Job Type: Permanent

Salary Details: 45,202

Required Experience: 2 – 6 years

Deadline: Aug 15, 2021

See full job and application details at https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-conservation-project-review-scientist-smyra-delaware/2310686268

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Kent Conservation District, in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, is seeking an Conservation Project Review Scientist. The Conservation Project Review Scientist position is directly responsible for providing guidance and recommendations for landscape and development projects that have the potential to impact land, water, and soil resources, waterbodies, wetlands, watershed buffers, and associated fish and wildlife species and their habitats, including rare species populations. Providing feedback and recommendations on land use projects is essential to maintain healthy wildlife populations and their habitats, while advancing wetland conservation, coastal resiliency, water quality improvements, and erosion and sedimentation controls of ours streams, rivers, and the Delaware Bay. This position reports directly to a program manager and works with staff in other divisions, regulatory agencies, public and private land management agencies, and landowners and their consultants involved in landscape and development projects to identify, mitigate and minimize impacts to Delaware’s land, water, soil, fish and wildlife resources.

This position will focus on projects including, but not limited to, state and federal wetland projects, land-use projects, National Environmental Protection Act permits, and site investigation and remediation projects.

Job Duties: Specific responsibilities include the following:

1) Lead coordination of environmental review and technical assistance for the Division

  • Provide site-specific recommendations for avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating impacts to Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) or enhancing SGCN habitat in consultation with Division staff and coordination with Departmental regulatory staff.
  • Provide Section 7 reviews ensuring federal Endangered Species act compliance for Division projects.
  • Prepare for and participate in monthly land-use Planners Technical Advisory Committee meetings, Joint Permit Processing Meetings, and Regulatory Advisory Committee Meetings.
  • Coordinate with federal, other state, and local government agencies on project reviews and on comprehensive land-use plans, codes, ordinances, and regulations.
  • Participate in interagency field reviews and meetings to assess potential Impacts of a project and to obtain information to guide site-specific recommendations.
  • Manage internal environmental review Microsoft Access and spatial databases.
  • Oversee contracts.
  • Supervise seasonal and/or contractual staff.
  • Develop and administer grants.

2) Site Evaluations of Environmental Review Projects

  • Conduct field surveys of project sites to determine presence of SGCN or suitable habitat to guide site-specific recommendations.
  • Provide technical assistance by performing site evaluations or assisting other staff biologists to assess habitat or SGCN status
  • Provide guidance on SGCN for habitat restoration and management projects on private and public lands and assist with setting land-protection priorities for conservation partners and for state agencies.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

  • Possession of a bachelor’s degree or higher in Life, Physical, or Applied Science or related field.
  • Six months experience in environmental or natural resources project management which includes planning, developing, implementing, managing and evaluating environmental or natural resources projects to ensure objectives are met.
  • Three years of experience in analyzing and evaluating scientific data.
  • Three years of experience in interpreting environmental laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Six months experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
  • Six months experience in technical report writing.
  • Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Kent Conservation District does not provide sponsorship for holders of H1B Visas.

Benefits:

This position offers a comprehensive benefit package including: 37.5-hour work week with flexible scheduling options, 15 paid vacation days the first year, 9 paid holidays a year and 15 paid sick leave days per year.  Pension and health insurance are also included in the benefits package. Direct Deposit of paychecks will be required as a condition of employment for new employees.

HOW TO APPLY

Application Instructions and Deadline:

Please email (as one pdf) a cover letter expressing your interest and how you meet each of the six(6) minimum qualifications, a completed Kent Conservation District application obtain @ http://www.kentcd.org/EmploymentOpportunities.htm and a copy of your resume by midnight EST August 15, 2021 to:

Patricia.Risher@delaware.gov 

Interviews are required and will be scheduled following the application deadline.