Environmental Specialist I

Salary Grade: NC12

Recruitment Range: $44,588 - $61,308

This position will be located at:

Land and Water Stewardship 

121 West Jones Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

Learn about the Division: Division of Land and Water Stewardship-https://www.dncr.nc.gov/about/nature/division-land-and-water-stewardship

Learn about employee perks/benefits: https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits.

Primary Purpose of the Position:

Primary purpose of the position is (1) design and implement field studies to identify, evaluate and document occurrences of exemplary natural communities and rare species habitats; (2) evaluate and compile biological resource data about the extent, rarity, and occurrences of the state's rare species and natural communities; (3) participate in the development of the Natural Heritage Program inventory database; (4) provide information to other public and private agencies regarding the management and protection of natural communities and rare species habitats; and (5) work with landowners of natural areas to secure their protection through creation of Dedicated Nature Preserves, Registered Heritage Areas, and other conservation agreements .

This position is based in Wake County and the primary area of focus is the Eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain region of North Carolina.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct biological surveys of natural areas, which contribute to the documentation of North Carolina's natural diversity.

• Incorporate detailed technical information about natural areas, natural communities, and rare species occurrences into the Program's "Biotics" database in a timely manner (including tabular data and GIS-based mapping).

• Identify and facilitate protection of high-priority natural areas and develop protection strategies and management practices and policies.

• Interpret scientific data provided to public agencies, business and industry, researchers, and private landowners.

Position/Physical Requirements:

• Must have a valid NC driver's license or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.

• Ability to conduct field investigations that may require exposure to inclement weather, insects, hot and cold temperatures and long hours traversing over rough terrain.

To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit. In order to qualify for this position, you must meet ALL the following KSA's listed below:

Qualified candidates must have or be able to:

• Demonstrated knowledge of North Carolina rare plants or animals and taxonomy.

• Demonstrated experience using the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Natural Community Classification to identify, classify and map natural communities in the field.

• Demonstrated experience conducting biological field surveys in North Carolina.

• Demonstrated experience working with ArcGIS software.

• Demonstrated experience with field navigation using GPS units or mapping maps on mobile devices.

Management Preferences:

• Familiarity with legal instruments used in land conservation.

• Experience writing technical reports and meeting contractual deadlines.

• Experience conducting biological field surveys in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, Sandhills, or Maritime regions.

Bachelor's degree in one of the agricultural, biological, engineering, environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.Department  Information:

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) takes care of the things that people love about North Carolina, literally from A to Z.  The Arts to the Zoo, and so much else - parks, aquariums, historic sites, archaeology, African American Heritage Commission, science and history museums, the state Symphony, Library and Archives, historic preservation, land and water stewardship, and more.  These places, and the ideas they represent, create a shared identity among us as North Carolinians. They provide common ground. Everyone is welcome. Our goal is to promote equity and inclusion among our employees and our programming to reflect and celebrate our state's diverse population, culture, and history. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.

Check out this amazing video about DNCR: The Best of North Carolina

Section/Branch/Site Description:

The Natural Heritage Program is authorized by the state Nature Preserves Act to (1) identify through systematic research and recommend for conservation the natural areas which best exemplify North Carolina's natural heritage, (2) facilitate development of a statewide system of protected natural areas in public and private ownership, (3) formulate and disseminate rare species management recommendations, (4) advise private individuals, corporations and public agencies on land conservation options for natural areas, (5) provide interpretation of biological information, and coordinate with and advise other  agencies, (6) involve and inform citizens and landowners, and increase public environmental awareness, and (7) maintain information regarding the distribution and status of rare species to support designation under the Endangered Species Act.

As a program focused on conserving the biodiversity of North Carolina's natural areas, we recognize that just as biodiversity is critical to a healthy ecosystem, diversity in people and perspectives makes our organization and community stronger. NHP is committed to creating an environment in our workplace where everyone's voice is heard, and everyone feels safe and welcome. To learn more, visit www.ncnhp.org.

Division Description:

The Division of Land and Water Stewardship (DLWS) is a nonregulatory division within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that provides information and assistance to support effective conservation. The office is an integral part of the state's conservation efforts and seeks to maintain a positive relationship with communities through partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, industries, organizations, and private citizens.

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, National Guard or veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or political influence.

Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit.  "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.

Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application, to support your answers.

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.

To obtain veterans preference, you must scan and upload a copy of your DD-214 or discharge orders.

Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax.  Please call the human resources office for assistance.

If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take an average of 6 -8 weeks.

It is the policy of the State of North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that all employees provide proof of employment eligibility (immigration and naturalization) on the first day of employment.   We participate in E-Verify (Employment Eligibility Verification System).

CONTACT INFORMATION:

N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Division of Human Resources

Tonia Gibb

Phone:  919-814-6670

Technical issues submitting your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627.