State of Maryland

A Natural Resources Planner IV is lead level work in the field of local, regional, State and intergovernmental natural resources planning and applied environmental science.  Employees in this classification function as the lead worker of a major statewide natural resources planning project, responsible for planning projects requiring the review and interpretation of data involving land use; water quality control; flood plain management; wetlands management; habitat manipulation; park and recreation requirements; and mineral resources supply and demand.  Employees in this classification provide guidance and direction to lower-level Natural Resources Planners and other professionals and technicians in related fields.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher-level Natural Resources Planner or other designated administrator.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Natural Resources Planner IV is differentiated from a Natural Resources Planner III in that the Natural Resources Planner IV assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Natural Resources Planners assigned to a planning project while the Natural Resources Planner III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Natural Resources Planner IV is differentiated from the Natural Resources Planner V in that the Natural Resources Planner V has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Natural Resources Planners and is responsible for the supervision of a planning program.

Directs, coordinates and develops comprehensive resource planning and development projects for the optimum utilization of resources on a regional or statewide basis;

Provides technical advice and assistance on all phases of natural resources planning projects and on qualifying procedures to be followed under federal assistance planning programs;

Participates in studies of various resources, e.g., land use, water quantity and quality; forests, parks and wildlife management activities; parks and recreation; commercial and sport fisheries activities;

Conducts investigations of the effectiveness and efficiency of natural resources and environmental protection programs in the interest of achieving sound long-range natural resources management, determining the scope of the study, and the research and statistical methods to be employed;

Consults with State and federal agency officials on matters of interest and intergovernmental environmental and natural resources planning and contacts representatives of private business concerned with various aspects of project planning;

Visits community organizations and citizens advisory boards in an effort to stimulate interest in the creation, promotion or coordination of planning for the utilization and conservation of natural resources;

Conducts surveys and submits reports on environmental and natural resources laws, programs and administrative procedures;

Consults with agency and program directors and other administrators regarding policies, trends and program needs;

Supervises, trains and advises a moderate-sized group of professional and clerical personnel engaged in difficult planning projects;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of natural resources planning;

Knowledge of technological, social and economic factors having an effect upon environmental and natural resources management and development;

Knowledge of the basic research methods and techniques; Knowledge of the fundamentals to be applied in the production of studies;

Knowledge of the institutional and economic constraints pertaining to various environmental and natural resources programs;

Skill in performing complex research and planning projects with a minimum of direction;

Skill in coordinating the various phases of a project and compile individual findings and conclusions into a clear, concise and comprehensive report;

Ability to direct and participate in the design of research and demonstration projects required for effective resource project planning and development;

Ability to comprehend the total effect of proposed projects;

Ability to prepare and submit overall and detailed plans and recommendations for submission to governmental and non-governmental organizations at the local, State, interstate or federal level;

Ability to provide guidance and direction to a group of environmental or Natural Resources Planners and clerical employees engaged in major planning projects;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with technical specialists and other planning staff.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in an environmental science or natural resources planning, management or development.

Experience: Five years of experience in natural resources planning or applied environmental science.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in urban or regional planning, engineering, physical geography, or the physical, chemical, biological, environmental sciences and one year of experience in natural resource planning or applied environmental science for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources planning, management, administration, development, environmental, urban or regional planning; resources economics or development; environmental system management; water or land resources planning and management; environmental landscape architecture; or the physical, chemical, biological or environmental sciences for up to three years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources planning, management, administration, development, environmental urban or regional planning; resources economics or development; environmental system management; water or land resources planning and management; environmental landscape architecture; or the physical, chemical, biological or environmental sciences for the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in the general natural resources management and biological sciences classifications or general natural resources management and biological sciences specialty codes in the general natural resources management and biological sciences field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are exempt from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.