Park Ranger – Maintenance – Hungry Mother State Park

THE AGENCY

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 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 42 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 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 42 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; and 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

One of the original six Virginia State Parks, Hungry Mother has long been a favorite. It's known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains. The park has a sandy beach with a bathhouse, boat rentals (canoe, kayak, paddleboats, and paddleboards), a boat launch and a universally accessible fishing pier. Guests also enjoy campgrounds, cabins, yurts, gift shops, a visitor center, a six-bedroom family lodge, and hiking and biking trails.

The Legend of Hungry Mother

The Legend of Hungry Mother takes many forms, and all have whispers of the truth. The one widely accepted by the people of Southwest Virginia goes like this… Legend has it that a pioneer named Molly Marley and her small child were captured by a Native American tribe and taken to their mountain camp. Molly and her little one eventually escaped and wandered through the woods foraging for food and searching for shelter. One day Molly collapsed from exhaustion, and the youngster continued along the creek until help was found. The only words the child could utter were “Hungry Mother.” A search party later found Molly dead at the foot of the mountain near the creek. The mountain went on to be called Molly’s Knob and the stream Hungry Mother Creek. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the park, and the creek was dammed to form the lake. The name of the park is wrapped in its own mystery. Originally it was to be called Forest Lake. The name was changed to Southwest Virginia Lake and then to Hungry Mother State Park not long before the park opened. The debate over the legend and the park name continues to this day.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As one of the Maintenance Park Rangers your duties will be to maintain, improve and protect park facilities, grounds, systems, resources, vehicles, and equipment by performing and supervising maintenance projects. This involves using skills in a variety of trades including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting, landscaping, small engine repair, and systems troubleshooting. Supervise wage employees, volunteers, and alternative labor in the performance of these operations. Provide user safety and satisfaction by providing clean, safe, and well-maintained facilities and grounds; providing good information to guests; and assisting with guest services. Assist with other park operations by delivering specialized program area skills and procuring materials, services, or supplies.

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.

• Ability to lead, direct and train others.
• Demonstrated experience providing customer service in public settings.
• Ability to use a variety of tools, materials, and equipment to maintain facilities and grounds.
• Experience in grounds maintenance (i.e., mowing, landscaping, snow removal, tree work, trail maintenance).

• First Aid/CPR/AED certified.
• Skill in basic construction/maintenance trades (i.e., carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, etc.).
• Experience in automotive repair and preventative maintenance.
• Experience in turnover of overnight facilities.
• Experience with Site Safety and/or OSHA/VOSH procedures.