Chief Ranger Public Safety & Law Enforcement

Title: Chief Ranger - Public Safety & Law Enforcement

State Role Title:Natural Resource Spec II

Hiring Range: $44000 - $60564

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location:Pocahontas State Park

Agency Website:

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 Pocahontas State Park! We are hiring a Chief Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement.

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.

Virginias 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 75000 acres offering campsites cabins trails shorelines lakes and ponds international dark sky sites and over 20000 educational programs and workshops each year.
The Chief 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 the regulations of the Department.

As one of Virginias Law Enforcement Rangers you will:

• Support Pocahontas 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.

Chief Ranger PS&LEs will also:

• Provides PSLE oversight at home and nearby park as required including reviewing reports as requested and ensuring compliance with General Orders laws codes and regulations. - serves as primary contact for daily LE operations with District Ranger serving as Acting District Ranger when requested.
• Provides ongoing law enforcement operational awareness and statistical awareness to the site PM for assigned sites ensuring PM awareness of trends or issues that could impact site operations.
• Requests and coordinates site-specific LE special operations proactively and in response to issues coordinates preparation of assigned site event operational/security plans for routing to District Ranger and DM.
• Coordinates scheduling of site Park Ranger PSLE with site PMs and District Ranger PSLE to ensure appropriate coverage.
• Assisting in wilderness management boundary enforcement protection of natural and cultural resources (e.g. wildlife plants archaeological sites historic buildings) and supporting wildland fire suppression protection including such duties as wildlife management.
• Maintaining Park boundaries and signage marking forest roads/trails and completing quarterly written trail inspections as well as other forms of written documentation.
• Facilitates stewardship (e.g. diagnosing basic maintenance issues and ensuring public safety through basic facilities and grounds maintenance) and use of appropriate safety equipment and equipment.

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).
• Must possess and maintain Law Enforcement Officer certification through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
• Employee will be expected to obtain and maintain appropriate SAR certification(s) and support the DCR Search and Rescue (SAR) Team/Virginia Department of Emergency Management during operations at their group of assigned parks or a geographic area.
• Employee will be expected to obtain and possess knowledge of controlled burns and wildfire response to provide appropriate public safety and law enforcement response at their assigned park(s) or a geographic area as approved by leadership of the Division of State Parks and OPSLE.
• May also be required to obtain and maintain certifications to serve as First/Aid CPR Instructor or obtain CPTED certification or other similar activities as approved by leadership of the Division of State Parks and OPSLE.

Work requires exposure to the outdoors weather in all seasons dust animals and insects. Must be able to perform manual labor including standing bending pulling climbing and frequent lifting up to 50 pounds. Must obtain certifications in CPR and First Aid and accept responsibilities related to being equipped with and using firearms and will be required to wear a uniform and related law enforcement equipment and comply with the DCR OPSLE Uniform standards.

Additional Considerations

• 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 in responding to or handling 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 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 Drivers License is required to operate a state vehicle or if operating a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the agency.

PARK HOUSING WILL BE OPTIONAL FOR THIS POSITION. If chosen by the incumbent the following will apply: In accordance with 10.1-109.B of the Code of Virginia this position is required to reside in Department-controlled housing for the purpose 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.

The selected incumbent must become a Sworn Conservation Officer. Must possess certification as a law enforcement officer in Virginia through DCJS.

Chief 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.

Minorities individuals with disabilities veterans and people with National Park 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 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:

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.