Park Ranger

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 42 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 10 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).

THE PARK 

 
Clinch River State Park, located in Russell and Wise Counties opened in 2021. The park will be the first blue-way, state park of its kind established in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Clinch River State Park consists of two anchor properties (430 – 750 acres) connected by multiple canoe/kayak access points along about 100 miles of the Clinch River. Some of the access points will be part of the state park while other partner agencies and localities will own additional launch access points. The 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 river’s ecological diversity, and enjoy the beauty of what The Nature Conservancy has deemed “One of the Last, Great Places,” due to the river’s tremendous globally significant biodiversity. The anchor properties and access points are still in the acquisition phase, except for the “Sugar Hill” unit which has river access, several miles of hiking trails, and a picnic shelter; all of which are open to the public and used daily. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

As the Park Ranger-Maintenance, you will join an exceptional team and be responsible for supervising the wage operations of the maintenance staff to ensure facilities and grounds are safe and meet current standards. The incumbent will:

Experience in on-going routine grounds and building maintenance and repair, to include associated tools, vehicles, and power and non-power equipment 

Demonstrated experience in managing, supervising, training staff and/or volunteers 

Experience providing customer service to diverse populations. 

Possess verbal and written communication skills 

Perform duties related to fee collection, public relations, and visitor assistance.

Ability to work independently with excellent organizational skills 

Minimum Qualifications

Ability to lead, direct, and train others.

Demonstrated experience providing customer service in public settings.

Ability to use a variety of tools, materials, and equipment to maintain facilities and grounds.

Experience in grounds maintenance (I.E., mowing, landscaping, snow removal, tree work) 

Skill in basic construction/maintenance trades (I.E., carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry etc.)

Additional Considerations

First Aid, CPR, & AED certification.

Experience with automotive repair and preventative maintenance.

Experience in herbicide spraying and resource management. 

Experience in trail maintenance. 

Experience with site safety practices in a park and/or maintenance environment. 

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.

Contact Information

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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.