Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
DCR is looking for talented people to fill positions listed below. Unless stated otherwise, you must complete and submit an electronic state application by the job announcement's close date.
Generally applications must be made through the RMS (electronic state application). We will, however, accept paper applications for some state park slots. Be sure to refer to the individual recruitment for specific requirements.
Certain positions require a criminal background check, a conflict of interest financial statement or both. Law-enforcement positions require a fingerprint-based FBI investigation. DCR is an EEO/AA/ADA Employer.
For seasonal and hourly-wage positions at state parks, contact the particular park for details.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, all new hires must complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Executive branch agencies are required to use the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
For additional information on these openings, contact hr@dcr.virginia.gov. Find positions available throughout Virginia at Virginia Jobs.
Hiring Range: $42,000 - $57,680 plus sign-on bonus*
Job Duties
If you have always wanted to work in a beautiful and serene environment, then we have the perfect position for you at Douthat State Park!
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, 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:
Park Ranger – PS&LEs will also:
Additional Salary Information:
Upon the successful completion of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, the Park Ranger PS & LE will receive a 10% base salary increase.
*Sign-on Bonus: The selected incumbent for this position will be eligible for a sign-on bonus of $10,000 if currently certified as a law enforcement officer through DCJS that served in a position requiring primary law enforcement patrol activities for at least one (1) year before application ($5,000 upon hire and $5,000 after successful completion of the department’s field training program).
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to conserve resources for a diverse commonwealth.
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.
DCR offers paid leave, 13 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.
Retirement: Law Enforcement Rangers are eligible for the Virginia Law Officers’ Retirement System (VaLORS) Plan. Law Enforcement Rangers receive unreduced retirement eligibility at age 60 with at least five years (60 months) of service credit, or at age 50 with at least 25 years of service credit.
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
Due to Law Enforcement requirements, successful candidates must be a US citizen, be at least 21 years old, and be H.S. graduate or possess a GED.
Additional Considerations
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. Applications will only be accepted online through the State Job website. Applications must include all work history and references.
Position requires incumbent to be or become a Sworn Conservation Officer, possess, or maintain certification as a law enforcement officer in Virginia through DCJS, which includes attending the agency's law enforcement academy located in Salem, Virginia, and completing a physical agility test and state exam. Candidates selected for hire are provided with living accommodations during the academy. 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.
Selected candidate(s) for positions within Virginia State Parks will be required to satisfactorily complete a criminal history background check.
Conditions of employment require the successful completion of a physical exam, and a behavioral assessment is required to be identified as suitable for the position before beginning employment.
Park Ranger – PS&LE positions require shift work, which includes weekends, holidays, and overtime. In addition, this position will serve in an on-call capacity, as needed, to provide security and operational efficiencies. Responding to calls outside scheduled hours requires a response within a prescribed timeframe.
Selected candidate(s) will need to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. DCR participates in E-Verify.
DCR employees are encouraged to visit Virginia State Parks! Check out our employee discounts.
Minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people with National/Federal Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TT
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.
