Park Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement - Widewater State Park

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Stafford, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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. If you have always wanted to work in a beautiful, serene environment, we have the perfect position for you at Widewater 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 responsibility for enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth and Department regulations.

Requirements

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.
Must be able to perform physically demanding tasks, including standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequently lifting up to 50 pounds.
The selected applicant will be required to obtain CPR and First Aid certifications.
Must be willing to carry and properly use firearms as part of assigned duties.
Requires wearing a uniform and law enforcement equipment in accordance with DCR Public Safety & Law Enforcement Uniform standards.
Requires the incumbent to be or become a Sworn Conservation Officer and attend a 21-week Law Enforcement Academy located in Salem, Virginia.
Must be a US citizen.
Must 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.
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.
Successful completion of a physical agility test and behavioral assessment.
Successful completion of a physical exam is required to be identified as suitable for the position before beginning employment.
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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Support Widewater 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.
Conducts inspections of facilities, grounds, infrastructure, equipment, and vehicles to ensure the safety of park guests, department employees, volunteers, and the general public.
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.

Benefits

Paid leave
A minimum of 13 paid state holidays
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan for classified positions, and VaLORS for law enforcement positions)
Federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer
Free parking or admission to all Virginia State Parks
Overnight facility discounts for DCR classified, retired, and wage staff (after six months of service)
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
Bunkhouses, camping cabins, and yurts are included in the cabin discount; one-night yurt stays only receive a 25% discount