Natural Resource Specialist 2

Does the prospect of working on a dynamic, cooperative team adjudicating the use of state land interest you? Do you look forward to working in a welcoming and supportive environment? Do you enjoy working with a variety of clients and stakeholders, ranging from private individuals to multi-national corporations, on a variety of projects? If so, this Natural Resource Specialist position is for you! Our team is dedicated to responsibly managing public lands in support of individual and business needs.
We invite you to come and help make land management decisions that will shape the quality of life for present and future Alaskans.
Mission and Culture This position is housed in the Division of Mining, Land, and Water (DMLW), within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The DNR's mission is to “develop, conserve and maximize the use of Alaska's natural resources consistent with the public interest.
” The DMLW's mission is “to provide for the appropriate use and management of Alaska's state-owned land and water, aiming toward maximum use consistent with the public interest.
” The position offers a rewarding opportunity to help manage state-owned land within a creative and supportive team.
This position plays a key role in achieving the above missions by evaluating requests to utilize state land and determining if the use is appropriate, and if any modification to the requested activity will be required for the project to move forward.
Core Responsibilities This position is on the DMLW Northern Region Permits and Easements Team.
The team primarily evaluates permit requests for uses of state land and authorizes easements for a variety of long-term needs.
State land is used in many ways; each use or requested use may impact other users.
Cases assigned to you will be novel, complex, and controversial, requiring innovative and creative solutions.
Your findings will be documented in administrative decisions, communicating how you came to your conclusions.
Benefits of Joining Our Team The DMLW team offers meaningful work in a friendly and supportive environment, a hybrid telework model, flexible work schedules, autonomy, opportunities for career advancement, and extensive land management training.
The Working Environment You Can Expect The Fairbanks office is situated on a charming and wooded campus along the Chena River, near many amenities.
As a Natural Resource Specialist 2, there is a good balance between individual and collaborative efforts to ensure decisions are well considered.
Opportunities for occasional, short-duration fieldwork are frequently available.
This often includes travel along the major interior road systems along the Parks, Steese, Richardson, Elliott, Dalton, and Alaska Highway corridors, but can more rarely also include travel to remote locations via small plane, ATV, snowmachine, or boat.
The knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to be successful in this position include: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise, and legally defensible decision documents.
Experience interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, policies, and land management plans to determine their applicability to proposed uses of state land.
Ability to understand, integrate, and synthesize complex ecological, social, and public policy information for the purpose of recommending a specific course of action.
Ability to resolve complex land management issues.
Demonstrates a broad repertoire of ways to think about, understand, and creatively handle complex ideas, problems, and situations.
Ability to build and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with both staff and clients.
Ability to take the initiative, adapt to changing priorities, manage multiple tasks, achieve deadlines, and exercise sound judgment.
Minimum Qualifications Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in: Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
Decision-Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
equivalent to those typically gained by: Education in a natural resource field (such as forestry, geology, agronomy, and hydrology), public administration, planning, economics, cartography, or a closely related field and/or professional level experience in natural resource management.
Definitions: “Competencies” means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.
“Professional experience” means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment.
“Qualified” means is assessed to credibly possess the competencies needed to learn the job in a reasonable period.
“Training” and “education” in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction.
It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.
“Typically gained by” means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.
Special Note: For purposes of the minimum qualifications, natural resource management is defined as the management of the land, water, mineral, forest, oil, gas, agricultural, archaeological, natural and cultural history, park, and related surface and subsurface resources.
Experience or education in natural resource management means involvement in the above resources exclusively.
Those with experience or education in managing these resources may specialize in different management functions (for example, planning, regulation, research or title).
All of this experience is applicable to the natural resource management definition.
Some positions may require education in a particular area of natural resource management or specific technical knowledge and training gained through specialized education or progressively greater responsibilities at the lower levels of the series.
Additional Required Information **NOTE: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY** THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY This recruitment is open to Alaska Residents only.
Applicants must meet Alaska Residency Requirements to be considered for employment at this time.
At the time of application, the applicant must attach as individual documents the following items (If unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below): Cover letter – see instructions below.
Writing Sample – a professional writing sample you authored (separate from the cover letter), e.
g.
, a decisional document, technical paper, or report.
Resume – A resume, including the names and current telephone numbers of previous relevant employers.
If selected for an interview, the applicant must provide the following: A copy of your last two performance evaluations or two letters of recommendation from former supervisors (if performance evaluations are unavailable).
A list of three professional references with current contact information, one of which must be from a current or former supervisor.
A copy of any documents necessary to show proof of meeting the minimum qualifications for this position, as described in your cover letter.
SPECIAL NOTICES This position requires some field work to conduct site inspections to verify authorization compliance or assist other DNR personnel with compliance inspections or site monitoring.
This may involve travel to remote areas via small plane, helicopter, ATV, snowmachine, or boat.
This position may participate in field inspections to assess land use impacts of various authorizations, as well as inspect existing authorizations for compliance.
Inspections are conducted in both summer and winter conditions.
Application Notice You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or a hardcopy application.
If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal, such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to apply successfully.
Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska “How to Apply" page.
Your application must be submitted by 5:00 p.
m.
Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.
Cover Letter A thorough cover letter is required for this position.
The letter should explain how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position and specifically highlight your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience as they pertain to the requirements and responsibilities listed in the job description above.
The cover letter may be multiple pages.
Your cover letter will be used to judge your writing skills and help determine who will be offered an interview.
Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online.
If you are unable to attach it, fax or email it to the contact number provided below.
Education If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application.
If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the units completed.
Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.
S.
education programs; or an accredited U.
S.
post-secondary institution reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the post-secondary institution.
It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
Work Experience If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time.
Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met.
If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.
Note: Attaching a resume is not an alternative to filling out the application entirely.
Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
Bargaining Unit If you are a current state employee, please mark the union you are a member of at the time of application.
Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.
Driver’s License Requirement Applicants must possess a valid driver's license.
Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.
EEO Statement The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or 465-4095 in Juneau or (907) 465-3412 (TTY) or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.
O.
Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201.
The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.
Contact Information Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area.
Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.
services@alaska.
gov.
For assistance with your password, please visit the reset password page.
For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following: Name: AJ Michels Title: Natural Resource Manager 1 Phone: 907-451-2710 Email: Austin.
Michels@alaska.
gov Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefitsThe following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska.
Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.
For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits.
(Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.
)Insurance Benefits Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.
alaska.
gov/help/plans.
html for additional information.
AVTEC Confidential Correctional Officers Marine Engineers Mt.
Edgecumbe Teachers Supervisory Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining) The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts.
Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
General Government Labor, Trades and Crafts Public Safety Employees Association Masters, Mates & Pilots Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)Optional Insurance Benefits Group-based insurance premiums for Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents) Long-term and short-term disability Accidental Death and Dismemberment Long-term care (self and eligible family members) Supplemental Survivor Benefits Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expensesRetirement Benefits Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees) Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees) Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment optionsSee https://drb.
alaska.
gov/retiree/ for additional information Paid Leave & Other Benefits Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served Eleven paid holidays a year