Chief Ranger Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Chief Ranger - Maintenance and Operations
Job no: 5110973
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Gloucester, Virginia
Categories: Public Safety, Applied Sciences and Natural Resources
Title: Chief Ranger - Maintenance and Operations
State Role Title: Natural Resource Spec II
Hiring Range: $44,000 - $60,564.00
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation
Location: Machicomoco State Park
Agency Website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the state's lead conservation agency, providing access for outdoor recreation, strengthening communities' flood resilience, and protecting what Virginians care about: clean water, parks, natural habitats and open spaces.
Serving a diverse commonwealth rich in nature and culture, DCR touches all Virginians' lives.
DCR offers paid leave; a minimum of 13 paid state holidays per year; medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan for classified positions, and VaLORS for law enforcement positions); and is a federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) 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.
Job Summary
The Chief Ranger of Maintenance and Operations position at Machicomoco State Park will provide supervision and inspection of cyclical facilities/grounds/equipment maintenance tasks to ensure tasks are completed in compliance with OSHA, VDH, agency standards, or in compliance with other pertinent regulations. The incumbent of this position also assists with managing and maintaining the park's cultural and natural resources and provides supervision and oversight for volunteer programs. This position will support park programs and services by ensuring facilities and grounds are safe and meet current standards. The Chief Ranger of Maintenance and Operations will also assist with special events, outreach, volunteer management, and budgeting for maintenance and project needs.
Job Duties
This position will also be responsible for frontline supervision of maintenance operations at the park.

• Working directly with management and maintenance staff to ensure routine maintenance projects are scheduled and completed on time.
• Recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising classified and seasonal staff, volunteers, and other work program participants.
• Overseeing maintenance of buildings, trails, and grounds, including tools, equipment, and preventive maintenance performed by staff.
• Ensuring the effective operation of all park facilities.
• Performing hands-on preventive maintenance of park buildings, equipment, and grounds as needed.
• Assisting with developing and monitoring park budgets, including maintenance projects and the annual operating plan.
• Reviewing and completing various tasks using maintenance management software to perform timekeeping, create schedules, assign work, procurement, track asset management, and file accident reports.
• Performing grounds, trails, and facilities development; construction, management, and maintenance of assigned construction/site improvement projects, and natural resource management.

Work requires exposure to the outdoors, weather in all seasons, dust, animals, and insects. A successful candidate must be able to perform manual labor, including standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequent lifting up to 50 pounds.
Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with supervising staff and/or volunteers including training, scheduling work, assigning tasks, and ensuring satisfactory performance and results.
• Experience providing customer service in a public setting.
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform custodial and preventive maintenance on buildings, equipment, and grounds using a variety of tools and equipment.
• Experience with project planning and budget management on a practical, operational level.
• Experience with the use of digital software to keep maintenance, training, regulatory, or other pertinent records up to date and accessible.

Additional Considerations

• Experience with parks and recreation or similar environment.
• Advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities to troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair facility or vehicular equipment.
• Experience with natural and/or cultural resource management.
• Knowledge of OSHA and other regulatory policies and procedures.
• Pesticide Applicator's License.

Special Instructions
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 and/or resume are complete with duties and skills associated with your work experience.
A valid Virginia Driver's License is required to operate a state vehicle or to operate a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the agency.
Selected candidate(s) for positions within Virginia State Parks will be required to satisfactorily complete a criminal history background check.
Current sworn conservation officers will have to relinquish their certification. Law enforcement is NOT a requirement for this position. This position requires shift work, which includes weekends and holidays. In addition, this position will serve in an on-call capacity, as needed, to provide security and operational efficiencies. Responding to calls outside normal scheduled business hours requires a response within a prescribed time frame.
In accordance with 10.1-109.B of the Code of Virginia, this position is required to reside in Department-controlled housing for the purpose of providing security and operational efficiencies to DCR property. The incumbent must enter into a lease agreement and demonstrate possession of liability and personal property insurance.
DCR encourages applications from minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and those with experience with the National Park Service or the federal government. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO/AA/TT).
🌲 Explore Virginia State Parks - On Us!
As a DCR employee, you'll enjoy exclusive access to the natural beauty and outdoor experiences that make Virginia's State Parks extraordinary - with free admission, special discounts, and perks that turn every visit into something memorable.
Employee benefits include:

• Free parking and admission to all Virginia State Parks.
• Overnight stay discounts for DCR classified, retired, and wage staff (after six months of service):
  • Free camping outside the Memorial Day to Labor Day season for sites accommodating up to six people.
  • Free Sunday-Thursday camping (excluding the night before holidays) during the Memorial Day-Labor Day period.
  • 50% off cabins (up to three bedrooms) outside the Memorial Day-Labor Day season for up to 14 nights. Two nights minimum required. Bunkhouses, camping cabins, and yurts are included; one night yurt stays receive a 25% discount.

Join us and make Virginia's great outdoors part of your life - it's one of the many ways we show our appreciation for the people who make DCR's mission possible!
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.
Advertised: 24 Aug 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 06 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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