NATURAL RESOURCES PLANNER IV Forest Conservation Manager

The State of Maryland is hiring a Forest Conservation Manager for a full-time, contractual position in Elkridge, MD. The role involves overseeing the statewide forest conservation program, ensuring compliance with state laws, and coordinating with various government agencies. Candidates should have a relevant Bachelor's degree and five years of experience in natural resources planning or applied environmental science. This position is not remote and is located in Annapolis, MD.
Introduction

This is a contractual, position specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service. 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.

One (1) Long-Term Contractual Vacancy; Full-time; 12 Month Contract

GRADE

18

LOCATION OF POSITION

580 Taylor Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401

Main Purpose of Job

The Forest Conservation Program Manager is responsible for overseeing a statewide forest conservation program in accordance with Maryland's Forest Conservation Act (Natural Resources Article, Section
• 5-1601 et seq.) and the Maryland Reforestation Law (Natural Resources Article, Section
• 5-103 et seq.). This role uses available datasets to monitor statewide forest and tree canopy cover and make recommendations consistent with the state’s policy on forest conservation. The work includes coordination with federal, regional, and local government agencies, review of local ordinances for conformity with state law, oversight of annual auditing and legislative reporting processes, and management of the statewide fee-in-lieu fund. Additionally, this position works closely with other unit staff on the implementation of the Forest Conservation Act and interacts with citizen advisory groups.

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

Notes
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Desired Or Preferred Qualifications
• Professional experience with Maryland's Forest Conservation Act, or comparable laws in other jurisdictions.
• Specialized knowledge of Forest Stand Delineations and Forest Conservation Plans.
• Skill in performing complex research and planning projects with a minimum of direction.
• Ability to prepare and submit detailed plans and recommendations for submission to governmental and non-governmental organizations at the local, State, interstate, or federal level.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with technical specialists and other planning staff.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders effectively.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties that 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.

Benefits

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.

Leave may be granted to a contractual employee at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.
• Should benefits be available, this information will be discussed at the time of hire.

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, need to make adjustments to a submitted application or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management at Application.Help@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.

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

Supplemental materials and/or edits to your application will not be accepted once the announcement deadline has passed. Candidates will only be able to submit an application once, so it is extremely important that you are following the application instructions.

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.