Park Ranger - Maintenance - Grayson Highlands State Park

Title: Park Ranger - Maintenance - Grayson Highlands State Park

State Role Title: 

Hiring Range: $42,000 - $57,680

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Grayson Highlands State Park

Agency Website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

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.

DCR is hiring! Join us in preserving what people care about most – access to the outdoors, natural habitats, open spaces, clean water, and safe infrastructure. Grayson Highlands State Park is accepting applications for the position of Park Ranger - Maintenance.

Near Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, Virginia's two highest mountains, Grayson Highlands offers scenic views of alpine-like peaks more than 5,000 feet high. Facilities include a visitor center, campgrounds, and hiking trails leading to waterfalls and overlooks. Scenic horse trails and a horse camping area with electric and water hookups, stables and parking for trailers are available. The park provides year-round access to the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail.

As a Park Ranger you will supervise wage employees, assist management with park operations, and perform administrative functions.

Primary Job duties include:

• Maintain, improve and protect park facilities, grounds, systems, resources, vehicles and equipment by performing and supervising maintenance projects.
• Using skills in a variety of trades including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting, landscaping, small engine repair, and systems troubleshooting.
• Supervise wage employees, volunteers and alternative labor in the performance of these operations.
• Provide user safety and satisfaction by providing clean, safe and well-maintained facilities and grounds; providing good information to guests; and assisting with guest services.
• Assist with other park operations by delivering specialized program area skills and procuring materials, services or supplies.

DCR offers paid leave; 13 paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; as well as retirement plans including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. DCR is also a federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer and a certified Virginia Values Veteran (V3) 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

• Knowledge and ability to operate and maintain vehicles and equipment in a safe and proper manner.
• Basic experience in leading, directing, and training others.
• Demonstrated experience performing facilities and grounds maintenance.
• Experience providing customer service in public settings.
• Experience using computers and software applications.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Additional Considerations

• Experience in grounds maintenance including landscaping, application of herbicide, tree work, and trail maintenance.
• Experience with large equipment operation.
• Experience in vehicle maintenance including small/large engine repair and hydraulic systems repair.
• Experience in building maintenance including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry.
• Experience in managing/operating public water systems.
• Considerable education or experience relating to workplace safety, OSHA compliance, and safety training.
• Education or demonstrated experience interacting with park visitors, providing information relating to park rules, park activities, or providing similar customer service activities in a comparable environment.
• Experience in supervisory role of volunteers and wage/seasonal staff is preferred.
• Possession of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Herbicide/pesticide applicator’s license, DCR sawyer certification or prescribed burn crew certification is preferred.

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. Applications will only be accepted on-line through the State Job website. Applications must include all work history and references. 

Candidates will work in diverse conditions including exposure to the outdoors, weather in all seasons, dust, animals and insects. Candidates must be able to perform manual labor including standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and lifting up to 50 lbs. If not already certified, will be required to obtain First Aid and CPR.

This position requires shift work, which includes evenings, weekends and holidays. Selected candidate(s) for positions within Virginia State Parks will be required to satisfactorily complete a criminal history background check. Selected candidate(s) will need to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. DCR participates in E-Verify.

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 prior to 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.