JOB TITLE: ECOLOGICAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST

JOB CODE: 54485

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Ecological Program job series describes professional work in the development and administration of an agency ecological program.

DEFINITION: This is professional scientific work in the planning and coordination of a statewide ecological program designed to protect, conserve, and manage plant and wildlife resources and their habitats. An employee in this job plans, develops, coordinates, and promotes an agency ecological program involving wild plant conservation, natural heritage programs, ecological communities, hydrology, watershed restoration, forest ecology, forest soils, wildlife and fisheries habitat management, ecological resource inventory and monitoring, and natural resource conservation. Work includes developing and recommending goals, objectives, and priorities; developing and recommending program rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines; establishing program performance indicators; analyzing data and trends; and preparing reports of findings and recommendations. Work is assigned through statewide program goals, objectives, and priorities, and is reviewed by an administrative supervisor for completeness, technical accuracy, and quality; and the attainment of goals, objectives, and priorities.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples)

•Develops, recommends, and implements technical program rules, regulations,policies, procedures, goals, objectives, and priorities.

•Evaluates and addresses the training needs of field personnel performing programactivities.

•Interprets technical program goals, policies, procedures, and standards for fieldpersonnel and other staff.

•Investigates new methods, techniques, and research findings and determines if theyare appropriate to the program.

•Serves as the agency burn boss by coordinating fire crews, checking equipment,observing weather conditions, notifying the proper authorities, and directing theimplementation of a prescribed fire.

•Creates and maintains trails to act as fire breaks for prescribed and wildland fires.

•Performs site evaluations, species surveys, and habitat assessments.

•Investigates best species management protocols to include prescribed firemanagement and daylighting.

•Identifies proposed legislation for program impact.

• Develops ecological resource inventories and monitors protocols.

• Reviews data and draft regulations regarding ecological program issues for review by supervisors and legal and policy offices.

• Drafts and presents educational and informational material for use by students, special interest groups, civic groups and associations, and the public.

• Educates the public, private citizens, landowners, students, and the media on ecological program issues

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of ecological sciences such as botany, wildlife, dendrology, hydrology, forest ecology, and forest soils.

• Knowledge of the principles of natural resource conservation and ecological restoration.

• Knowledge of management techniques for rare, threatened, or endangered plants and animals and their habitats.

• Knowledge of management techniques for game wildlife species habitat.

• Knowledge of survey methods for plant and animal species.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to identify plants, animals, and natural communities.

• Ability to develop and present informational and educational materials to the public.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These may not be used for merit system evaluation or examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards)

• Knowledge of silviculture techniques used to control the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of state forests.

Minimum Experience and Training: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• One year of experience as a Wildlife Biologist 2 or Natural Resource Program Specialist 1 (commonwealth titles);

or

• Three years of experience as a Forester (commonwealth title);

or

• Three years of professional experience in management of plant, wildlife, or natural resources and a bachelor's degree in biology, botany, ecology, environmental science, forestry, natural resources management, or a closely related field;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.