Lake Superior Planner

Job ID: 78503

Telework Eligible: Yes, Hybrid 

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Unlimited

Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers

Date Posted: 07/18/2024

Closing Date: 08/07/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Department of Natural Resources
• Division/Unit: Ecological and Water Resources
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
• Days of Work: Monday – Friday
• Travel Required: Yes – Occasional travel to meetings and project sites.
• Salary Range: $31.92 – $47.05 / hourly; $66,648 – $98,240 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: MAPE
• FLSA Status: Exempt – Professional
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Job Summary

The Division of Ecological and Water Resources is seeking to fill the Lake Superior Planner position located in Duluth. The Lake Superior Planner (Planner) exists to develop and implement interdisciplinary planning relative to DNR’s protection and management priorities within the Lake Superior basin as they relate to specific Lake Superior programs.  These programs include the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Lake Superior Partnership, and the St. Louis River Area of Concern.  Within the Lake Superior Partnership, the Planner will be the lead coordinator for the state concerning Habitat and Species, and Invasives. The Planner will represent DNR in the development and implementation of the Lake Superior Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) and St. Louis River Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan (SLRAOC RAP). The Planner provides leadership and guidance on LAMP and SLRAOC issues and represents DNR on multi-agency initiatives in the Great Lakes. This requires coordinating internally within various DNR divisions and externally with state, local, tribal, academic, and non-governmental organizations to achieve goals and objectives associated with the above programs and plans. The Planner coordinates with federal agencies, especially the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Program Office (USEPA-GLNPO) and Environment Canada.

Responsibilities:

• Provide lead DNR coordination on the Lake Superior Partnership Work Group and associated committees to provide input to the development and implementation of the Lake Superior Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP). Provide statewide coordination and management direction within DNR across multiple divisions and work units on priority goals and projects for the LAMP.
• Coordinate DNR’s involvement in the St. Louis River Area of Concern (SLRAOC) program, including implementation of the SLRAOC Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and activities necessary to delist the St. Louis River as an Area of Concern.
• Coordinate development of Minnesota-based LAMP projects for funding under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).  Work internally within DNR divisions and with external partners to identify where local priorities for the Lake Superior basin align with those identified by the Lake Superior LAMP, GLRI Action Plan, and Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.  Help partners develop shared priorities into on-the-ground projects; these projects will largely be led by others, though in special cases the Planner may directly manage and implement projects.
• Serve as a technical expert on Lake Superior issues.  Develop and maintain competence in Great Lakes science, research, and monitoring.  Remain currently informed in terrestrial, aquatic, and wetland ecology and related fields so that professional competence is maintained and enhanced.  Actively seek out and use new information, technologies, methods, and equipment to implement all responsibilities of the position. Maintain and enhance professional skills related to science communication and consensus building.

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

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, natural resources management, political science, or related field.
• 3 years of professional project management experience with water resources planning, developing and implementing watershed or basin resource management plans, or coordinating large-scale environmental projects.
• Ability to interpret information on geology, soils, hydrology, minerals, and other resources that influence natural resource management activities.
• Written and oral communication skills sufficient to convey natural resource topics to a wide variety of audiences and to write convincing and well-documented reports on resource issues.
• Skills in meeting facilitation, consensus building, and team building.
• The ability to be innovative and flexible as natural resource planning work undergoes continual change as new knowledge about natural ecological systems and their relationship to human activities grows.
• Project management skills sufficient to schedule and manage multi-year planning efforts and to identify critical junctures in the process.
• Skills in the use of personal computers sufficient to perform word processing, data analysis, and graphic presentation.
• Knowledge of geographic information systems sufficient to create maps, perform spatial analysis of resource management data, and apply various geomatic tools to aid in decision making.
• Ability to effectively interpret and present complex information from professional staff and consultants to middle and upper managers who may be unfamiliar with detailed project elements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in public administration, business, natural resources management, political science, or related field.
• Knowledge of DNR goals, policies, and procedures sufficient to develop projects and programs consistent with those goals and policies.
• Experience developing and implementing Lake Superior or Great Lakes Area of Concern management plans.
• Working knowledge of the federal and state grant programs that fund Great Lakes work.
• Experience working with state, federal, tribal, and local partners to address Great Lakes issues.

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