Ecological Resource Specialist I/II - County of Riverside
Riverside, CA 92501
About the Job
The County of Riverside's Transportation and Land Management Agency (TLMA) Planning Department has an opportunity for an Ecological Resources Specialist I/II (ERS) located in Riverside.
The ERS is a journey level job classification that reports to a Principal Planner or designee and is responsible for the analysis, formulation, and implementation of programs for the management and protection of wildlife habitats and the natural resources of the County. Incumbents will review and evaluate the biological elements of land use applications and ensure practical implementation of regional ecological policies and guidelines. Environmental evaluations may pertain to ecological reserve/conservation configuration, various urban/wild land interface issue, exotic plant and animal control, species relocation, revegetation, pesticide use, erosion control, wildfire control, grazing practices, and other related land use issues which occur as a result of public and private land development.
The Department desires candidates with experience working with a public agency, report writing and have worked on a conservation plan for a county or city entity. Applicants with public works experience in habitat conversation plans are highly encouraged to apply.
Please Note: The level at which the position will be filled is at the Department's discretion and is contingent upon the candidate's experience, qualifications and educational attainment.
Meet the Team!
The Planning Department is responsible for Riverside County's General Plan, a comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of unincorporated areas within the County. This department formulates growth management plans and zoning for the County.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Participates in the preparation of the habitat conservation plans; provides technical expertise needed to effectively implement those plans.
• Assists in the coordination of environmental site research and planning by other agencies, private groups or individuals.
• Conducts biological resource evaluations and assists in determining the types of mitigation required of proposed projects in very sensitive habitat areas in order to implement habitat conservation plans.
• Provides information regarding the results of County mitigation measures for habitat conservation programs to federal and state agencies.
• Reviews biological reports and other environmental data submitted to the County with development/land use applications, makes comments and requests further information as needed and determines the type and nature of appropriate mitigation measures for any biological resources found on properties.
• Prepares relevant sections of environmental documentation for proposed projects, which include development and monitoring of biological mitigation measures; develops and assigns biological conditions of approval to land use projects and communicates this information to landowners, developers, consultants and other public agencies.
• Prepares natural resource use and management plans, progress reports, and site evaluations; performs environmental research on County and private development sites for the detection and protection of natural resources; monitors resources in the field.
• Analyzes resources and develops preliminary evaluations of suitability of potential land for preservation of open spaces; plans, evaluates, and recommends programs related to natural resource inventories, ecological values, human use impacts, and environmental planning.
• Participates in department work groups to develop, implement, and monitor the results of biological impact mitigation measures for development projects; creates procedures for collecting, editing, compiling and disseminating statistical information.
• Works with consultants, Planning Department and other County staff on pre-development and post-development impact and management studies.
• Assists in the development of databases to record information from biological reports, mitigation efforts, and their results; catalogs interpretive and descriptive materials about County preserves, natural area and open space sites.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
ERS I ($28.00 - $41.10)
Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree with major course work in Biological Sciences, Ecology, Natural Resource Management/Analysis, Environmental Studies, or a closely-related field.
Experience: One year of field work experience in natural resource management, wildlife management, biological research, ecology, or habitat restoration performing field staff support duties for the management of wildlife habitats, restoration of native habitat through re-vegetation, conducting biological surveys of plant and animal species, or similar activities that may include field time accrued through undergraduate studies and/or student internships.
ERS II ($30.87 - $46.59)
Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree with major course work in Biological Sciences, Ecology, Natural Resource Management/Analysis, Environmental Studies, or a closely-related field.
Experience: One year as an Ecological Resource Specialist I with Riverside County.
OR
Experience: Two years of professional experience in research techniques, surveys, and statistical methods, preferably in Ecology, Natural Resources, or Environmental Studies, at least one year of which shall have been field work experience in natural resource management, wildlife management, biological research, ecology, or habitat restoration performing professional field staff support duties for the management of wildlife habitats, restoration of native habitat through re-vegetation, conducting biological surveys of plant and animal species, or similar activities. (A master's degree in biological sciences, ecology, natural resource management/analysis, environmental studies, or a closely related field may be substituted for up to one year of the required non-field experience.)
FOR BOTH LEVELS:
Knowledge of: The methods, and procedures for conducting field studies and obtaining research data; the natural history, conservation, preservation, wildlife habitat, and endangered species of Riverside County; map interpretation; laws relating to environmental resource protection, including the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act.
Ability to: Communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and orally; interpret land records and maps; organize and conduct research studies; make analyses and recommendations based on findings from studies, field observations and public contacts; use computer hardware/software in data storage and retrieval, and statistical analysis; work with minimal supervision; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/ .
Degree Verification:
Prior to the closing date, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).
***Prior to the closing date, upload a copy of your official/unofficial transcripts or Foreign Education Equivalency report. ***
Veterans' Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) .
What's Next?
This recruitment is open to all applicants.
Applicants who are currently County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the TLMA - Planning Department may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of the applications received.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.
Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted.
For specific questions regarding this position, contact the Ebelyn Skinner at eskinner@rivco.org.
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
- Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
- Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
- Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.
A new member is defined as any of the following:
CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)
Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.
SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.
DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.