Careers

Virginia State Park careers are more than jobs; they're a way of life. This is particularly true for field employees who work and live in the parks - park managers, assistant park managers and chief rangers.

Park positions are more than you might expect. Running a park is like running a small city. The staff performs various duties, including natural resource management, visitor services, law enforcement, water and waste water treatment, facility management and repairs, occupational safety, human resources, financial management and more. This variety of duties makes the work interesting, challenging and rewarding.

Park Positions

Residential field positions:

• Park Manager
• Assistant Park Manager
• Chief Ranger

Full-time park jobs include:

• Park Ranger
• Chief Ranger, Visitor Experience
• Office Manager
• Housekeeping Manager
• Business Manager
• Resource Specialist
• Visitor Services Specialist
• Headquarters Management Positions

Seasonal Positions

If you are interested in a career in our parks, seasonal jobs are a great way to start. There are many such positions, from maintenance to customer service to life-guarding, to give you a taste of working in our parks. Each park handles the hiring of its seasonal workers so find and contact a nearby park to learn more about seasonal jobs.

Seasonal positions include:

• Maintenance ranger
• Contact Ranger
• Groundskeeper
• Housekeeper
• Trades Technician
• Office Assistant
• Admin Assistant
• Park Interpreter
• Education Support Specialist
• Food Service
• Life Guard

Find a Job

Park Ranger Career Development Program

This program offers participants a great way to get started in a state parks career. It's typically a two to three-year program, held in the summer, which introduces participants to park operations and ensures that applicants are prepared for entry level positions. Completion of the program makes individuals highly qualified to fill park ranger, chief ranger and other entry positions.

Those accepted work into the program about 12 weeks each summer at a state park. Participants are paid $12 per hour and on-site housing may be provided. Participants are trained in all aspects of field positions in a park. Participants are evaluated each session and those who perform up to standards are invited to take part again the next summer. Upon successful performance in the program, participants are encouraged to apply for permanent park ranger, chief ranger and other positions in the State Park system. Candidates must apply when positions are open and advertised.

Candidates who complete the program may apply for full-time positions, but DCR is not obligated to hire them. Candidates will also find it helpful to develop good writing and interviewing skills for use in the application and interview process.

Those interested in a Park Ranger Career Development Program may apply here. For more details, write parkstraining@dcr.virginia.gov.

DCR also manages the Youth Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps programs, which are other opportunities to serve and learn firsthand about state parks and conservation.