District Ranger - Public Safety & Law Enforcement - District 4

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Richmond, VA

2d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is hiring a sworn, commissioned, and certified law enforcement officer to serve as a District Ranger in District IV, which comprises eight parks in the Central Virginia region. The role supports park programs and services, with an emphasis on public safety, law enforcement, and resource protection through enforcement of park rules, regulations, and state laws. Reporting under the Deputy Chief of Public Safety & Law Enforcement, or designee, and coordinating with the District Manager, the Ranger protects people, property, and resources on DCR-owned, leased, or operated lands. The position provides law enforcement services through patrols by vehicle, on foot, and by other modes of transportation; responds to calls; conducts initial and supplemental investigations; and may assist parks with staffing shortages, special events, special operations, and search and rescue. The Ranger also assists park-assigned Law Enforcement Rangers and supports statewide law enforcement services as needed. Additional duties may include serving as a field training officer, instructor, accreditation team member, or working-group member; coordinating search-and-rescue responses; supporting wildfire response and prescribed fire operations; assisting with incident command system planning, emergency action plans, inspections, audits, training, public outreach, crime prevention, grant development, and law enforcement recruitment and selection. The position requires residence within District IV boundaries. It involves regular outdoor work in all seasons and exposure to weather, dust, animals, and insects. Rangers work varied shifts, including weekends and holidays, and overtime; on-call work and responses outside scheduled hours may also be required. The role requires wearing a uniform and law enforcement equipment, carrying and properly using firearms, and performing physically demanding tasks, including frequently lifting 50 pounds. A valid driver’s license is required to operate a vehicle for official business. Employment is contingent on satisfactory background investigation and criminal history check, and successful completion of a physical agility test, behavioral assessment, and physical exam. The position requires a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old, has a high school diploma or GED, and holds or is eligible for the required Virginia law enforcement certification. The selected applicant must obtain CPR and First Aid certifications. DCR offers paid leave, at least 13 paid state holidays per year, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, retirement plans, and access to Virginia State Park admission and certain overnight-stay discounts.

Requirements

Working knowledge of law enforcement principles and practices.
Experience planning and organizing complex public safety and law enforcement activities and developing independent solutions with little immediate leadership input.
Experience training, encouraging, and evaluating others.
Experience managing multiple assignments with critical deadlines while working within program goals, objectives, and priorities.
Experience making and supporting difficult or unpopular decisions and demonstrating and eliciting accountability.
Experience providing customer service in public settings.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Experience in a law enforcement role.
Current DCJS certification, or eligibility for certification, as a law enforcement officer under Code of Virginia § 9.1-101.
Must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old.
Must be a high school graduate or possess a GED.
Must possess Virginia DCJS law enforcement officer certification, including acceptance of responsibilities related to being equipped with and using firearms.
Must meet stated criminal-history and pre-employment drug-screening requirements; disqualifying convictions and positive pre-employment drug-screen results are not permitted.
Must successfully complete a background investigation, criminal history check, physical agility test, behavioral assessment, and physical exam.
Must obtain CPR and First Aid certifications.
Must be willing to carry and properly use firearms and wear a uniform and law enforcement equipment according to DCR standards.
Must be able to perform physically demanding work, including standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequently lifting 50 pounds.
Must hold a valid driver’s license to operate a state or personal vehicle for official agency business.
Must reside within the assigned District IV boundaries.
Must work varied shifts, including weekends, holidays, and overtime, and serve on call as needed.

Nice To Haves

Law enforcement experience with progressive patrol, training, and investigative responsibilities.
Working knowledge of recreational or conservation management principles and practices.
Involvement with recreational law enforcement programs or experience as a Law Enforcement Ranger.
Knowledge of agency organizational functions.
Working knowledge of Division of State Parks and Natural Heritage operations.
Current DCJS Field Training Officer and General Instructor certifications, or ability to acquire them within 12 months of hire.

Responsibilities

Enforce Commonwealth laws, DCR regulations, and park rules to support public safety, law enforcement, and resource protection.
Protect people, property, and resources on land owned, leased, or operated by DCR.
Conduct law enforcement patrols by vehicle, on foot, and by other modes of transportation.
Respond to public safety and law enforcement calls and conduct initial and supplemental investigations.
Assist with law enforcement staffing at parks during shortages, special events, special operations, and search-and-rescue operations.
Assist Law Enforcement Rangers assigned to specific parks and support statewide law enforcement services as needed.
Serve as a Field Training Officer, General Instructor, and instructor in a public safety or law enforcement specialty, or as an instructor in first aid, wilderness first aid, CPR, or AED, as assigned.
Support law enforcement accreditation efforts, including coordinating proofs and reviewing standards.
Respond to, lead, and coordinate search-and-rescue responses within the assigned district and maintain advanced SAR certification as appropriate.
Respond to and assist with wildfire incident management and support prescribed fire operations as necessary.
Assist with operational and ICS event plans, review district ICS plans, serve on the OCR SAR Team, and support administrative law enforcement inspections and audits.
Coordinate public safety, law enforcement, and crime-prevention training for non-law-enforcement staff.
Assist in developing and reviewing Emergency Action Plans and work with district and park management to keep them current.
Lead and coordinate public-facing public safety and law enforcement outreach and recruitment efforts at events.
Monitor and evaluate DCR properties and data for public safety needs and recommend responsive or proactive crime-prevention and crime-reduction actions.
Assist with identifying and preparing grant programs to enhance public safety and law enforcement operations.
Assist with interviewing and selecting law enforcement applicants within the district.
Obtain and maintain required ICS certifications and other assigned certifications.
Work varied shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime, and on-call assignments as required; respond to calls outside scheduled hours within the prescribed timeframe.

Benefits

Paid leave.
A minimum of 13 paid state holidays per year.
Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Life insurance.
Retirement plans, including the 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan for classified positions, and VaLORS for law enforcement positions.
Federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer.
Free parking and admission to all Virginia State Parks.
Eligible staff may receive camping and cabin discounts after six months of service, subject to stated conditions.