Title: Chief Ranger - Public Safety & Law Enforcement
State Role Title: Natural Resource Spec II
Hiring Range: $57,200 - $75,904
Pay Band: 4
Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation
Location: Leesylvania 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 position for you at Leesylvania State Park! We are hiring a Chief Ranger - Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
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 habitat, and open spaces.
Serving a diverse commonwealth rich in nature and culture, DCR touches all Virginians’ lives.
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.
The Chief Ranger – PS&LE position serves as a sworn, commissioned, and certified law enforcement officer as defined in the Code of Virginia § 9.1-101, with the responsibility to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth and the regulations of the Department.
As one of Virginia's Law Enforcement Rangers, you will:
- Support Leesylvania 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.
Chief Ranger – PS&LE’s will also:
- Provide PSLE oversight at home and nearby parks as required, including reviewing reports as requested and ensuring compliance with General Orders, laws, codes, and regulations.
- Serve as primary contact for daily LE operations with District Ranger, serving as Acting District Ranger when requested.
- Provides ongoing law enforcement operational awareness and statistical awareness to the site PM for assigned sites, ensuring PM awareness of trends or issues that could impact site operations.
- Requests and coordinates site-specific LE special operations proactively and in response to issues, and coordinates preparation of assigned site event operational/security plans for routing to District Ranger and DM.
- Coordinates scheduling of site Park Ranger PSLE with site PMs and District Ranger PSLE to ensure appropriate coverage.
- Assists in wilderness management, boundary enforcement, protection of natural and cultural resources (e.g., wildlife, plants, archaeological sites, historic buildings), and supporting wildland fire suppression protection, including such duties as wildlife management.
- Maintains Park boundaries and signage, marking forest roads/trails, and completing quarterly written trail inspections as well as other forms of written documentation.
- Facilitates 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.
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 customer service experience.
- Ability to problem-solve 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).
- Must possess and maintain a Law Enforcement Officer certification through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
- Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; be a high school graduate or possess a GED.
Will be expected to obtain and maintain appropriate SAR certification(s) and support the DCR Search and Rescue (SAR) Team/Virginia Department of Emergency Management during operations at their group of assigned parks or a geographic area.
Will be expected to obtain and possess knowledge of controlled burns and wildfire response to provide appropriate public safety and law enforcement response at their assigned park(s) or a geographic area as approved by leadership of the Division of State Parks and OPSLE.
May also be required to obtain and maintain certifications to serve as First/Aid CPR Instructor, or obtain CPTED certification, or other similar activities as approved by leadership of the Division of State Parks and OPSLE.
Additional Considerations
- Basic knowledge of park/recreation operations (e.g., building and grounds maintenance, resource management, etc.)
- Experience 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.
Special Instructions
This position will remain open for a minimum of five business days, beginning on 08/11/2026. The position may be closed at any time after the five-day posting period once a suitable pool of applicants has been identified. Initial screening of applications will occur on 08/19/2026, and every two weeks thereafter until the position is filled.
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.
Applicants must submit an online application to be considered for this position. DCR does not accept applications, résumés, cover letters, or other materials in any format outside of the online system. Please ensure your online application and/or résumé are complete and accurately reflect your duties, skills, and relevant work experience.
A valid driver’s license is required to operate a state vehicle or a personal vehicle while conducting official business on behalf of the agency.
The selected incumbent must become a Sworn Conservation Officer. Must possess certification as a law enforcement officer in Virginia through DCJS. Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; be a high school graduate or possess a GED. 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 in all law enforcement positions within DCR is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation, including a criminal history record check. Employment conditions for this position require the successful completion of 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.
Law Enforcement Rangers are required to work various shifts, which include weekends, holidays, and overtime. As needed, incumbents will serve in an on-call capacity to provide security and operational efficiencies. Responding to calls outside scheduled hours requires a response within a prescribed timeframe.
Full-time Law Enforcement Rangers are eligible to take home their assigned vehicle in accordance with agency General Orders.
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: [email protected]
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.
