Working Title: Fish and Wildlife Facility and Access Development Coordinator

Job Class: Natural Resources Program Coordinator

Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources

• Job ID : 77283

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 06/25/2024

• Closing Date : 07/15/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Natural Resources

• Division/Unit : DNR Fish and Wildlife

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes; Intermittent to meetings and field site visits

• Salary Range: $30.55 - $45.02 / hourly; $63,788 - $94,001 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

• FLSA Status: Exempt - Professional

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

The DNR is currently seeking a NR Program Coordinator to administer a statewide program for facility and access development projects for the Division of Fish and Wildlife (FAW). This position will provide direction to ensure effective and efficient administration of facility and access development projects. The position will coordinate with FAW staff to administer facility and access development projects with guidance on funds, planning, execution, and monitoring of contracts for implementation of projects. This position serves to provide technical assistance to area, regional, state program staff and conservation partners in their project development and work planning. Finally, this position will provide statewide budget management to ensure facility and access development project funding sources (e.g. Bonding, General Fund, Reinvest in Minnesota, Game and Fish Fund, Heritage and Enhancement) are properly expended per MN Statutes and Department policies.

Responsibilities include:

Manage qualified facility and access development projects statewide by integrating current design, materials, and modern techniques for innovative approaches to address short and long-term resource needs. These projects include user access (i.e. parking lots, access roads) development or redesign, culvert resizing/replacement, field approach installation, etc. on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

Administer the Division’s Facility and Access Development Program including continuous improvement of policies, procedures and best practices and building funding initiatives to continue facility and access development work for all sources of funding and the associated rules and requirements associated with those sources.

Implement and serve as coordinator for FAW on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) questions and direction for facility and access development projects on WMAs, and DNR policies so that those program and Department policies are easily understood and followed. Ensure appropriate communication around the policies to enhance facilities and ADA accessibility.

Develop and maintain relationships with external (federal, state, local, and tribal governments, non-governmental organizations, and private individuals) partners for statewide facility and access development partnerships and coordination.

Manage special contracting projects statewide at the section or division level that come up through the fiscal year, as directed by the supervisor, Wildlife Section Management or FAW Division leadership.

This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a full or part-time basis which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete a telework agreement.

The preferred work location for the selected candidate is St. Paul or an Area or Regional Wildlife office. The selected candidate may have the option to report to other existing DNR offices. The specific location will be agreed upon at time of selection.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in operations management, construction management, wildlife management, ecology, natural resources management, or closely related field.

Three (3) years of professional experience in project management for infrastructure construction projects, wildlife, or natural resources projects in natural resources or outdoor developed area settings, sufficient to identify or provide direction for the enhancement or development of accesses and accessible facilities on WMAs, such as gravel parking lots, access roads, culvert replacements, flood repairs to access infrastructure, and field approaches.

Experience administering budgets, preparing budget requests, and authorizing expenditures.

Extensive knowledge and experience on facility management techniques, infrastructure project management, and field operations.

Proficiency in providing technical advice, planning, and guidance on facility and access development.

Advanced knowledge of current state and federal ADA standards, state statutes, and federal guidelines for outdoor developed areas guidance.

Knowledge and experience with activities such as gravel road maintenance, aggregate quantity calculations, parking lot design, construction and maintenance techniques, culvert materials and replacement techniques, road approach design and applicable county and road authority laws and permitting.

Human relations skills sufficient to coordinate and achieve cooperation with the public, peers, and staff.

Ability to apply Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and ensure compliance on projects in Wildlife Management Areas.

Ability to direct colleagues and teams; plan, manage, and implement projects and programs with tight deadlines.

Ability to effectively communicate with others, using appropriate style as necessary to further program objectives when not all staff or stakeholders are supportive.

Oral and written communication skills to effectively communicate complex information in varied settings to a wide variety of audiences including the public, colleagues, and superiors.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in operations management, construction management, wildlife management, ecology, natural resources management, or closely related field.

Experience with complex budget and funding processes and optimizing resource allocation within fiscal and procedural constraints.

Experience administering state contracts and overseeing projects to completion.

Experience building specifications for construction-related projects (access development or improvement) and awarding bids to contractors.

Experience coordinating projects with regulatory agencies or multidisciplinary teams.

Experience drafting policy recommendations for regulatory use.

Experience with media interviews, public and staff presentations, and communicating with public about controversial topics.

Additional Requirements

This position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s license with a clear driving record.

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• Conflict of Interest Review

• Criminal History Check

• Education Verification

• Employment Reference / Records Check

• License / Certification Verification

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.