Wilderness Ranger Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Park Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement - Wilderness Road State Park
Job no: 5106756
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Lee, Virginia
Categories: Public Safety, Applied Sciences and Natural Resources
Title: Park Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement - Wilderness Road State Park
State Role Title: Natural Resource Spec II
Hiring Range: $42,000 - $57,680
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation
Location: Wilderness Road State Park
Agency Website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
If you have always wanted to work in a beautiful and serene environment, then we have the perfect Park Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement position for you at Wilderness Road State Park!
Virginia's award-winning state park system, a division of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (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.
The 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, and is responsible for enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth and department regulations.
As one of Virginia's Law Enforcement Rangers, you will:

• Support Wilderness Road 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.

Park Ranger - PS&LE's will also:

• Assist with natural resource protection, which includes medical services, as well as facilitating 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 use of appropriate safety equipment and equipment.
• Supervise and train seasonal and wage staff and volunteers, other work program participants in the maintenance of grounds facilities, and equipment as appropriate.

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 habitat, 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.
Minimum Qualifications

• Experience working with the public and/or in customer service.
• Written and verbal skills in public speaking and communications.
• Ability to solve problems 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 (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.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• Due to Law Enforcement requirements, the successful candidate must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 21 years old, and be a high school graduate or possess a GED.

Additional Considerations

• 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 in responding to or handling emergencies.
• Certification in Search and Rescue and/or First Aid/CPR/AED.

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. 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. Applicants should ensure their online application and/or resume are complete, and include duties and skills associated with their work experience.
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.
This position requires the incumbent to be or become a Sworn Conservation Officer and attend a 21-week Law Enforcement Academy located in Salem, Virginia. Selected candidates are provided with living accommodations during the academy. Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; be a high school graduate or possess a GED; possess or be able to obtain certification as a LE Officer in Virginia 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.
Employment conditions for this position require the successful completion of a criminal background check, a physical agility test, and a behavioral assessment. Also, successful completion of a physical exam is required to be identified as suitable for the position before beginning employment.
The position involves regular outdoor work in all seasons, with exposure to weather, dust, animals, and insects. Candidates must be able to perform physically demanding tasks, including standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequently lifting 50 pounds. The selected applicant will be required to obtain CPR and First Aid certifications and must be willing to carry and properly use firearms as part of assigned duties. This role also requires wearing uniform and law enforcement equipment in accordance with DCR Public Safety & Law Enforcement Uniform standards.
This position will work a varied schedule, including weekends and holidays. As needed, the incumbent will serve in an on-call capacity to provide security and operational efficiencies. Responding to calls outside of scheduled hours requires a response within a prescribed timeframe.
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 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. All reservations require a two-night minimum. Bunkhouses, camping cabins, and yurts are included; one-night yurt stays receive only 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.
Advertised: 23 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 14 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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