Chief Ranger - Public Safety & Law Enforcement - Pocahontas State Park
Company: DHRM
Location: Chesterfield
Posted on: April 2, 2026
|
|
|
Job Description:
Title: Chief Ranger - Public Safety & Law Enforcement State Role
Title: Protective Service Workers, All Other Hiring Range: $44,000
- $60,564 Pay Band: 3 Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation
Location: Pocahontas State Park Agency Website:
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only
- A 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 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 – 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
Virginia's 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&LE’s 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. 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 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 to possess and maintain certification through the
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to maintain
employment. 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 accepts 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, etc., 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. A valid Driver's License is
required to operate a state vehicle or if operating a personal
vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the agency. 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 a Sworn Conservation
Officer, and maintain certification as a law enforcement officer in
Virginia through DCJS. Conditions of employment require the
successful completion of a physical exam, and a behavioral
assessment is required to be identified as suitable for the
position before beginning employment. Chief Ranger – PS&LE
positions require shift work, which includes weekends, holidays,
and overtime. In 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/Federal
Service 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:
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.
Keywords: DHRM, Virginia Beach , Chief Ranger - Public Safety & Law Enforcement - Pocahontas State Park, Healthcare , Chesterfield, Virginia
