Southern Piedmont Region Operations Steward-LE

Title: Southern Piedmont Region Operations Steward - LE

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $55,000 - $65,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Agency Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

As a member of the Stewardship Section of the Division of Natural Heritage, this position will work closely with a team of natural areas stewards managing the state natural area preserve system which protects outstanding examples of Virginia’s natural communities and provides habitat for rare plants and animals. The Southern Piedmont Region contains two state natural area preserves currently concentrated in Halifax County. These preserves protect exemplary natural heritage resources within the Piedmont of Virginia. Preserves contain multiple forest community types, wetland and riparian habitats, and a variety of grasslands, all of which support numerous rare species and natural communities. This position is critical to the maintenance and operations of the natural area preserves within the Southern Piedmont Region. Additionally, there are five primary natural resource management project types: conservation silviculture, prescribed fire, invasive species management, deer herd management, and maintenance of trails, fire lines, and management roads.

This position is responsible for:

• Law enforcement duties of a sworn DCR Conservation Officer on state natural area preserves, enforcing state laws and DCR regulations and developing/maintaining working relationships with local law enforcement organizations.
• Develop and implement site safety and emergency action plans.
• Maintaining preserve infrastructure such as roads, kiosks, and trails.
  
• Managing public access; maintaining property boundaries; working with part-time field staff and volunteers; and frequently assisting with natural resource management projects.
• Working closely with the Southern Piedmont Region Supervisor/Steward to plan and execute these projects.
• May occasionally work with State Parks staff and other state agency partners to complete project tasks.
• Supervise wage staff, contractors, and volunteers on project work in the field as needed.

The Operations Steward will work in all sorts of weather, occasionally on weekends, and occasional travel overnight.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers paid leave; a minimum of 13 paid state holidays; 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

• Current Virginia DCJS law enforcement officer certification.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge and experience in applied ecology, natural resource management, forestry, wildlife management, conservation biology, or related biological science.
• Demonstrated experience in prescribed burning and/or forestry/silvicultural practices.
• Demonstrated experience in operating and maintaining a variety of tools (e.g. herbicide sprayers, chainsaw), vehicles (e.g. UTVs, trucks, tractors), and equipment (e.g. trailers).
• Experience in trail construction and maintenance and/or maintaining outdoor recreation facilities and/or infrastructure (e.g. roads, parking areas. gates, kiosks, fire control lines, marked boundaries).
• Proficiency and experience with navigating off trail and collecting field data using a variety of recording methods, including mobile applications and/or GPS receivers.
• Proficiency with computers and applications including word processing, data management, and analysis with spreadsheets.
• Ability to provide effective communication interpersonally, verbally, and in writing.
  

Additional Considerations

• Demonstrated experience in fire leadership positions.