Senior Natural Resources Specialist (14462, Grade 22)



Senior Natural Resources Specialist (14462, Grade 22)

Salary

$54,066.00 - $95,755.00 Annually

Location

Silver Spring, MD

Job Type

Career

Job Number

14462

Department

PARK PLANNING AND STEWARDSHIP

Opening Date

12/19/2019

Closing Date

1/20/2020 11:59 PM Eastern

Description

Parkland managed by the Montgomery County Department of Parks makes up approximately 11% of the County's land and serves as the county's "backyard", providing safe and green outdoor spaces, fun, educational programs and events, and a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Our mission is to protect and interpret our valuable natural and cultural resources; balance the demand for recreation with the need for conservation; offer a variety of enjoyable recreational activities that encourage healthy lifestyles; and provide clean, safe, and accessible places for leisure-time activities.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that is working to help shape the future of one of nation's largest and most diverse park systems in the nation. In addition to having a world-class park system, Montgomery County, Maryland is a metropolitan destination for technological innovation, world-class higher education, performing arts, hospitality and tourism, and entrepreneurship.

The Montgomery County Department of Parks, a six-time National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner, seeks a Senior Natural Resource Specialist in the Resource Analysis Section of the Park Planning and Stewardship Division to help manage the stewardship of 457 miles of streams, 26,000 acres of forest and more than 500 lakes, ponds and stormwater management facilities and devices in the 36,500 acre park system. The successful candidate will have experience in the review of stream restoration, stormwater management creation and retrofit, wetland creation, transportation, utility, and other development projects – specifically for natural resource impacts. They will also have extensive knowledge in one or more of the following fields: freshwater ecology, natural resource management, environmental engineering, wetland delineation, forest ecology, land use planning, and/or GIS.

The Senior Natural Resource Specialist will be tasked with managing the review of a multitude of development projects to be constructed and/or retrofitted on parkland, both internal and external - specifically to minimize environmental impacts. This position will provide support and serve as project manager of different projects throughout the Concept Phase and will review projects through final design. They will work with engineers, planners, natural resource staff, consultants, and design teams to ensure that the project is beneficial and feasible; the environmental impacts are avoided where possible; and if necessary, develop an appropriate mitigation plan. The successful candidate will assist in preparing presentations outlining Parks' recommendation to the Montgomery County Planning Board through the Mandatory Referral Process, attend public meetings, and respond to citizen questions and complaints regarding the project. Most of the projects to be reviewed include stream restoration, stormwater management retrofits, BMP construction, environmentally sensitive bridges/culverts, roadway construction, and/or public utility infrastructure.  Qualified applicants will exhibit strong communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrate an ability to work effectively with a wide variety of agencies, special interest groups, Parks staff, consultants, contractors and the general public.

Examples of Important Duties

  1. Evaluate the impacts to natural resources (specifically aquatic resources) from development plans being proposed to occur on parkland.
  2. Provide natural resource related input to the design, coordination and implementation of stream ecology, wetland, wildlife and/or fish habitat protection and restoration projects.
  3. Assist with the tracking and review of projects associated with NPDES MS4 Permits and environmental stewardship projects being planned by other State, County and Federal agencies to be built on parkland. 
  4. Maintain and update project files, attend coordination meetings and field meetings (preliminary investigations and follow-ups). 
  5. During construction of projects on parkland, attend progress meetings and visit project sites as required to ensure that habitat features are being properly installed and that parkland is not being unduly impacted. 

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's Degree in natural resource management, environmental science, forestry, wildlife management, or related field; and

2. Three years of progressively responsible experience; or

3. An equivalent combination of education and experience.

4. Valid driver's license or the ability to acquire one.

Supplemental Information

Desirable Characteristics include:

  1. The ability to read and understanding technical engineering drawings;
  2. Knowledge of Federal, State, and County environmental and forest conservation laws, policies and plans;
  3. Knowledge of stream restoration methodology, design and/or construction techniques;
  4. Experience in the inventory, collection and identification of regional flora and/or fauna; experience in wetland delineation;
  5. And/or knowledge of GIS.
Working Conditions:

The position requires a combination of field and office work, and includes exposure to inclement weather and outdoor hazards.

Classification Specification: Senior Natural Resources Specialist (4443)

 
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
 
2021 BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR MERIT SYSTEM EMPLOYEES 
 
The following information is a summary of benefits extended to all Merit System employees of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). All plans are optional except the Defined Benefit and Long-Term Disability plans.

 
Retirement Programs
  • Defined Benefit Plan (Mandatory Participation) – Plans A, B and E exclude FOP members.

Plan Employee Contribution
Plan A: 7% of base salary. Social Security Wage Base (SSWB).
Plan B: 4% of base salary up to maximum Social Security Wage Base (SSWB) and 7% in excess of SSWB.
Plan C: 9% of base salary. (FOP members only)
Plan D: 8% of base salary.  (FOP members only)
Plan E: 4% of base salary up to maximum Social Security Wage Base (SSWB) and 8% in excess of SSWB.
  • Deferred Compensation ICMA-RC 457 plan (Optional)
  • Traditional and Roth IRAs (Optional)
 
Health Insurance Plans (FOP Members Pay 23% for Medical, Prescription and Dental and same as all other employees for Vision.) All other employees pay percentage below. 

Medical -
  • Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) – (15%)
  • UnitedHealthcare Select Exclusive Provider Organization Health Plan (EPO) – (20%)
  • UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Point of Service (POS) – (20%)
Prescription – CVS Caremark – (15%)
Dental - Delta Dental PPO and DeltaCare USA HMO – (20%)
Vision – EyeMed -  (80% of Low Option plan paid by Commission. Any balance paid by employee.)
  • Low, moderate, and high options are available.  Frequency of covered services differs.
 
Flexible Spending Accounts (Employee Pays 100%)
  • Medical Account – Maximum annual contribution: $2,700
  • Dependent Care Account – Maximum annual contribution: $5,000
 
Long-Term Disability Insurance (Mandatory Participation)
  • Employee Pays 20%: Commission Pays 80% (FOP Members Pay 100%)            
  • Benefits paid at 66 2/3% of base salary, maximum of $6,000/month
 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Insurance (Employee Pays 100%)
  • Benefits paid at 66 2/3% of base salary that exceeds $108,000; capped at $216,000
 
Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (Employee Pays 20%: Commission Pays 80%)
  • Two (2) times base salary; maximum benefit is $200,000 for each
 
Supplemental and Spouse/Dependent Life Insurance (Employee Pays 100%)
  • Supplemental – 1,2,3,4,or 5 times base salary; maximum benefit is $750,000
  • Spouse/Dependent Combination -  $10,000/$5,000, $20,000/$10,000, or $30,000/$15,000
 
Sick Leave Bank (Eligible After One Year Probationary Period)
  • Employee contributes 4-8 leave hours each year
  • Eligible for up to 76 work-days or 456 hours in 12-month period
Leave Programs
  • Annual: 15 days per year
  • Personal: 3 days per year (12 month waiting period)
  • Sick: 15 days per year
  • Holidays:10 days per year
Other Benefits
  • Credit Union
  • Tuition Assistance Program
  • Employee Assistance Plan
  • Wellness Program
  • Legal Services Plan
  • Work-Life Program
This summary is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor should be construed as an employment agreement with the M-NCPPC, implied or actual. It is not all-inclusive and is subject to change. For a more detailed description of benefits, please contact the Commission's Health and Benefits Office at 301-454-1694.

Agency
The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
Address
7833 Walker Drive
Suite 425
Greenbelt, Maryland, 20770