Find Jobs

Natural Resources Manager, Full Time
Richland County Park District
Posted on April 11, 2024

Purpose
Richland County Park District (RCPD) serves the community of Richland County through stewardship of natural and cultural resources, nature education, and providing outdoor recreation opportunities.

The RCPD Natural Resources Manager is responsible for the stewardship of natural resources on all RCPD properties including wildlife, woodlands, wetlands, prairies, rivers, and more. The Natural Resources Manager coordinates and performs a wide range of natural resources and land management activities and assists with project planning, budgeting, and some administrative tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities
-Is responsible for the maintenance, improvement, and restoration of native habitats in five parks spanning 800+ acres including woodlands, wetlands, prairies, rivers, and more.
-Works with the Operations Director to develop and implement land management plans for all RCPD properties.
-Is responsible for the development and supervision of the newly created Natural Resources Team.
-Trains, works with, and supervises fellow staff members, technicians, interns, volunteers, contractors, and others to satisfy land management needs.
-Coordinates/performs general land management projects/tasks such as trail maintenance, storm cleanup, tree work, bird/bat box management, brush hogging, flood mitigation, etc.
-Manages non-native and/or invasive species using best-management practices for natural areas and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles.
-Performs prescribed fires in prairie/grassland ecosystems.
-Conducts biological surveys and maintains records of threatened, endangered, invasive, and other species present on RCPD properties.
-Operates, inspects, and maintains, a variety of hand tools, power equipment, and vehicles including shears, loppers, axes, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, backpack sprayers, drip torches, UTVs, tractors, pickup trucks, and more.
-Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications
Education/Experience:
-Required: 8 years of education and experience in land/wildlife management, ecology, environmental science, or related. Two years supervision/management experience.
-Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, ecology, or a related field. At least four years of experience in natural resources, land, or wildlife management.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications:
-Required: Current and valid Ohio driver’s license.
-Preferred: Pesticide Applicator’s license; Prescribed Fire Manager; GIS; CPR/First Aid, or other related certifications. These may be obtained at RCPD’s expense subsequent to employment.

Technical Skills:
-Required: Strong land management skills. Ability to operate various tools, equipment, and vehicles. Proficient in the use of computers, email, word processors, and spreadsheets.
-Preferred: Skills in trail maintenance, grounds maintenance, prescribed burning, tree work, chainsaw use and maintenance, utility tractor use, GIS, UAS.

Leadership/Teamwork Abilities:
-Strong leadership abilities. Ability to follow instructions and provide feedback to superiors, work with others on a team, train and supervise subordinates, and direct the work of others.

Professionalism:
-Ability to maintain professional relationships with others, maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, be at work on time, and work for the entire work day/week.

Organizational Skills:
-Ability to develop and implement plans, prioritize work, organize schedules, analyze and improve processes and procedures, manage a budget, and account for expendables.

Communication Skills:
-Ability to communicate professionally and courteously with others on a daily basis; ability to communicate in writing, complete forms, reports, etc.

Reasoning Ability:
-Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. Ability to carry out instructions, deal with complex problems, work with minimal supervision, collect data, and draw valid conclusions.

Physical Demands:
-Ability to perform manual labor for an entire work day, lift heavy loads, stand, walk, sit, crouch, work with hands, operate tools, equipment and vehicles, talk, see, and hear clearly.

Work Environment:
-Regularly works outdoors in hot, cold, or inclement weather. Regularly encounters hazards such as fallen/snagged trees, moving vehicles, ice, fire, hazardous chemicals, poisonous plants, biting/stinging insects, and other hazards. Spends some time working in the shop or office.

Supervision
-Supervision Received: Operations Director
-Supervision Given: Natural Resources Technicians, Natural Resources Interns, seasonal laborers, volunteers

Work Hours
-Full Time
-Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
-Additional or irregular hours as needed to complete projects. Occasionally on-call during special events outside of normal work hours.
-Comp time is awarded for every hour worked beyond 40/week.

Salary
-$20 – $30 / hr
-$41,600 – $62,400 / yr
-Consideration given for herbicide/pesticide license, Prescribed Burn Manager certification, GPS/GIS certification, Remote Pilot Certificate, or other relevant certifications.
-Consideration given for years of prior experience, education, and training.
-Annual longevity pay increases and cost of living increases

Benefits
An excellent benefits package including:
-12 paid holidays
-24 hours annual paid personal time
-Paid vacation beginning at 2 weeks/year, increasing with longevity
-120 hours paid sick time
-Comp time for every hour worked beyond 40/week.
-Health, dental, vision, and life insurance (additional coverage options available)
-Ohio Public Employee Retirement System
-Access to 457 (b) supplemental retirement savings plans
-Annual uniform allowance

Other Information
The above Description represents the essential and most significant duties of this position. It is not intended to exclude other work duties, assignments, and responsibilities not mentioned herein.

RCPD is committed to providing a safe, quality-oriented and productive work environment. Alcohol and drug abuse poses a threat to the health and safety of Richland County Park District employees and to the security of the organization’s equipment and facilities. For these reasons, Richland County Park District is committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment.