Public Lands Manager II

This permanent, full-time unclassified position is located in the Public Lands Division, and is directly supervised by Manuel Torres, Public Lands Regional Supervisor. 

This position manages eight properties that consist of eight wildlife areas and four state fishing lakes. Properties consist of Concannon, Hodgeman, Finney, Goodman State Fishing Lakes and Wildlife Areas and Garton, Scott, Lane, and Kepley Wildlife Areas, totaling 3,072 acres.  This position is a professional management position in wildlife conservation and management. Plans organizes and directs activities and programs at complex and large state department-managed properties. Responsible for oversight, operation, and development of permitting, application of controlled chemicals, management of minerals, management of vegetation and habitat, watershed and water level management, wildlife management, and visual and air quality. Identifies and analyzes environmental effects on plant, animal, or aquatic life and the conservation management relating to the biological sciences on the department-managed lands. Administers natural resources, including environmental, cultural, and historic resources, for outdoor recreational uses that occur in the assigned areas for the public of a large organizational unit. Carries out complex field and office research or investigations and makes professional observations and judgments necessary to identify adverse pressures on animal, plant, and human life associated with the state’s natural resources. Determines the need for and arranges for the collection of special samples, analyzes results, and makes recommendations for further actions. Responsibilities include directing and overseeing all activities and operations affecting other federal and state agencies. Develops and updates management plans to establish cost and needs priorities for the management unit. Adjusts management plans to reflect changing environmental conditions. This position is stationed out of the Garden City District Office.

The incumbent administers and participates in law enforcement activities on assigned areas; detects violations, makes arrests, collects evidence, prepares cases and testifies, as required-must be a credible witness in court, cooperates/coordinates with Natural Resource Officers and local law enforcement agencies to enforce laws, rules and regulations for the protection of resources, visitors and facilities.

If an applicant is not currently law enforcement certified, our agency will send the successful applicant to the required training as listed below.  Applicants do not have to be law enforcement certified to apply. Upon notice of conditional offer of employment, successful candidate will be screened, tested, and assessed for admission into the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

BENEFITS: Beginning hourly wage, $27.67/hour; immediate group health and life insurance coverage; Kansas Police and Fire retirement; optional deferred compensation, dental and vision options; holidays; and sick, vacation, and parental leave.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s Degree in fisheries science/management or wildlife science/management and one year of experience in directing a field office with operations relevant to the agency’s operations. Other degrees relating to this field may be considered as determined relevant by the agency. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency. Applicants with experience in managerial work over a wildlife area or other public lands, assisting with the responsibilities of conservation, operations, construction, maintenance, and public services will be given preference. The successful candidate must pass a background check and possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: This class requires the employee to be certified as a law enforcement officer by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission. Certification must be obtained before the employee is given permanent status. The employee must complete a basic law enforcement training program recognized by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission and annual training as required by K.S.A. 74-5607a.

This class requires the use of a firearm for law enforcement duties; therefore, to be eligible for appointment to a position in this class, candidates cannot have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence crime as set forth in 18 U.S.C.§ 992 (g) (8) and (9) To be eligible for certification in the state of Kansas, one must also be free of any diversions from a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence crime as set forth by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act.

Candidates for positions in this class must have the following: be a U.S. citizen; be 21 years of age at the time of appointment; free of conviction of any crime punishable by imprisonment in a federal penitentiary or a state prison; and be required to pass a physical exam administered by the hiring agency.

This class requires that at the time of appointment the selected candidate must take and pass a drug screening test approved by the Division of Personnel Services, a pre-employment physical, a standard battery of psychological tests, and a Polygraph Examination are required for admission into the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Basic Course.

Because this position requires the employee to be certified as a Law Enforcement Officer by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission, certain past and present personal behaviors can impact employee eligibility.