Wetland Conservation Specialist

This position will be housed in a satellite office in Northwest Oklahoma. The primary duties of this position are:

Programmatic support to the Wetland Conservation Coordinator (WCC) for voluntary wetland conservation program delivery which will include landowner outreach, and Delivery of voluntary technical and financial assistance for wetland restoration, conservation, and protection.    

This position will work in close coordination with their supervisor, as well as the entire wetland program team to support on the ground wetland conservation activities. In addition, these activities will incorporate coordination and collaboration with local, federal, non-profit, tribal partners, and most importantly citizens/landowners, with the objective of maximizing the conservation impact of limited resources. 

 The employee in this position is expected to:

• Work under the direction of the WCC and in coordination with the Wetlands Program staff
• Coordinate and collaborate with state, federal, local, tribal, and non-government partners, including participation in workgroup and stakeholder meetings as directed y the WCC
• Assist with writing grants to help secure wetland restoration and related conservation funding
• Meet with landowners to promote wetland restoration and conservation opportunities and address any associated concerns
• Maintain detailed records of daily activities
• Assist customers with program applications
• Assist the WCC with administering the contract process for wetland restoration
• Track expenditures and report monthly project expenditures
• Possess or quickly develop the ability to share the societal benefits of wetlands and conservation programs to diverse audiences
• Participate in the development of targeted public surveys on the opinion of and obstacles to the acceptance and promotion of wetland conservation
• Participate in wetland outreach events
• Assist in the design of wetland restoration plans and construction oversight
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required for this position include familiarity with Oklahoma wetlands and more broadly Oklahoma ecosystems, including ecosystem services, land-use impacts and management strategies. Knowledge of Oklahoma stakeholders, conservation partners, and key contacts in the wildlife and environmental arena is beneficial. Since this position will work closely with the public, the candidates must have excellent communication skills. The candidates should also be comfortable working both independently and with team members.  He/she should be detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills; be proficient with computers and contemporary software packages including Microsoft Office and ArcGIS software.  This position will involve field work performed throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.  OCC requires the successful applicants to be a legal resident of the United States and hold or obtain a current driver’s license for the state of Oklahoma.  Employee will be provided with training and oversight as required to perform the job duties.

Education and Experience:A Bachelor’s degree is required preferably related to agriculture, natural resource management, or other applicable science.  A minimum of one year of experience working directly with landowners concerning habitat or natural resource management is desired.  Experience with conservation easements, administering cost-share agreements, and grant writing are all desirable.

Duty Location:  This position will be in Northwest Oklahoma.  However, work travel could include all of Oklahoma with most expected work occurring in the western half of Oklahoma. Limited overnight stays are possible and out of state travel may be required, particularly for training purposes. Telework options following the OCC Telework Policy may be an option after the first 6 months.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.