The mission of Travis County Parks (TCP) is to enhance the quality of visitors’ lives through diverse outdoor experiences and stewardship of the county’s natural resources. The Parks Department is committed to providing a wide variety of outdoor recreational and educational opportunities for the entire community; preserving natural, historical, and cultural resources; improving outdoor experiences for everyone; and maintaining clean, safe grounds and facilities. TCP has approximately 10,804 acres of parkland that includes 90 miles of trails, and 30 parks that are on 7,014 acres that are open to the public.

TCP is seeking an experienced Stewardship Specialist to support the Land Management Program (LMP). The Stewardship Specialist fulfills both a technical and supervisory role in a wide variety of fields, including: resource management protection, GIS, ecology, agricultural and mineral lease monitoring, customer relations and education, and recreation. A Stewardship Specialist’s work includes data collection, resource analysis, developing management plans, developing solutions to resource management problems, supervising staff (in the future), managing budgets and programs, as well as preparing reports. It requires a working knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies related to natural resource protection. The ideal candidate will draw from this knowledge and experience to communicate with a wide variety of organizations, who have varied interests in County lands, resources, and programs.

The Stewardship Specialist will be responsible for managing projects related to property acquisitions. This will include boundary marking and boundary maintenance, identifying locations to provide access and easements, natural resource mapping, monitoring agricultural and mineral leases, establishing goals and management plans, and implementing treatment plans to restore Blackland Prairie, manage invasive species, and to enhance the functional health of floodplains and riparian systems. The Stewardship Specialist will support stewardship needs in both developed and undeveloped parks. They will work with park staff to identify stewardship needs, provide training, monitor natural resources, track metrics, write management plans, provide updates to plans, and monitoring reports.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the second in a series of four natural resources-related job classifications within the Professional Support job family. This classification is distinguished from lower classifications by having supervisory responsibilities and a higher level of project complexity. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

• Plans and conducts natural resources management protection and enhancement projects on lands owned or managed by Travis County, including conducting rare species population and habitat monitoring, directing and implementing problem species control programs, collecting base line survey data on plant and animal species, coordinating habitat restoration for endangered species, implementing fuel reduction activities, and maintaining preserve infrastructure. Maintains applicable state and federal permits, as required.
• Supervises and evaluates staff job performance, coordinates and prioritizes schedules and assignments, authorizes staff productive and non-productive work hours, and trains staff.
• Serves as subject-matter expert by advising Elected and Appointed Officials, department heads, County staff, general public and other agencies, and consultants on natural resources matters relevant to programs and projects.
• Performs as project manager for natural resources, land management, facilities management, and scientific research projects. Develops and implements projects, oversees work, and manages budget.
• Researches and develops methodology to perform effective natural resources monitoring and management activities. Coordinates with other agencies or professionals conducting similar work.
• Manages, compiles, analyzes and presents field data in the form of geodatabases, technical written reports, special materials, annual reports, land management plans, and professional and public presentations. Evaluates data results with regard to impact on natural resources management.
• Conducts education and outreach to the general public. Provides public with 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.
• Inventories and monitors park resources in areas with limited road access.
• Develops and implements land management projects on various properties at remote locations.
• Is responsible for the day-to-day management of assigned areas and equipment.
• Identifies access and boundary issues and opportunities.
• Establishes program policies and guidelines.
• Develops and implements land stewardship goals, management plans, monitoring activities, and provides reports and updates for program metrics.
• Monitors agricultural and mineral leases.
• Supports volunteer and education events on park managed lands.
• Liaises and coordinates as needed with Federal, State, and City agencies, elected officials, as well as conservation and environmental interest groups and the public.
• Participates in prescribed burns.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology or a directly related field AND three (3) years of directly related, increasingly responsible demonstrated experience in natural resource management, and one (1) year of 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:
Pesticide Applicator License or must obtain license within one (1) year 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.
Certified Arborist Qualification
Unmanned Aerial System (UAV) Qualification and/or experience.
To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques of land management protection and enhancement projects.
• Conducting investigations, including data collection, analyzing, interpreting and writing a report of results.
• 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.

• 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.
• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques.

• Coordinate with professional and front-line staff throughout the county and among partners.
• Deal tactfully, effectively and equitability with all people.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, managers, employees, and the public.
• Strategically plan, organize, coordinate, and administer complex programs.
• Solve complex administrative and operational problems.
• Effectively supervise personnel (in the future) to accomplish planned objectives including specific performance plan objectives, and workload allocations.
• Lead, facilitate and participate in consensus building forums among staff, other governmental and private sector organizations.
• Communicate effectively through both oral and written communications to develop justifications and marketing for recommended courses of action.
• Negotiate agreements with governmental and private sector organizations.
• Attend meetings or perform work assignments at locations outside of the office and at the office.

This position requires possession and maintenance of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings, visit sites for field investigations, meet with residents, attend meetings with state officials, and perform other work at locations throughout Travis County where public transit may not be available. Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours is required. Individuals in this job will be required to wear a uniform. Individuals in this job will be required to maintain an Arduous fitness rating as described by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (complete 3-mile walk within 45 minutes while carrying 45 lbs.).

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: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. May work some holidays, some nights, some weekends

Location: Western Travis County

Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

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