Natural Resources Specialist

Full Job Description

At Travis County Natural Resources, we are dedicated to preserving biodiversity and ensuring the management of resources within the Austin area for the benefit of rare and endangered species.

The Natural Resource Specialist will primarily be responsible for general maintenance and land management activities on the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) and other Travis County-managed lands.

Maintenance duties include both coordinating and performing fleet, facility, and equipment maintenance.Land management duties include invasive plant control, habitat management, boundary inspections, road and trail maintenance, wildfire fuel reduction activities, and grounds keeping.

This position is responsible for regularly leading staff workdays in these areas.

Additional wildlife management duties include assisting with feral hog management, cowbird trapping, fire ant control, deer management, and endangered species monitoring.

This is the second in a series of three natural resources-related job classifications within the Professional Support job family.

This classification is distinguished from other classifications by the computer knowledge required.

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

Requirements

Plans and conducts natural resources management protection and enhancement projects on lands owned or managed by Travis County, including monitoring and maintaining projects, conducting biological rare species monitoring, directing and implementing problem species control programs, collecting base line survey data on plant and animal species, coordinating habitat restoration for endangered species, and maintaining preserve infrastructure.

Maintains applicable state and federal permits, as required.

Provides technical geographic information system (GIS) mapping support for management. Creates and maintains GIS databases for land management activities. Maintains and updates maps.

Researches and develops methods and protocols, or improves methods for natural resources management.

Researches issues pertaining to natural resource protection and coordinates or works with other agencies or professionals to improve methods and project management for development and enforcement of statewide regulations.

Manages, compiles, analyzes and presents field data in the form of public presentations, technical written reports, special materials, annual reports, land management plans, protocols and checklists for the general public.

Evaluates data results with regard to impact on natural resources management.

Conducts education and outreach to the general public. Provides public with in information on natural resources protection and preserves. Disseminates information to landowners, managers, and other public agencies that uses the preserves and parks as research sites.

Coordinates, leads and trains parks staff and others in support of land management activities. Serves as an advisor and consultant for County parks and staff on a variety of natural resources issues.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology or a directly related field AND one (1) year of directly related, increasingly responsible demonstrated experience in natural resource management;

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:
Pesticide Applicator License or must obtain license within six (6) months of date of hire.
Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred:
Wildland Firefighter Certification (Red Card Certification).
Geographic Information System (GIS) and ArcGIS software experience.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Section 10(a)(1)(A) Scientific Permit and State Permit for monitoring endangered avian species and for monitoring endangered karst invertebrates.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques of land management protection and enhancement projects.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology related to land management protection.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software applications, such as ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) hardware and software.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Using ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS).
• Using biological monitoring and censusing, and wildlife control equipment.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• 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.
• Managing data in geodatabases.
• Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Use hand and power tools.
• 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, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), good vision and hearing, sitting, repetitive motion, carrying, lifting, crouching/crawling, vision to monitor, pushing, reaching, and stooping, kneeling 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: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

Department: Transportation and Natural Resources

Location: 700 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701

Criminal, Driving, and Education Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions about 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.