Land Manager (Environmental Specialist III)

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Join a dedicated team to protect, preserve, restore, and maintain natural parks, preserves, and reserves for Sarasota County. As the Land Manager (Environmental Specialist III) for several preserves including South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, Manasota Scrub Preserve, and Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, you will utilize various resource management tools such as prescribed fire, vegetation management, and exotic species control to promote the health of Florida habitats while providing opportunities for nature-based recreation and programming.

The pay for this role starts between $57,577.60 – $63,003.00 (based on experience) and benefits begin within 60 days of hire. Apply today!

About the Position

This is professional work leading, coordinating, consulting, and/or assisting in the management of programs. In general, work assignments include:

• Routinely inspect natural area parks/preserves, public use amenities, structures, and facilities; survey and document listed species occurrences/populations.
• Provide contractor oversight for habitat management and wildfire/prescribed fire mitigation projects.
• Participate in all aspects of prescribed fire planning and operations.
• Prepare, implement, document, monitor, and develop management strategies for the removal of invasive plant and animal species using best-integrated pest management practices.
• Evaluate habitats (natural and altered) to formulate management strategies for their restoration and maintenance.
• Report and document preparation (Interoffice reports, GIS, and grant agencies).
• Work closely with the Procurement Office and business units in developing bids, annual agreements, and other contracts; prepare bid specifications, and contractor oversight for projects to be performed by an outside contractor.
• Assist with planning for fiscal budgets and managing operating expenses for your sites. Prepare grant applications for supplemental funding of resource management projects and any required follow-up if awarded.
• Develop partnerships: Collaborate with other Sarasota County Departments, State, County, Federal agencies, and other stakeholders; Participate in public outreach and develop materials for public education/interpretation and events; Maintain inter-agency agreements for cooperative natural resource management on County-owned lands.
• Patrol County lands to provide staff presence to reduce security issues on County-managed lands. Respond to questions/concerns from visitors and residents of Sarasota County.
• Coordinate and manage volunteers.
• Review research and recreational use permit applications for each assigned managed site.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
• Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Special events may require holidays and weekends (as needed).

About You

To be considered for this role, you must have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological or physical sciences, Environmental Engineering, or a related field -AND- Three (3) years of related professional experience.
• -OR- Master’s degree may substitute for one year of professional experience.
• -OR- Progressively responsible professional experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college degree.
• Valid Florida driver’s license by date of hire.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:

• Knowledge of Florida native ecosystems, flora, and fauna.
• Small engine operation and maintenance to include chainsaws, pole saws, pumps/sprayers, mowers, and weed eaters.
• Resource management experience (prescribed burning, exotic species management, habitat restoration, GPS, etc.).
• Computer software (Microsoft Office Suite, Field Maps, GIS, and ArcPro).
• 4×4 vehicle operations in backcountry rough conditions including ATV, UTV, and Brush Truck.
• Great communication skills, with an ability to follow directions well, working independently and in group settings.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Pesticide Applicator License (or an ability to obtain within 12 months).
• Certified NATA Natural Areas Manager (or an ability to obtain within 3 years; the required time period may be extended if courses are unavailable).
• Completion of Basic Wildland Firefighting (S-130/190), Wildland Fire Chainsaws (S-212), and Completion of ICS 100-200 (or an ability to obtain within 3 years; the required time period may be extended if courses are unavailable).
• The ability to pass moderate or arduous pack tests and shelter deployment annually.

Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment for a period of five years.

Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 lbs. Employees can use handling devices (dolly, cart, etc.) or work with another team member to lift and/or move excessive poundage of 50-plus pounds.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay Range: $57,577.60 – $63,003.00 (based on experience)

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:

1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

• If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)

2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)  

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.