03/13/1995 61230

AQUATIC RESOURCES EDUCATION MANAGER

DEFINITION: This is professional and managerial work in the field of aquatic resources education.

The employee in this class plans, develops, and directs a comprehensive statewide aquatic resources education program for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The program encompasses many aspects of aquatic resources education, including recreation, protection, conservation, and enhancement. Work includes the development of five-year plans and the promulgation of those plans through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, various recreation departments and similar entities, intermediate units and school districts throughout the Commonwealth. Work involves analyzing the data and survey feedback from in-house personnel, other state and Federal conservation agencies, the angling community, environmental groups and school districts to formulate and recommend the goals and objectives of the program. Work involves the development of course outlines, lesson plans, exhibits, audio-visual materials, and instructor training sessions for school district personnel. The employee has considerable freedom, within broad policy guidelines, for conceiving new programs, and for determining work priorities, methods of approach, and the assignment of work to subordinate staff. Supervision is exercised over a small staff of aquatic resource program specialists and a statewide corps of education and information volunteers. Work involves selecting, training, setting performance standards, and reviewing the results produced by subordinates. The employee reports to an administrative supervisor who assigns goals and objectives in broad outline and reviews final results for overall effectiveness.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans, develops, and directs a comprehensive statewide aquatic resource education program including recreation, protection, conservation, and enhancement.

Develops and recommends program goals and objectives and the methods by which those goals and objectives will be achieved.

Supervises the preparation of instructional materials for schools and organizations including course outlines, lesson plans, exhibits, and audiovisual materials; and conducts instructor training sessions for teachers and lecturers.

Develops surveys and questionnaires to gather data and ascertain opinions of others on curriculum needs, course content, methods of delivery, and target groups.

Develops budgets for all education programs.

Develops and maintains effective working relationships with curriculum development specialists in the Department of Education and intermediate units, school district officials, and conservation education teachers to effectively plan, develop, and implement a statewide aquatic resource education program.

Serves as the Fish and Boat Commission's representative on the National Aquatic Education Advisory Council.

Administers the Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth (PLAY) program which is designed to disseminate angling and aquatic resource information to elementary school children; supervises the production and ordering of all materials related to the program; writes the materials for the quarterly PLAY newsletter; and oversees the dissemination of the newsletter to members and schools.

Administers the PFBC's conservation award programs.

Recruits, trains, and directs the Fish and Boat Commission's Volunteer Education and Information Corps; provides the volunteers with uniforms, publications, and audiovisual aids; and organizes and conducts training sessions and develops incentive programs for Corps members.

Serves as a lecturer, conducts speaking engagements, and represents the Fish and Boat Commission at meetings where educational interests are concerned.

Supervises the activities of a small staff of Aquatic Resource Program Specialists; recruits, selects, and trains new staff members; develops goals and objectives along with performance criteria, and determines priorities, reviews work results, and evaluates performance.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of Pennsylvania's aquatic resources, including the water, and organisms and plant life that live in and around the water.

Knowledge of the various species of fresh water sport fish found in Commonwealth waters including identification, diet, habitat, life cycles, and habits.

Knowledge of fresh water angling equipment and techniques.

Knowledge of educational principles and techniques including the development of curriculums, course outlines, and lesson plans.

Knowledge of effective teaching techniques including lecturing, discussion, use of audio-visual equipment and aids, use of exhibits, field trips, and standard laboratory procedures.

Knowledge of sources of water quality problems and their effect on aquatic life.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of effective supervision.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of office administration and project management.

Skill in presenting instructional material to classes, workshops, and seminars.

Skill in designing exhibits, slide presentations, instructional layouts and illustrations, and other visual instructional materials.

Skill in lecturing and speaking.

Ability to apply the principles of effective supervision and management of a professional staff including the principles and techniques of employee selection, development, and training.

Ability to efficiently utilize budgeted resources.

Ability to develop curriculums, course outlines, and lesson plans.

Ability to instruct and lead conferences, workshops, and seminars.

Ability to write and speak effectively.

Ability to design conferences, workshops, and seminars.

Ability to teach effectively in a classroom or laboratory setting.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, educational administrators, teachers, other state and Federal conservation agencies, the angling community, and environmental groups.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Three years of professional experience in fisheries biology, fish culture, aquatic ecology, aquatic botany, invertebrate zoology, science education, aquatic resource education, conservation education, or a closely related field, including or supplemented by two years of teaching or training experience which included the development of training materials and lesson plans; and a Master's degree. A minimum of 15 credits in the above or a closely related field must have been earned during the combined undergraduate and graduate levels of study.

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training which includes the 15 credits identified above and one year of the teaching or training experience.