The Division of State Parks
Hiring Range: $90,000 - $110,000
Since 1936, Conservation Officers have protected and preserved the lives and property of our citizens and their guests while protecting the Commonwealth’s irreplaceable natural and cultural resources. Throughout this 85-year history, Conservation Officers have upheld the tenets of community policing in our state parks and natural areas—providing comfort and peace of mind to outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Building on that storied history, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is now seeking qualified applicants to fill the mission-critical role of Chief of Public Safety and Law Enforcement. This is an exciting time in DCR’s history and a chance for the successful applicant to start this next chapter with us by planning, organizing, and directing all public safety and law enforcement activities for the agency.
This position will:
Serve as a member of the Virginia State Parks Leadership Team.
Ensure that law enforcement policies and General Orders are implemented and adhered to as per the Code of Virginia and in compliance with established standards of Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
Actively maintain accreditation from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) for the DCR Law Enforcement Program.
Oversee and manage the Division of State Park and Division of Natural Heritage Law Enforcement training program—annually conducting training for officers in areas of legal updates, cultural diversity, defensive tactics, firearms, and intermediate weapons to insure use of these weapon delivery systems are in compliance with Federal/ State laws and General Orders.
Manage the incident-based reporting system required of law enforcement agencies by the Department of State Police and FBI.
Establish and administer the law enforcement program budget.
Serve on the DCR/State Parks Disciplinary Review Team to review personnel situations involving officers and standards of conduct matters—assigning and supervising all Internal Affairs investigations.
Serve as the advisor to the Conservation Officer, Search and Rescue, and Water Safety Working Groups to promote information sharing, collaboration, and staff mentoring.
Minimum Qualifications
For individuals to be considered for an interview, their applications must include evidence of the following:
Advanced-level knowledge of technical/operating practices and methods of law enforcement, community policing, and comprehensive crime prevention.
Advanced-level knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and policies affecting the work of the law enforcement program.
Intermediate-level knowledge and experience applying the principles and practices of effective teambuilding and supervision—highlighting examples of fostering a culture of trust, respect, credibility, and accountability;
Demonstrable experience in leading and managing the law enforcement function of a large agency; including properly managing and administering budgeting and financial management processes.
Demonstrable experience with strategic planning processes, change management, policy development, and continuous improvement methodologies applied to identifying, analyzing, and solving law enforcement problems.
Proven commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion as demonstrated by successfully engaging with diverse communities both internal and external to the organization.
Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Police Administration, Business Administration, Natural Resource Management, Parks and Recreation Management, Public Administration, or a closely related field, or equivalent training and experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated ability to create and cultivate effective relationships and partnerships both internal and external to the organization
A Master’s degree in Criminal Justice, Police Administration, Business Administration, Natural Resource Management, Parks and Recreation Management, Public Administration, or a closely related field is preferred.
Advanced and/or executive law enforcement training is preferred.
Demonstrable experience in park and recreation management and/or law enforcement in a natural resources/park setting.
Special Requirements
Applicants must:
Possess a valid Virginia (VA) driver’s license or the ability to obtain a valid VA driver’s license within 60 days.
Successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history search with no convictions for felonies, domestic violence, or crimes of moral turpitude; as well as submit to a comprehensive background check to assess overall suitability.
Possess current Virginia Law Enforcement Certification from DCJS or be eligible to acquire. For more information about Virginia’s Law Enforcement Certification Process and Mandated In-Service Requirements, please refer to the following sites:
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title6/agency20/chapter20/
https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/law-enforcement/certification-process-and-mandated-service-requirements-le-officer
Special Instructions to Applicants
State 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. Applicants are expected to fully represent qualifications and work history on the State application. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided on the application, therefore, it is essential to fully complete each section of the application and provide detailed information. Submitting an incomplete state application, or a state application lacking in detail, may impact your interview eligibility. Applications that say “See Resume” 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.
DCR is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and the highest ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that our greatest strength lies in the individual differences, experiences, and skillsets that our employees bring to the table. Because of this, we strongly encourage applications from all walks of life and we welcome all contributions in terms of age, beliefs, color, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, language, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran’s status.
