Chief Ranger - Law Enforcement
Job no: 5092318
Position type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Scott, Virginia
Division/Equivalent: Dept Conservation & Recreation
School/Unit: Dept Conservation & Recreation
Department/Office: Natural Tunnel SP
Categories: Public Safety, Applied Sciences and Natural Resources, Law / Judiciary
Title: Chief Ranger - Law Enforcement
State Role Title: Natural Resource Spec II
Hiring Range: $44,000 - $60,564
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation
Location: Natural Tunnel State Park
Agency Website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
If you have always wanted to work in a beautiful and serene environment? Then we have the perfect position for you at Natural Tunnel State Park!
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to conserve resources for a diverse commonwealth.
Virginia’s award-winning state park system, a division of DCR, boasts an incredible and diverse array of natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources including parks in the mountains, on the ocean, on the Chesapeake Bay, on 8 major rivers, on 4 major lakes, 4 rail trails, 3 battlefield sites, and 32 sites listed on the National Historic Registry. Our parks encompass over 75,000 acres, offering campsites, cabins, trails, shorelines, lakes and ponds, international dark sky sites, and over 20,000 educational programs and workshops each year.
The Chief Ranger Law Enforcement 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, you will support park programs and services by providing public safety, law enforcement, and resource protection by enforcing park rules, regulations, and state laws. You will 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 includes providing public safety and law enforcement services by patrolling agency properties in a vehicle, on foot, and by other modes of transportation. You will also assist with special events, special operations, and search and rescue operations as knowledge and skills permit.
As a Chief Ranger Law Enforcement at Natural Tunnel State Park, you will also be responsible for frontline supervision of maintenance operations at the park. Duties include:
- Working directly with management and maintenance staff to ensure routine maintenance projects are scheduled and completed on time.
- Recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising classified and seasonal staff, volunteers, and other work program participants.
- Overseeing maintenance of buildings, trails, and grounds, including tools, equipment, and preventive maintenance performed by staff.
- Ensuring the effective operation of all park facilities, including a chairlift and pool.
- Performing hands-on preventive maintenance of park buildings and grounds as needed.
- Assisting with developing and monitoring park budgets, including maintenance projects and the annual operating plan.
- Reviewing and completing various tasks using maintenance management software to perform timekeeping, create schedules, assign work, procurement, and accident reports.
- Assisting with the development of the park budget and annual operating plan.
- Performing grounds, trails, and facilities development; construction, management, and maintenance of assigned construction/site improvement projects, and natural resource management.
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
- Knowledge of natural resources planning and management
- Ability to work independently with excellent organizational skills
- Experience in grounds and building maintenance, to include associated tools, vehicles, and equipment
- Demonstrated experience in managing, supervising, and training staff and/or volunteers
- Experience providing customer service to diverse populations.
- Possess verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience using personal computer applications and/or software.
- Must be able to complete the agency-required Basic Law Enforcement Academy and obtain DCJS certification within 18 months of hire.
- Valid Driver’s License
Additional Considerations
- Current Virginia DCJS law enforcement officer certification.
- Education, training, or demonstrated experience in parks, recreation, forestry, wildlife management, environmental education, or a closely related field.
- Resource management experience.
- Working knowledge of OSHA regulations.
- Experience with procurement transactions.
- Training or certification as a sawyer, prescribed burn crew, or pesticide technician.
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. 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.
Position requires the incumbent, if not already certified through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), to meet the required steps for the initial certification as a Virginia Law Enforcement Officer within 12 months of an assigned academy class date to maintain employment. The incumbent must be able to complete the agency-required Basic Law Enforcement Academy and obtain DCJS certification within 18 months of hire.
Position requires incumbent to be or become a Sworn Conservation Officer and attend a 21-week Law Enforcement Academy located in Salem, Virginia. Candidates selected for hire are provided with living accommodations during the academy. Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; H.S. graduate or possess a GED; possess or be able to obtain certification as a LE Officer in Virginia from the Virginia Department 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 positions within the Virginia State Parks is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check, including a criminal history record check. Conditions of employment for this position require the successful completion of a physical agility test and behavioral assessment. Also, successful completion of a physical exam is required to be identified as suitable for the position before beginning employment.
Chief Ranger LE positions require shift work, which includes nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime. This position will serve in an on-call capacity, as needed, to provide security and operational efficiencies. Responding to calls outside scheduled hours requires a response within a prescribed timeframe. Chief Rangers are required to wear state-issued uniforms and equipment.
THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO LIVE IN PARK HOUSING: In accordance with 10.1-109.B of the Code of Virginia, this position is required to reside in Department-controlled housing for the purposes of providing security and operational efficiencies to the property of the Department. The incumbent must enter into a lease agreement and demonstrate possession of liability and personal property insurance.
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.
Minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TT
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.
Advertised: Eastern Daylight Time
Application close: Eastern Daylight Time
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