Environmental Project Manager

Full Job Description

The Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources Department, is looking for a highly skilled natural resources professional to oversee and lead ecological monitoring and land management efforts on the Balcones Canyonland Preserve (a habitat conservation plan permitted under the USFWS).

Qualified candidates will have knowledge about wildlife ecology, including birds, salamanders, and karst invertebrates.

They will also have experience with implementing land management techniques specifically in the Texas Hill Country.This individual will manage a team of biologists who are responsible for implementing land management plans, ecological monitoring of endangered and threatened species and their habitats and conducting restoration activities on the preserve.

The successful candidate will also provide leadership in the application of land management tools- including prescribed fire and fuel mitigation- to support habitat conservation objectives and reduce wildfire risk.

Preference will be given for demonstrated successful experience in a variety of natural resource program areas including:• The Endangered Species Act;• Habitat conservation plans;• Land management and restoration;• Ecological monitoring techniques;• Prescribed fire and wildfire prevention techniques;• Analyzing, developing, and managing budgets;• Collaboration, coordination, and effective working relationships with public officials; representatives of public agencies, emergency service districts, and the general public;• Leadership• Project and program development/management• Verbal and written communication.

This is the third in a series of four environmental-related job classifications within the Professional Support job family.

This classification is distinguished from other classifications in that it requires both technical knowledge and managerial skills.

This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Requirements

• Performs as project manager, develops, implements, oversees, manages or administers projects, budgets, codes, specifications, policies and procedures for countywide programs, projects and improvements.
• Supervises support staff, evaluates staff job performance, coordinates and prioritizes schedules and assignments, and authorizes staff productive and non-productive work hours. Orients and trains staff.
• Provides environmental expertise and support for development design, construction, improvements, and maintenance. Monitors grant projects for compliance with funding agency regulations.
• Acts as liaison on environmental matters. Performs County, interlocal and code enforcement coordination. Advises County staff, citizens and other agencies and consultants on environmental matters relevant to County programs and projects. Resolves problems.
• Performs tasks as assigned in annual work-plan. Works with staff to develop and implement. Prepares and conducts environmental compliance training; oversees annual reports.

Conducts environmental assessments, investigates and analyzes problems and advises methods to mitigate adverse environmental impact of all County operations.

Monitors existing and proposed federal, state and local laws and regulations relevant to environmental aspects of County programs and projects and ensures compliance with such laws and related County policies and procedures.

• Develops, reviews, and recommends annual fiscal year expenditures involving contracts for capital improvement projects, grants, construction design, construction, maintenance, compliance issues, and general items to complete projects within policies and procedures.
• Manages and oversees the preparation and submission of grant applications for new and continued funding of programs through Federal, State, Local and County sources. Develops and prepares contract documents.

Drafts projects bid specifications and performs plan review.

Reviews and identifies potential environmental compliance problems with engineering design, construction plan activities and site assessments.

Conducts research, provides recommendations, resolves issues and conveys information. Provides environmental compliance oversight in grant projects.

Makes recommendations to resolve issues and conflicts in coordination with consultants, staff and other agencies.

• Serves as subject expert by advising Elected and Appointed Officials, department heads, County staff, general public and other agencies, and consultants on environmental matters relevant to programs and projects.
• Assists in the development of long range County plan for natural resources/environmental related programs and projects. Develops, reviews and recommends budget expenditures for County projects and grants, working with project managers and staff.
• Coordinates with Elected and Appointed Officials, department heads for programs.
• Represents the County in attending meetings, advisory groups, neighborhood groups, boards and commissions, seminars, conferences, professional associations meetings, private organizations, and participate on related committees. Responds to difficult citizen inquires and complaints.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Geography, Technical Writing, Resource Economics or a directly related field AND four (4) years of experience in natural resources/ environmental analysis and grant management, including program and project development, implementation and grant administration, and including one (1) year of mid- to senior level supervisory or management experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Driver’s License.

Depending on assigned duties may require grant/certification writing, International Society of Arboriculture
(ISA) Arborist Certification, International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Erosion Control. Specialist
Certification, Water Supply Operator Certification or Pest Control License.

Preferred:

Wildland Firefighter Certification (Red card).

Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB).

State and/or Federal Scientific Research Permits.

ArcPro GIS experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques of environmental and natural resource protection.
• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable environmental laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• State and Federal environmental regulatory or administrative grant requirements and practices.
• Implementation of environmental engineering techniques and specifications and management practices relating to water quality, storm water pollution control, erosion control, restoration, land and vegetation management, hazardous materials, waste management.
• Principles of local land development, transportation and roadway design.
• Implementation of environmental procedures within an organization.
• Construction practices.
• Grant guidelines, procedures and of funding agencies.
• Grant technical writing, project management, and environmental specifications.
• Governmental grant programs.
• Project and contract management.
• Budget preparation and office management.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, ArcView GIS hardware and software, and related applications.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Supervisory/management issues, including planning and managing teams.
• Using biological monitoring and censusing, and wildlife control equipment.
• Conducting environmental assessments and studies.
• Interacting with all levels of government (Elected Officials), management, employees, multiple outside agencies, and outside contractors.
• Exercising independent judgment under minimal supervision.
• Performing technical writing tasks, including successful grant writing.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Public speaking and content delivery.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Assess the impacts of proposed land development and/or maintenance practices upon water quality, land resources, and biological resources.
• Analyze and interpret mapped and graphic data and plans for land management and capital improvement projects.
• Manage time well, perform and prioritize multiple tasks, organize diverse activities, and implement environmental research and projects.
• Meet deadlines and produce projects in a timely manner while working on several projects at once.
• Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Additional Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), carrying, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. May work in extreme temperature/weather change/conditions, and smoke on prescribed or wild fires. Maybe subject to contact with dangerous machinery, fumes, communicable/infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 700 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701

Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Victoria.Besa@traviscountytx.gov


This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.