Chief Ranger Law Enforcement – Hungry Mother State Park

Title: Chief Ranger Law Enforcement – Hungry Mother State Park

State Role Title: Natural Resource Specialist II

Hiring Range: $42,000 - $58,800

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Hungry Mother State Park

Agency Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This is a readvertisement.  Previous applicants do not need to reapply to be considered for this position.

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 42 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 41 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
One of the original six Virginia State Parks, Hungry Mother has long been a favorite. It's known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains. The park has a sandy beach with a bathhouse, boat rentals (canoe, kayak, paddleboats and paddleboards), a boat launch and a universally accessible fishing pier. Guests also enjoy campgrounds, cabins, yurts, gift shops, a visitor center, a six-bedroom family lodge, and hiking and biking trails.

The Hemlock Haven Conference Center, which is available for retreats, conferences and special events, is also here. Catering is available.

The Legend of Hungry Mother

The Legend of Hungry Mother takes many forms, and all have whispers of the truth. The one widely accepted by the people of Southwest Virginia goes like this…

Legend has it that a pioneer named Molly Marley and her small child were captured by a Native American tribe and taken to their mountain camp. Molly and her little one eventually escaped and wandered through the woods foraging for food and searching for shelter. One day Molly collapsed from exhaustion, and the youngster continued along the creek until help was found. The only words the child could utter were “Hungry Mother.” A search party later found Molly dead at the foot of the mountain near the creek.

The mountain went on to be called Molly’s Knob and the stream Hungry Mother Creek. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the park, and the creek was dammed to form the lake. The name of the park is wrapped in its own mystery. Originally it was to be called Forest Lake. The name was changed to Southwest Virginia Lake and then to Hungry Mother State Park not long before the park opened. The debate over the legend and the park name continues to this day.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The primary purpose of the Chief Ranger is to provide direct, day-to-day supervision of permanent and seasonal employees that provide support for park maintenance.
This position also assists in the overall management and operation of the park with special emphasis on visitor and resource protection and management; providing customer service for park operations; performing preventive maintenance of park buildings and grounds while ensuring operations comply with safety and regulatory standards. The incumbent of this positions will be responsible for supervising staff who perform buildings and grounds maintenance activities; and assisting in the development of the park budget and annual operating plan.

The Chief Ranger also ensures public safety and resource protection by enforcing park rules/regulations, and state laws through use of sworn conservation officer powers.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to work independently with excellent organizational skills.
• Experience in grounds and building maintenance, to include associated tools, vehicles, and equipment.
• Demonstrated experience in managing, supervising, training staff and/or volunteers.
• Experience providing customer service to diverse populations.
• Possess verbal and written communication skills.

Additional Considerations

• Current Virginia DCJS law enforcement officer certification.
• Natural, Cultural and/or Historical resource management experience.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations.
• Experience with procurement transactions.
• Training or certification as a sawyer, prescribed burn crew, or pesticide technician.

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.

Chief Ranger LE positions require shift work which includes weekends, holidays, evenings, and overtime. As a non-exempt position, Chief Ranger LE is covered by the FLSA minimum wage and overtime requirements. DCR has elected to grant overtime leave instead of overtime pay when non-exempt employees work more than 40 hours in any work week. When 80 hours of overtime leave have been accumulated, hours worked over 40 in a work week will be compensated by time & one-half rate of pay. These positions are required to wear state-issued uniforms and equipment. On occasion, critical agency business needs may require position reassignments within the salary range.

Position requires incumbent to be or become a Sworn Conservation Officer and attend a 21-week Law Enforcement Academy located in Salem Virginia. Candidates selected for hire are provided living accommodations during the academy. Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; H.S. grad or possess GED; pass a background investigation including fingerprint-based criminal history records check; 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. Successful applicants: 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.

Conditions of employment for this position require the successful completion of a physical agility test and behavioral assessment. Also, successful completion of a physical exam is required to be identified as suitable for the position prior to beginning employment.

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.

Contact Information

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Phone: N/A

Email: N/A

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.