District Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement - District 2

Title: District Ranger
- Public Safety and Law Enforcement
- District 2

State Role

Title:

Law Enforcement Officer II

Hiring Range: $70,000 - $80,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: MAIN STREET CENTRE

Agency Website: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is hiring! DCR is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to work for a diverse commonwealth. Join our Office of Public Safety and Law Enforcement as a District Ranger, assigned to District II, which comprises eight parks in the Northern Virginia region. Often termed the Potomac District, these parks operate on an annual budget of $2.8 million with 38 classified staff and approximately 200 wage staff, greeting an estimated 1 million visitors with revenues topping $3 million.

Three of the parks provide overnight camping, and two of the parks have cabins. The five Potomac River parks all offer paddle-in campsites. Popular day-use activities within these parks are miles of hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, and water trails. Additionally, these parks provide a variety of natural, cultural, historical, educational, and recreational programs. Guests in this district are most commonly from the NOVA/DC, Richmond City, and Maryland State areas.

The history of this district varies, with Civil War, civil rights, railroad, Native American, and Civilian Conservation Corps history all playing major roles in the stories of District 2 parks. This position serves as a sworn, commissioned, and certified law enforcement officer as defined in the Code of Virginia § 9.1‑101, with responsibility to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth and the regulations of the Department.

As one of Virginia’s Law Enforcement Rangers, the successful candidate supports park programs and services with special emphasis on providing public safety, law enforcement, and resource protection by enforcing park rules, regulations, and state laws. Duties include conducting law enforcement patrols, basic investigations, and responding to calls for public safety and law enforcement services. Operating under the Deputy Chief of Public Safety & Law Enforcement, or designee, with input and coordination with the District Manager, the primary purpose of this position is to 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.

This will include providing law enforcement services by patrolling agency properties in a vehicle, on foot, and by other modes of transportation. This will also include assisting with covering law enforcement staffing at specific parks in the event of staffing shortages, special events, special operations, and search and rescue operations. Additionally, this position will respond to and conduct initial and supplemental investigations of incidents, serve as a resource for public safety and law enforcement matters, assist Law Enforcement Rangers assigned to specific parks with law enforcement functions, and support the provision of statewide law enforcement services as necessary.

• Serving as a Field Training Officer, a General Instructor (as required), and as an instructor in at least one public safety and law enforcement specialty (i.e., firearms, defensive tactics, driving, etc.), or as an instructor for Basic First Aid/Wilderness First Aid/CPR/AED.
• Serving as part of the Accreditation Team and supporting accreditation efforts (e.g., coordinating proofs, reviewing standards, etc.).
• Serving as an ad‑hoc member of working groups.
• Responding to, leading, and coordinating SAR (Search and Rescue) responses within the assigned district. Employee will be expected to obtain and maintain advanced SAR certification as appropriate.
• Responding to and assisting in the management of wildfire response incidents and supporting prescribed fire operations as necessary. Employee will be expected to meet DCR standards for prescribed fire crew members as…