Dam Safety & Floodplain Management - Floodplain Program Planner - Closes on 10/27/2026

Virginia State Parks; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid leave

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking a detail-oriented Floodplain Program Planner to support local governments in developing, updating, and implementing floodplain management programs. The role acts as a liaison between FEMA, local communities, and state agencies, ensuring compliance with NFIP and state mandates.

Responsibilities include conducting local program reviews, assisting with flood hazard mitigation planning, and tracking program accomplishments while

Qualifications

• Proven ability to work with diverse stakeholders and partner organizations.
• Experience applying planning principles with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Experience interpreting laws, regulations, and policies related to floodplain management.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance to local governments for floodplain programs and compliance.
• Review local ordinances and recommend improvements during map updates or CAP-SSSE activities.
• Coordinate outreach, training, and workgroup participation to improve regional resilience.
• Support disaster response efforts with FEMA and VDEM during flood events and recovery.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Organized

Analytical

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Job description

To ensure accurate screen reader translation, please ensure you have the proper language packs installed.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the state’s lead conservation agency, providing access for outdoor recreation, strengthening communities’ flood resilience, and protecting what Virginians care about: clean water, parks, natural habitat, and open spaces.

Serving a diverse commonwealth rich in nature and culture, DCR touches all Virginians’ lives.

DCR offers paid leave; a minimum of 13 paid state holidays per year; medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan for classified positions, and VaLORS for law enforcement positions); and is a federally recognized Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

DCR’s Mission is to conserve the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources of the Commonwealth. We invite you to learn more about DCR’s efforts to CONSERVE.

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking a detail-oriented, organized, and analytical professional to serve as a Floodplain Program Planner in the Division of Dam Safety and Floodplain Management. This position provides technical assistance to local governments in the development, update, and implementation of their local floodplain management programs. In addition, this position supports DCR in fulfilling the responsibilities as mandated in Chapter 6 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia, serves as a liaison between FEMA, local communities, and state agencies, and implements floodplain management initiatives in accordance with program and Division goals to ensure that state and federal mandates and local floodplain needs are met. This includes conducting local program reviews, providing prompt and accurate responses to officials and citizens, assisting the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in flood hazard mitigation planning efforts and disaster responses, and tracking program accomplishments.

The position is responsible for:

• Oversight of Floodplain Management Programs within the Shenandoah region
  • Coordinating floodplain management activities with localities to ensure that state and federal mandates and local floodplain program needs are met.
  • Providing grant support for the CFPF including grant reviews, training, reporting and other activities as necessary.
• Local Program Planning and Technical Assistance for Assigned Communities
  • Providing planning and technical assistance to local officials and citizens on floodplain issues.
  • Conducting Community Assistance Visits (CAVs) and Community Assistance Contacts (CACs) according to the CAP-SSSE grant agreement and FEMA Region III standards.
  • Reviewing local ordinances and enforcement methods and recommend improvements to local floodplain ordinances as a result of map updates, CAVs/CACs, or other contact with communities within established timeframes.
  • Participating in local RiskMap-related public meetings and open houses.
• Facilitation of Outreach, Training, Workgroup participation, and Regional Resilience Support
  • Managing flood-related training, seminars, and presentations.
  • Supporting programmatic goal of increasing flood insurance saturation.
  • Participating in workgroups related to special interest and regional issues.
  • Encouraging and support resilience planning efforts throughout regional territory.
• Assistance During Flood Response and Recovery to Flood Disasters
  • Providing technical and planning assistance to VDEM and FEMA, as assigned, at the JFO during the response and recovery work for a federally or state declared flooding disaster related to floodplain management, NFIP, flood hazard identification and flood mapping.
  • Supporting DCR operations by staffing the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as needed. Obtains and maintains credentialing necessary to allow access to the EOC.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, community groups, and partner organizations.
• Progressive experience applying planning principles with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Experience researching, interpreting, and clearly communicating complex legal, regulatory, and technical information.
• Experience coordinating, implementing, and monitoring programs or projects.
• Experience interpreting laws, regulations, and policies related to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Additional Considerations

• Certified Floodplain Manager preferred; or become a CFM within a year of hire.

Explore Virginia State Parks — On Us!

As a DCR employee, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to the natural beauty and outdoor experiences that make Virginia’s State Parks extraordinary — with free admission, special discounts, and perks that make every visit memorable.

Employee benefits include:

• Free parking and admissionto all Virginia State Parks.
• Overnight stay discountsfor DCR classified, retired, and wage staff (after six months of service):
  • Free campingoutside the Memorial Day to Labor Day season for sites accommodating up to six people.
    • Free Sunday–Thursday camping (excluding the night before holidays) during the Memorial Day–Labor Day period.
    • 50% off cabins(up to three bedrooms) outside the Memorial Day–Labor Day season for up to 14 nights. Two-night minimum required. Bunkhouses, camping cabins, and yurts are included; one-night yurt stays receive a 25% discount.

Join us and make Virginia’s great outdoors part of your life — it’s one of the many ways we show our appreciation for the people who make DCR’s mission possible!

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: N/A

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.