Office Manager - Chippokes Plantation State Park

Title: Office Manager - Chippokes Plantation State Park

State Role Title: Gen Admin Supv I/Coord I

Hiring Range: $45,000 - $67,200

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Chippokes Pl State Park

Agency Website: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) 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 43 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 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.

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 43 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, 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

Just across the James River from historic Jamestown in beautiful Surry County, Chippokes State Park contains one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country. A working farm since 1619, the park offers modern recreational activities and a glimpse of life in a bygone era. Visitors tour the historic area with its antebellum mansion and outbuildings, stroll through formal gardens, and view more than 600 pieces of antique equipment at the Farm and Forestry Museum. This is a complex of 7 buildings, housing displays, and antiques of farm, forest, and family life when the park was just a family farm. A sixty-site campground, with 3 yurts, four overnight cabins, and a 4-bedroom Walnut Valley house, allow visitors to stay on the historic grounds. The Jones-Stewart mansion, built in 1854 and complete with an inventory of historic antiquities and gardens, servers as the centerpiece for the historic area of the park. The park also houses an assortment of farm animals representative of those that would be found on a working farm including goats, pigs, a cow, ducks, and chickens. The many fields are leased under contract for peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans, hay, and cattle grazing. In addition, the park has two picnic shelters, a visitor center with a gift shop, and access to fishing along College Creek and the James River. It also provides opportunities to bike, hike, and ride horseback with over 12 miles of trails. Chippokes offers wedding packages and meeting facilities.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Office Manager provides administrative support in keeping with the park mission to conserve the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources of the Commonwealth and provides recreational and educational opportunities consistent with the good stewardship of these lands, waters, and facilities for future generations. This position is responsible for identifying priorities of the park and developing standards and objectives for administrative processes. The incumbent will coordinate a variety of business functions including budget development and monitoring, financial and account management, human resource management, records management, procurement, and administrative activities such as project tracking and reporting.

This position will also be responsible for maintaining and tracking accounts payable, processing wage employment to include knowledge of proper calculations for payroll certification; handling new hire paperwork and knowledge of documents such as the I-9 or E-Verify; and managing the park work plan with the annual budget. This position also manages the park information and communications (telephones, computers, and base station communications) systems. The Office Manager provides information to the public about park facilities and services and coordinates reservations for picnic shelters and special programs. Additionally, the incumbent provides support in the operation of park-run concessions by daily verification of revenues for deposit.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with procurement, contracts, bookkeeping, budget management, and records retention.
• Experience managing personnel paperwork related to hiring submissions, monitoring timesheets, scheduling, and submitting payroll.
• Experience handling multiple tasks and priorities.
• Supervisory experience to include training and performance management.
• Experience communicating effectively, both orally and in writing with diverse groups of people.
• Experience with a variety of office equipment and computer programs such as printers, copiers, calculators, and Microsoft Office software (Excel, Outlook, Word).

Additional Considerations

• Work experience in state or local government setting or similar environment.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

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.

A valid State Driver's License is required to operate a state vehicle or if operating a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the agency.

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.

Selected candidate(s) will need to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. DCR participates in E-Verify.

Submission of an online application is required for this position. DCR does not accept applications, resumes, cover letters, etc. for this vacancy in any other format. When applying for jobs, please ensure your online application or resume is complete with duties and skills associated with your work experience.

Minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TT

Employment in all positions within the Virginia State Parks is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check including a criminal history record check.

Contact Information

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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.