Natural Areas Operations Steward - LE

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is the states lead conservation agency and it takes a diverse agency to work for a diverse commonwealth. DCR protects what people care about natural habitats, access to the outdoors, open spaces, clean water and safe infrastructure.
We manage 66 Virginia State Natural Areas Preserves, which support hundreds of rare species occurrences and thousands of acres of exemplary natural communities. Over 20 preserves provide opportunities for the public to visit and experience these special places using access strategies that minimize impacts to sensitive resources, including over 100 miles of hiking trails, canoe-kayak launches, boardwalks, and more. Public access on natural area preserves is especially suited for those who are looking for quiet and relaxing time away from crowds.
If youre someone who wants to love what you do, and make a difference, DCR is the place for you!
The Division of Natural Heritage is seeking an Operations StewardLE for the Chesapeake Bay Region located east of Richmond on Virginias Northern Neck and Middle and Lower peninsulas. This position is part of a team of natural areas stewards managing the state natural area preserve system that protects outstanding examples of Virginias natural communities and provides habitat for rare plants and animals. This position is a sworn Conservation Officer; with the use of Conservation Officer Powers, the Operations Steward LE supports natural areas stewardship with special emphasis on providing public safety and resource protection by enforcing preserve rules, regulations, and state laws.
Responsibilities include conducting natural areas management activities on eight state preserves in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Specific duties include developing and implementing plans for preserve site security, public access, signage and access control; conducting visitor use monitoring; constructing and maintaining public use facilities; boundary line maintenance; conducting managed waterfowl hunts; collecting GPS locations of preserve features and managing a regional GIS; working with and supervising volunteers; assisting with natural resource management projects.

Minimum QualificationsPosition requires broad knowledge and/or education in natural resources management; knowledge and understanding of the principles of conservation biology and ecosystem management; skills in public lands management (visitor use monitoring, road & trail maintenance, volunteer programs); willingness to obtain and accept a law enforcement commission; an ability to collect spatial data using GPS plus manage data and produce maps using GIS; experience in supervising volunteers or wage employees; skills with administering projects including planning and budgeting; strong oral and written communication skills; strong organizational and problem-solving skills; skills in carpentry, construction, use of hand and power tools, use of power and heavy equipment, and small engine repair and maintenance; skills with personal computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, mapping &, databases; possession or ability to obtain a valid Virginia drivers license.
Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in natural resources management, forestry, wildlife, conservation biology, biological science, or environmental science.
• Two years work-related job experience in natural resource or parks management

• Experience and certification with the operation power boats.
• Experience and skills with the control of invasive plant species.
• Pesticide applicator certification.
• Training, experience, certifications, and current commission in law enforcement.
• Experience with surveying and boundary line maintenance.
• Fire behavior and firefighter training plus prescribed burn experience.
• Experience conducting managed public hunting programs.
• CPR and basic first aid certification.

Special RequirementsPosition requires the incumbent to become a Sworn Conservation Officer. Sworn Conservation Officer requirements: Must be a US citizen; be at least 21 years old; H.S. grad or possess GED; pass a background investigation including fingerprint-based criminal history records check; possess or be able to obtain certification as a LE Officer in VA 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.
Conditions of employment for this position require the successfully completion of a physical agility test and behavioral assessment. Also, successful completion of a physical exam is required to be identified as suitable for the position after being selected for employment.
Ability to work in diverse conditions including exposure to the outdoors, weather in all seasons, dust, animals and insects. Ability to perform heavy manual labor to include standing, bending, pulling, climbing, and frequent lifting up to 50 lbs.

Special Instructions to ApplicantsState applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:59 pm on the closing date through the Recruitment Management System (RMS). State applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your RMS Account to check the status of your application for this position. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is an Equal Opportunity Employer by both policy and practice. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Employment in all positions within the Virginia State Parks is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check.
The Commonwealth of Virginia requires all Executive Branch employees, including new hires, rehires or transfers to disclose their vaccination status upon hire. Disclosure of vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination) will be required during new employee orientation on your first day of work. If you are not vaccinated for any reason or choose not to disclose your vaccination status, you will be required to be tested for COVID-19 once per week on an indefinite basis. If you have questions, please contact the Human Resource Office.

Name Laura Nelson
Phone 804-786-5657
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