcement functions, and support the provision of statewide law enforcement services as necessary.

Additional duties can include, but may not be limited to:

• Serving as a Field Training Officer, a General Instructor (as required), and as an instructor in at least one public safety and law enforcement specialty (i.e., firearms, defensive tactics, driving, etc.), or as an instructor for Basic First Aid/Wilderness First Aid/CPR/AED.
• Serving as part of the Accreditation Team and supporting accreditation efforts (e.g., coordinating proofs, reviewing standards, etc.).
• Serving as an ad-hoc member of working groups.
• Responding to, leading, and coordinating SAR (Search and Rescue) responses within the assigned district. Will be required to obtain and maintain advanced SAR certification as appropriate.
• Responding to and assisting in the management of wildfire response incidents and supporting prescribed fire operations as necessary. Will be expected to meet DCR standards for prescribed fire crew members as appropriate.
• Assisting with the development of operational/ICS event plans, the ICS process, including reviewing District ICS plans, serving as a team member on the DCR SAR Team; assisting with administrative law enforcement operations, including inspections and audits outlined in general orders. Employee will be expected to obtain and maintain ICS certifications.
• Coordinating the training of non-law enforcement staff in public safety, law enforcement, and crime prevention-related topics (e.g., personal safety, identification of counterfeit currency, fraud, and theft prevention).
• Assisting with developing and reviewing Emergency Action Plans and working with District Management and Park Management to ensure that accurate, up-to-date EAPs are maintained at all district state parks.
• Undertaking, leading, and coordinating public-facing public safety & law enforcement outreach and recruitment efforts in conjunction with the Department, Division, Park, or other identified specific public events.
• Monitoring and evaluating DCR properties and data for public safety needs, as well as responsive and proactive crime prevention and crime reduction efforts, and making referrals for actions and resolutions as appropriate.
• Assist in the identification and preparation of grant programs to enhance public safety and law enforcement operations.
• Assisting with the interview and selection of applicants for law enforcement positions within the district.

DCR offers paid leave; a minimum of 13 paid state holidays per year; 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

• Working knowledge of law enforcement principles and practices.
• Experience in planning and organizing a complex array of public safety and law enforcement actions and developing independent solutions to public safety and law enforcement issues with little immediate leadership input.
• Working knowledge of recreational or conservation management principles and practices.
• Experience in training, encouraging, and evaluating others.
• Experience in effectively addressing multiple assignments with critical deadlines and working within program goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Experience making and supporting difficult and/or unpopular decisions, to both demonstrate and elicit accountability.
• Experience providing customer service in public settings.
• Experience communicating effectively verbally and in writing.
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Current Law Enforcement Certification from Virginia DCJS and experience in a law enforcement role.
• Valid driver's license.

Additional Considerations

• Law enforcement experience that includes progressive patrol, training, and investigative responsibilities.
• Involvement with recreational law enforcement programs or service as a Law Enforcement Ranger.
• Knowledge of agency organizational functions.
• A working knowledge of Division of State Park operations.
• Current certification as a DCJS Field Training Officer, and General Instructor, or ability to acquire within 12 months of hire.

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 and/or resume are 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.

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

The selected incumbent will be required to reside within the boundaries of the assigned district. For District II, these counties include Orange, Louisa, Hanover, King William, King and Queen, Caroline, Essex, Fredericksburg, Arlington, Alexandria, King George, Spotsylvania, Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Westmoreland, Stafford, and Culpeper.

The position requires the incumbent to be a sworn law enforcement officer. Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; be a high school graduate or possess a GED; possess certification as a LE Officer in VA from the VA Dept. of Criminal Justice Service, which includes accepting responsibilities related to being equipped with and using firearms. 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.

Employment in all law enforcement positions within DCR is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation, including a criminal history record check. Conditions of employment for this position require the successful completion of a behavioral assessment. Also, successful completion of a physical exam is required to be identified as suitable for the position before beginning employment.

The position involves regular outdoor work in all seasons, with exposure to weather, dust, animals, and insects. Candidates must be able to perform physically demanding tasks, including standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequently lifting 50 pounds. The selected applicant will be required to obtain CPR and First Aid certifications and must be willing to carry and properly use firearms as part of assigned duties. This role also requires wearing uniform and law enforcement equipment in accordance with DCR Public Safety & Law Enforcement Uniform standards.

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 the Labor Day period in sites designed for up to six people.
  • Free camping Sunday night through Thursday night (excluding the night before 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.