Chief Ranger - Law Enforcement - Clinch River State Park

Title: Chief Ranger - Law Enforcement - Clinch River State Park

State Role Title:Natural Resource Specialist II

Hiring Range: $42,000-$58,800

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location:Clinch River State Park

Agency Website:www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

THE AGENCY
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is the state's lead conservation agency and it takes a diverse agency to work for a diverse commonwealth. DCR protects what people care about - access to the outdoors, natural habitats, open spaces, clean water and safe infrastructure. We manage 43 Virginia State Parks, which has thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins, beaches, festivals, educational programs, more than 500 miles of trails ... the list goes on.

If you're someone who wants to love what you do, and make a difference, DCR is the place for you!

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers paid leave, 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) and is a federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

THE DIVISION
The Division of Virginia State Parks fulfills its mission "to conserve the natural, scenic, historic and cultural resources of the Commonwealth and provide recreational and educational opportunities consistent with the good stewardship of these lands, waters and facilities that leaves them unimpaired for future generations" by operating a system of 43 state parks that encompass over 75,000 acres; over 1200 buildings, almost 1700 campsites; over 300 cabins; over 700 miles of trails; nearly 500 miles of shoreline; 36 lakes and ponds; 11 swimming beaches; 4 international dark sky sites, and offers over 20,000 educational programs and workshops each year.

Managed by a full time staff of 275 and a wage staff of 1000+ during the prime season, Virginia's award-winning state park system 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; and 3 battlefield sites, and 32 sites listed on the National Historic Registry. It is our honor and privilege to play host to more than 8 million visitors annually and to offer recreational enjoyment that positively impacts local communities and the Commonwealth overall (to the tune of an economic impact that exceeds $324 million).

THEPARK
Clinch River State Park will be the first "blue way" state park in Virginia and will be centered around the Clinch River, a tremendous natural asset with globally significant biodiversity. The park is under-development and will consist of two, smaller (250-400 acres) anchor properties connected by multiple canoe/kayak access points along a 24 mile stretch of the Clinch River. The park's anchor properties and launch points will comprise a "string of pearls" along the Clinch River for outdoor enthusiasts to access the river, participate in educational programming about the rivers ecological diversity, and enjoy the beauty of what The Nature Conservancy has deemed "One of the Last, Great Places.

THEOPPORTUNITY
The incumbent will assist division and park management in the planning, development and construction of properties that will become the "String of Pearls" for one of Virginia's newest State Parks, Clinch River. The incumbent will perform grounds, trails and facilities development; construction, management and maintenance of assigned construction/site improvement projects, and natural resource management; and oversee staff in the daily maintenance & upkeep of park grounds, trails and facilities. The Chief Ranger ensures public safety and protects natural and cultural resources by enforcing park rules/regulations, and state laws as a sworn conservation officer.

This position will also assist in the recruitment and supervision of wage staff and volunteers, where work project and programming labor is needed; coordinate development and presentation of public interpretive education programs and special events; work actively with internal and external groups/programs to accomplish park natural and cultural resource goals; provide customer service and assist with public relations efforts to promote and enhance community engagement. The Chief Ranger will also ensure employee and visitor safety and resource protection by enforcingOSHA,VOSH, and other health and safety standards, and serve as the park site safety officer. This position will assist with reports, accounts payable, procurement, cash management, visitor service functions, budget and the annual operation plan; and assist with recruiting, hiring, scheduling and evaluating wage employees and volunteers. The incumbent of this position will also act as a secondary supervisor of the park in the absence of the park manager.

The Chief Ranger will assist district resource management staff and park management in performing resource management activities including invasive species treatment, prescribed burns, boundary marking, vegetation surveys, and long-term land management planning and implementation such as haying and grazing contracts. This position will also assist Division and park management identify potential new property acquisitions to fulfill the overall future master plan for the park.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing personnel management/supervision to staff or volunteers.
• Previous demonstrated experience providing customer service to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of the performance of grounds and facilities maintenance and upkeep.
• 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.

Additional Considerations

• Demonstrated work history or volunteer experience in parks and recreation or a similar setting
• Current Virginia DCJS law enforcement officer certification
• Experience with project planning and budget management
• Knowledge of OSHA and Bloodborne Pathogens policies and procedures
• CPR/First Aid/AED, Pesticide Applicator's and/or CDL license
• Experience in evaluating situations, applying rules and guidelines, determining, and carrying out appropriate course of action to achieve desired results
• Experience in cash management
• Experience in presenting public education programming
• Experience in resource management

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.

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

DCR is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and the highest ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that our greatest strength lies in the individual differences, experiences, and skillsets that our employees bring to the table. Because of this, we strongly encourage applications from all walks of life, and we welcome all contributions in terms of age, beliefs, color, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, language, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran's status.

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

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.

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

Employment in all positions within the Virginia State Parks is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check including a criminal history record check.

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.

Position requires incumbent to be or become a Sworn Conservation Officer and attend a 21-weekLawEnforcementAcademy located in Salem, Virginia. Candidates selected for hire are provided living accommodations during the academy. Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; H.S. grad or possess GED; possess or be able to obtain 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.

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 prior to beginning employment.

Ability to work in diverse conditions including exposure to the outdoors, weather in all seasons, dust, animals, and insects. Ability to perform heavy manual labor to include standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequent lifting up to 50 lbs.

Ability to obtain CPR and First Aid certifications within 12 months of employment.

ChiefRangerLE positions require shift work which includes weekends, holidays, evenings, and overtime. As a non-exempt position,ChiefRangerLE is covered by the FLSA minimum wage and overtime requirements. DCR has elected to grant overtime leave instead of overtime pay when non-exempt employees work more than 40 hours in any work week. When 80 hours of overtime leave have been accumulated, hours worked over 40 in a work week will be compensated by time & one-half rate of pay. These positions are required to wear state-issued uniforms and equipment. On occasion, critical agency business needs may require position reassignments within the salary range.

Contact Information

Name: N/A

Phone: N/A

Email: N/A

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.