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NATURAL RESOURCES PLANNER V

Conservation Easement Program Manager

Recruitment #24-002310-0002

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Introduction

This is a position specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Environmental Trust. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies for the position and may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification/function. Future vacancies may also be filled via other recruitments. The resulting eligible list will be maintained for one year.

GRADE

19

LOCATION OF POSITION

100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032, Anne Arundel County

Main Purpose of Job

Conservation Easement Program Manager: Manage, direct and administer the Maryland Environmental Trust's (MET) conservation easement program. Duties involve directing and reviewing the work (supervising) Natural Resource Planners and interns; Guiding the development of regional plans regarding land conservation priorities, outreach strategies and partnership opportunities; develop budget for easement program; coordinate personnel issues with the Director as part of the MET leadership team; organize/present the easement program material for the MET' s Lands Committee, Board of Trustees meetings and for Board of Public Works meetings; conduct staff meetings to keep up-to-date with staff projects/issues relative to project selection; coordinate with the Stewardship Program Manager to assess the stewardship implications/costs of new projects; draft/update conservation easement policies for board approval, as needed; liaison with Land Acquisition and Planning Unit staff as needed to further the Department’s conservation goals. Maintain current information about Conservation Easement Program on website and in printed material.

Also serves as a Conservation Easement Planner: The main purposes of this portion of the job are to (1) proactively solicit the donation of conservation easements to the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) from citizens throughout the State of Maryland; (2) negotiate, draft and complete conservation easement agreements and amendments; (3) engage in land conservation planning; (4) work with local land trust staff and other conservation partners to further MET priorities; (5) provide stewardship services to landowners in the assigned region; (6) monitor conservation easements for compliance of the terms of the easement; (7) represent MET through presentations at conferences, seminars and meetings; and (8) join with the Department of Natural Resources and other State land conservation and planning agencies in achieving Maryland’s land conservation goals (ie/BayStat, Managing for Results).

POSITION DUTIES

The Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Environmental Trust (“MET”) accepts conservation easements to protect Maryland’s most treasured landscapes and natural resources. Currently MET holds more than 1,100 conservation easements on over 136,000 acres of significant environmental, scenic, agricultural, historic and cultural land in Maryland.

MET located in Crownsville, Maryland is currently accepting applications for a Natural Resource Planner V to serve as the Conservation Easement Program Manager. Duties involve supervising Natural Resource Planners and interns; Guiding the development of land conservation priorities, outreach strategies and partnership opportunities; developing budget for the easement program; coordinating personnel issues with the Director as part of the MET leadership team; organizing/presenting the easement program material for the MET's Board of Trustees meetings and for Maryland Board of Public Works meetings; coordinating with the Stewardship Program Manager to assess the stewardship implications/costs of new projects; drafting policies for board approval, as needed. Maintaining current information about Conservation Easement Program on MET’s website and in printed material; and tracking and reporting the number of acres protected by MET. The position will represent MET nationally, regionally and statewide through presentations, conferences, seminars and meetings and will collaborate with other State and national land conservation programs. 

The Conservation Easement Program Manager position also actively conserves land by conducting outreach, soliciting, negotiating, drafting and completing conservation easement acquisitions. Duties include conservation planning; assessing/evaluating conservation attributes of land; preparing baseline documentation; corresponding and working with landowners, local land trusts, conservation not-for-profit organizations, county and municipal staff, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, and staff of other State agencies to complete conservation easement acquisitions. 

Please note, this position requires field work which could result in exposure to hot and cold weather, rain, snow, biting insects, poison ivy and sun exposure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

Experience: Seven years of experience in natural resources planning or an 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 or environmental sciences and one year of experience in natural resources 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 a 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 up to five years of the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Knowledge of Federal, state, and local tax credits for donated conservation easements, property tax and estate tax benefits as well as land use and planning regulations 
  • Ability to draft and negotiate conservation easements
  • Experience managing and evaluating land conservation projects
  • Knowledge of state or federal land conservation programs
  • Experience monitoring and stewardship of conservation easement properties; and a working knowledge of Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices
  • Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills and have the ability to negotiate and forge partnerships among stakeholders with varying perspectives and interests
  • Strong time management skills with the ability to coordinate and prioritize complex projects and adapt to changing needs when necessary
  • Proficiency with GIS/ for developing maps and analyzing land/conservation values

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates may be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Your application is part of the examination process. The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of this position. The rating will be based on the information provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you provide all the experience and education related to this position completely and accurately.

BENEFITS

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application is strongly preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to: Department of Natural Resources, Human Resources, 580 Taylor Avenue, C-3 Annapolis, MD 21401. The Human Resources unit is not responsible for applications sent to any other address.

Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the application.

If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management at Application.Help@maryland.gov ; ATTN: Recruitment and Examination Division. Please note, standard business hours for the help desk are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Inquiries made after hours will be reviewed the following business day. 

If you need to make adjustments to a submitted application before the announcement deadline or if you have general inquiries regarding this recruitment, please contact Adriana Parravano at Adriana.Parravano@maryland.gov.

Please provide ample time to complete the application template. If you are having technical difficulties submitting an application on the day of the deadline, it is strongly advised that you complete the JobAps physical application template and hand deliver to DNR - HRS at 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 before 4:30 p.m. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources cannot guarantee that late submissions, as a result of technical difficulties, will be accepted.

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

Candidates with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.


Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online
View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here.
Apply via Paper Application. You may also download and complete the Paper Application here.

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