Vegetation Ecologist

Vegetation Ecologist

East Bay Regional Park District

Salary: 110389.50

The Position

The Park District is currently recruiting for a Vegetation Ecologist in the Wildland Vegetation Management Unit of the Acquisition, Stewardship & Development Division. This on-site position will be headquartered in Oakland, CA. Supervised by the Rangeland Specialist, the Vegetation Ecologist will assist in the management of the District’s grazing program which oversees livestock grazing on over 85,000 acres of park lands. This position will focus on planning rangeland projects in coordination with multiple stakeholders, inventorying rangeland instrastructure and collecting resource data, and playing a project management role in habitat restoration. The hiring pools established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.

Tentative Date of Onsite Examinations: January 22, 2025 Supplemental Questions Review: First Week of January Selection Interviews: End of January

ABOUT US:
The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres, 1,250 miles of trails, and 55 miles of shoreline. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. Learn about our https://www.ebparks.org/about/mission-vision, https://www.ebparks.org/history, and our contributions to the https://www.ebparks.org/public-info/awards/un-global-citizen

OUR MISSION:
EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

OUR VALUES:

• Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
• Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
• Transparency – We hold the public’s trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?

• Work with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/EBRPD-Benefits-Matrix.pdf https://get.adobe.com/reader/ for details regarding additional benefits
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development
• Free on-site parking
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:
Under general direction supports the vegetation management program by analyzing, monitoring, researching, and coordinating natural resources and/or community resources; and practices of vegetation and range management to enhance and protect populations of plants, including those listed by the State and Federal government as Rare, Threatened or Endangered, and to manage a livestock grazing program in support of a broader vegetation management plan; and related duties as assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Is detail-oriented, well-organized, and has the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Is self-motivated, demonstrates initiative, and is not afraid to ask questions
• Loves to work collaboratively with other departments or agencies
• Has great customer service and public communication; can work effectively with a diverse community
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a California Rangeland Manager Certification is highly desirable

Essential Functions

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Assists manager or program administrator with a variety of projects or assignments: performs research, provides analysis, collects data, conducts field and resource assessments, and makes recommendations;
• Maintains records and logs;
• Prepares reports and writes correspondence;
• Assesses Park District projects, consults with regulatory agencies, and obtains legally binding State and Federal permits, biological opinions, and/or authorizations for Park District projects;
• Coordinates with other Park District departments and outside agencies;
• Reviews and/or assists with the development of policies and guidelines;
• Monitors budget and tracks expenditures;
• Attends meetings, represents the Park District and makes presentations;
• May exercise functional and technical supervision over assigned project staff;
• Ensures environmental compliance by serving as the lead monitor on construction projects;
• Provides input and field site assessments to guide the implementation of wildland fuel reduction projects in order to protect species of concern and listed species;
• Writes contracts and requests for proposals;
• Determines the methodology to be used to develop and implement vegetation management recommendations and holds the main responsibility for the advancement of assigned projects;
• Projects can include other areas of natural resources such as integrated pest management, fisheries, wildlife and/or water resources.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in vegetation or range management, or a related field,

AND

Experience: Three (3) years of experience performing complex research or work in vegetation management.

OR

Substitution: A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.

Additional Information

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of vegetation and range management or appropriate study; native and invasive species of plants of the San Francisco Bay, including rare, threatened and endangered species; state and federal regulations pertaining to the protection and management of these species, the habitat requirements of these species, and strategies to manage for their benefit including implementing habitat restoration; California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), State and Federal Endangered Species Act, and regulatory requirements of resource agencies; principles of range management, including range infrastructure and improvements, grazing strategies and typical range management practices; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access.

Ability to:
Investigate and analyze situations; plan and organize research; coordinate research with other Park District departments and other agencies; assist with negotiation and attainment of regulatory permits; interpret and create topographical and GIS based maps; use a global positioning system (GPS); operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must pass a Level 1 Background Check.
  Positions may be required to work occasional evenings and/or weekend hours for meetings, presentations or special events
  Possession of a current State Scientific Collecting Permit or the ability to meet qualifying hours and submit application for permit within six (6) months of employment.

UNION AFFILIATION:
AFSCME: East Bay Regional Parks Employees, Local 2428, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Park District and Local 2428. The probationary period for this classification is nine (9) months. Internal Promotions: Placement shall be made at the first step in the salary range for the new position (Step A) unless the salary rate at Step A of the new position is less than a 5% increase. In such instances, the employee will be placed at a step in the new salary range that ensures at least a 5% increase.

Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:

• A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
• Completed supplemental questionsApply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system. If you have previously applied to a position on GovernmentJobs.com, please allow time to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.

Notification: All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications. If you have questions about the status of this recruitment, please contact HR Analyst, Christina Souza at mailto:csouza@ebparks.org.

Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or oral examination/interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.

Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154 at least five business days before the test.
Equal Opportunity Employer:

The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.