Chief Ranger Law Enforcement - Kiptopeke State Park

Title: Chief Ranger Law Enforcement - Kiptopeke State Park

State Role Title: Natural Resource Specialist II

Hiring Range: $42,000 - $58,800

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Kiptopeke State Park

Agency Website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

THE AGENCY

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to work for a diverse commonwealth. DCR protects what people care about – access to the outdoors, natural habitats, open spaces, clean water, and safe infrastructure. We manage 43 Virginia State Parks, which has thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins, beaches, festivals, educational programs, more than 500 miles of trails … the list goes on. If you’re someone who wants to love what you do and make a difference, DCR is the place for you!

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers paid leave; 12 paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan); and is a federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

THE DIVISION

The Division of Virginia State Parks fulfills its mission “to conserve the natural, scenic, historic and cultural resources of the Commonwealth and provide recreational and educational opportunities consistent with the good stewardship of these lands, waters and facilities that leaves them unimpaired for future generations” by operating a system of 43 state parks that encompass over 75,000 acres; over 1200 buildings, almost 1700 campsites; over 300 cabins; over 700 miles of trails; nearly 500 miles of shoreline; 36 lakes and ponds; 11 swimming beaches; 4 international dark sky sites, and offers over 20,000 educational programs and workshops each year.

Managed by a full-time staff of 275 and a wage staff of 1000+ during the prime season, Virginia’s award-winning state park system 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. It is our honor and privilege to play host to more than 10 million visitors annually and to offer recreational enjoyment that positively impacts local communities and the Commonwealth overall (to the tune of an economic impact that exceeds $324 million).

THE PARK

Kiptopeke State Park is the previous site of the Virginia Ferry Corporation’s northern terminus of the Norfolk to Eastern Shore Ferry. In 1949, when the terminus was moved from Cape Charles, the site was named Kiptopeke Beach in honor of the younger brother of a king of the Accawmack Indians who had befriended early settlers to the area. Kiptopeke means Big Water. Ferry service ended in 1964 when the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was opened. The park opened on Memorial Day weekend in 1992. Today the park totals 562 acres. Overnight accommodations at the park include 4 cabins; 5 lodges; 138 campsites, some with water, electric, and sewer; 4 yurts; and a bunkhouse. The site also has two picnic shelters, playground, boat ramp, 24-hour lighted fishing pier, and 1.5 miles of unguarded swimming beach on the Chesapeake Bay. Over 5 miles of hiking and biking trails are available for public use. Seasonal interpretive and educational programs focus on natural history, birding, and bay ecology. Resource management efforts include 126 acres of reforested or pollinator plantings, maritime forest, and inter-dune wetlands, annual managed deer hunts for herd control, and working closely with the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory on migratory bird habitat and counts. Annual visitation tops 300,000 guests and annual revenues at this park average around $1,500,000. The park’s yearly operating budget is about $600,000 (excludes classified staff salaries) with 7 full-time staff and around 30 wage staff operating and managing the site.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Chief Ranger Law Enforcement (LE) is primarily responsible for providing direct, day-to-day supervision of full-time, seasonal, and temporary employees and volunteers in the protection of state park lands, natural and cultural resources, and maintenance, operation and repair of state park structures, facilities, equipment, and utility systems. This position will assist with reports, accounts payable, procurement, cash manageme