Park Ranger Public Safety & Law Enforcement

Title: Park Ranger Public Safety & Law Enforcement

State Role Title:Natural Resource Spec II

Hiring Range: $50000 - $68500 (non-commissioned) OR $55000 - $75350 (DCJS commissioned w/1year experience)

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location:Leesylvania State Park

Agency Website:

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the states lead conservation agency and it takes a diverse agency to conserve resources for a diverse commonwealth. If you have always wanted to work in a beautiful and serene environment then we have the perfect position for you at Leesylvania State Park!

This Park Ranger PS&LE position serves as a sworn commissioned and certified law enforcement officer as defined in the Code of Virginia 9.1-101 with the responsibility to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth and Department regulations.

As one of Virginias Law Enforcement Rangers you will:

• Support Leesylvania State Park programs and services with special emphasis on providing public safety law enforcement and resource protection by enforcing park rules regulations and state laws.
• 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.
• Patrol properties in a vehicle on foot and by other modes of transportation.
• Assist with special events and search and rescue operations.
• Respond to and conduct initial investigations of incidents including felonies crimes and violations of rules public use safety requirements and motor vehicle accidents crowd control activities responding to calls for public safety and law enforcement services and proactively protecting property resources from all forms of degradation.
• Serve as a public safety resource by interacting with park visitors.

Park Ranger PS&LEs will also:

• Assist with natural resource protection which includes medical services as well as facilitate stewardship and orientation.
• Assist in wilderness management boundary enforcement and protection of natural and cultural resources (e.g. wildlife plants archaeological sites historic buildings)
• Support wildland fire suppression protection including such duties as wildlife management.
• Maintain Park boundaries and signage marking forest roads/trails and completing quarterly written trail inspections as well as other forms of written documentation.
• Facilitate stewardship (e.g. diagnosing basic maintenance issues and ensuring public safety through basic facilities and grounds maintenance) and the use of appropriate equipment.
• Supervise and train seasonal and wage staff and volunteers other work program participants in the maintenance of grounds facilities and equipment as appropriate.

Salary:
$50000 - $68500 (non-commissioned)
$55000 - $75350 (DCJS commissioned with at least 1 year of experience)

SignOn Bonus Information:
Eligible candidates may receive a signon bonus based on their current certification status:

• $10000 SignOn Bonus
  • Available to external candidates who are currently certified as law enforcement officers through DCJS and have at least one (1) year of experience in a position requiring primary law enforcement patrol duties before applying.
  • $5000 issued upon hire and$5000 issued after successful completion of the departments field training program
• $5000 SignOn Bonus
  • Available to external candidates who are not currently DCJScertified.
• $5000 Bonus for Current DCR Law Enforcement Rangers
  • Current Law Enforcement Rangers employed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation are eligible for a $5000 bonus only.

All bonuses require a 12month tenure agreement.


The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 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.

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

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience working with the public and/or customer service experience.
• Ability to problem solve and develop solutions.
• Ability to work with teams or independently with minimal supervision
• Familiarity with 2-way radios electronic devices and computers including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Basic knowledge of home/grounds maintenance (e.g. cleaning debris removal or minor home maintenance).
• 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 class date to maintain employment.
• Must be able to complete the agency-required Basic Law Enforcement Academy and obtain DCJS certification within 18 months of hire.

Work requires exposure to the outdoors weather in all seasons dust animals and insects. The successful candidate must be able to perform manual labor including standing bending pulling climbing and frequent lifting up to 50 pounds. The selected candidate must obtain certifications in CPR and First selected candidate must also be willing to carry and use firearms as part of their law enforcement duties. This position requires wearing a DCR uniform and related law enforcement equipment in accordance with DCR Public Safety & Law Enforcement Uniform Standards.

Additional Considerations

• Current Virginia DCJS law enforcement officer certification.
• Basic knowledge of park/recreation operations (e.g. building and grounds maintenance resource management etc.)
• Experience in planning and conducting programs and events.
• Experience in leading directing and training others.
• Experience reaching logical conclusions from interpreting policy and regulations.
• Experience responding to emergencies.

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.

This position requires the 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 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 before beginning employment.

Park Ranger PS&LE positions require shift work which includes weekends holidays and addition 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.

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 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 Park experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TT

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: N/A

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths 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 .

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.