Apply By:08/07/24
Division:Open Space Division
Management Level:Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours:40
Benefit Eligibility: This position is eligible for Standard Benefits which includes dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, and tuition reimbursement.
Description:The
Natural Resources Specialist Sr is responsible for delivering conservation and management of natural resources on Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) properties and providing field and office oversight of work crews. Collect, summarize, interpret, and share natural resource data and information. Prepare resource management planning documents and provide conservation-based recommendations to inform recreation, infrastructure, and related development plans. Interact with leadership to identify current and future needs. Operate specialized heavy and light equipment, hand tools, and technology-based devices to control invasive species or conduct management activities on forest, wildlife, native vegetation, wetland/water, and other natural resource elements; perform ecological restoration, inventory, and monitoring. Prepare data collection and storage protocols, train staff in their application, and maintain data in databases. Perform public outreach and communicate with others internally and externally. Acts in a lead role for Natural Resources Technicians and Specialists.
About Jefferson County Open Space:
Jeffco Open Space was founded as a land conservation organization in 1972 by PLAN Jeffco and The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County. These organizations proposed a unique concept to the Board of County Commissioners to preserve the scenic vistas and open lands within the county using the collection of one-half of one percent tax on sales in Jefferson County to fund the program. The voters agreed, thereby ensuring perpetual land conservation, stewardship of open space and parklands, and access for public enjoyment.
Funded with a one-half of one percent sales tax, Jeffco Open Space contributes to city and park districtprojects, has preserved more than 56,000 acres, and manages 27 open space parks and more than 244 miles of trails in Jefferson County, Colorado. View the JeffcoOpen Space Parksystem map.
Mission:Preserve open space and parkland
Protect parkand natural resources
Provide healthy, nature-based experiences
Read more at Jeffco Open Space. https://www.jeffco.us/open-space
This positionoperates on our four-day work week (Monday-Thursday, 7:00am-5:30pm).Due to the nature of the role, remote work is not an option.
Benefits: Jefferson County offers a generous benefits package that supports your personal and professional life. Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement and more. For more information, click here for our Total Rewards summary.
Anticipated Hire Range: $31.17-36.00 USD Hourly Compensation will be determined based on education, experience, and skills.
Essential Duties: - Conduct and oversee the conservation and management related activities in one or more of the following: wildlife, noxious weed, forest, grassland/range, wetland/water, native vegetation management, habitat restoration, prescribed fire, or inventory/monitoring by planning and conducting inventory, monitoring, and mapping activities. Summarize data and prepare reports based on resource assessments and management prescriptions pertaining to county owned and potential properties.
- Operate and maintain vegetation management-related equipment, and tools including backpack sprayers, ATV/UTV-mounted sprayers, drill-seeders, and tractors. Use electronic data collection devices.
- Assist with identifying, prioritizing and managing operational aspects of tasks and projects.
- Assist with the assignments and directions for volunteers, Natural Resources Technicians and Specialists. Provide information and feedback to Team Leads for coaching, disciplinary or other actions for Technicians and Specialists. Participate in the hiring process.
- Manage time accounting records and provide reports to superiors.
- Maintain herbicide application, natural resource observation and other records and submit to appropriate state and federal oversight agencies.
- Evaluate and maintain equipment and supplies.
- Assist with monitoring budget and managing work of contractors and collaborators.
- Assist with preparation and management of grants and contracts in collaboration with other JCOS staff and work units.
- Collaborates with other JCOS staff for volunteer projects.
- Assists with development of public information signs and website updates for forest, prescribed fire, weed, wildlife management, and other resource management activities. Assist other JCOS teams with natural resource outreach information. Participate in advisory committee, public meetings, and various stakeholder groups to provide information. Interact with park neighbors and on-site park visitors concerning forest management, weed management, wildlife management, restoration, and/or prescribed fire activities.
- Assist with leading and implementing intra-agency collaboration and planning of short, mid, and long-term natural resource conservation and management goals and projects.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications
:- Bachelor’s degree in wetland ecology, riparian ecology, hydrology, water resources, natural resource management or related field and;
- 3 years of experience collecting, interpreting, and describing environmental data, such as: soils, vegetation, geology, hydrology, species of concern, and wildlife habitat.
- Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :
- Must have or obtain in 1 year, a Colorado Department of Agriculture Qualified Supervisor license in Aquatic Pest Control.
- Advanced degree in wetland ecology, riparian ecology, watershed science, hydrology, or water resources.
- Certified Wetland Ecologist
- Strong proficiency with ArcGIS, including ArcGIS Pro, using GIS data in an enterprise data management system, ArcGIS Online, Survey123, and Field Maps). Knowledge of and experience with Esri’s Arc Hydro tools desired.
- 5+ years of wetland/riparian conservation management activities with experience in Rocky Mountain Front Range Foothills
- Familiarity with water use in Colorado
- Familiarity with plants and wildlife of Colorado’s wetland and riparian ecosystems
- Experience with water quality monitoring
- Familiarity with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
- Experience performing wetland delineation
- Experience with planning and implementing restoration activities in wetland and riparian areas
- Experience identifying and applying for relevant grants and administering grants once awarded
- Familiarity with Colorado water rights administration and water law
- Familiarity with Colorado’s Climate Action Plan [as it relates to watershed-based management?]
- Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills; ability to handle complex tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and to maintain effective working relationships.
- Ability to work both independently with guidance and effectively in a team
Additional Job Information: - Needs to be able to work across discipline boundaries of Wildlife, Botany, Weed Management, Water, and Forestry.
- Must be able to safely navigate mountain roads using trucks and potentially UTVs, and hike long distances over rough terrain using GPS or other navigation tools carrying personal supplies and project gear.
- Must be available to work flexible hours including early mornings, late nights, and weekends.
- Must have a valid driver's license; if you are from out of state, you must have a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of hire date, and you must not have any major violations or DUI, DWI, DWAI convictions.
- Minimum of three years of work-related experience in inventory/monitoring, botany, natural resource management, or related field
- Offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of criminal history, motor vehicle report, education verification, and/or references.
- Please note that supplemental questions requiring a written response will serve as a writing sample.
- Current Jefferson County employees must apply through their employee profile in Workday.
How to Apply: Applications will be accepted electronically at Jefferson County Colorado Career Opportunities .
Applicants complete an online form and have the option to provide a resume and detailed cover letter that describes why you are the best candidate for the position. Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications listed in the qualifications section of the job bulletin, and applicants are contacted directly by the hiring team regarding next steps. To view the status of your application or direct communication from the hiring team, please log into your candidate portal .
For more details on the recruitment process, please visit https://www.jeffco.us/1860/FAQs
Questions: - County Recruitment Team: 303-271-8400 or careertalent@jeffco.us
- Library Recruitment Team: 303.275.6168 or talent@jeffcolibrary.org
- Sheriff Recruitment Team: 303.271.5332 or sheriff.recruiting@co.jefferson.co.us
Education:Bachelor's Degree
Experience:Work Experience: Minimum three years
Certifications:Languages:Category:Natural Resources
