Administrator III

State of Maryland • Anne Arundel, MD

14h • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a contractual, position-specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Land Acquisition and Planning. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies for the position and may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification/function. The resulting eligible list will be maintained for one year. This position relates directly to the mission of the Department by administering, coordinating, facilitating and implementing programs that protect land that provides open space and rural landscapes for citizens to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, diverse landscapes, and the natural resources of Maryland. This position has responsibility for the administration, management, and oversight of activities and for the development and final execution of conservation easements funded by, acquired by, and held by the Department of Natural Resources or our partners. This responsibility includes administration, oversight, and review of activities for the development and final execution of conservation easement acquisitions for the Rural Legacy Program (RLP), conservation easements for Program Open Space (POS) and conservation easements for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). In addition, where federal funds are used, this position has the responsibility to ensure that the federal program conservation objectives, policies, and procedures are met in a manner that is compatible and consistent with the state program conservation objectives, laws, policies, and procedures. The Department of Natural Resources, Land Acquisition & Planning Unit, located at the Tawes State Office Building, Annapolis, Maryland, is currently accepting applications for a Part-Time Long Term Contractual Conservation Easement Specialist. The Land Acquisition & Planning Unit works to advance land conservation and outdoor recreational opportunities in Maryland. This position would work within Land Acquisition and Planning, which handles permanent conservation easement as well as fee simple acquisitions for Rural Legacy, Program Open Space – Stateside, and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The primary purposes of this position are to administer, review, and oversee: 1) conservation easement acquisitions (including working closely with local Rural Legacy partners) in Rural Legacy Areas; and 2) CREP permanent easement acquisitions; and 3) fee simple and conservation easement acquisitions for Program Open Space – Stateside. Duties involve conservation planning; assessing/evaluating conservation attributes of land; and, corresponding and working with landowners, local land trusts, conservation not-for-profit organizations, County staff, the Office of the Attorney General and staff of other state agencies to complete conservation easement acquisitions. The position will collaborate with other State land conservation programs such as Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, Forest Legacy, and the Maryland Environmental Trust. The position may be assigned to work in one or more regions of the State.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
• Six years of administrative staff or professional work.
• Three (3) years’ experience working with land conservation programs or conservation easements.
• Three (3) years’ experience with natural resource or land conservation project management.
• Possession of a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Nice To Haves

• 30 college credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.
• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in administrative staff or professional work.
• A Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking commissioned officer on a year-for-year basis.
• Possession of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Experience working with land trusts.
• Experience working with landowners interested in permanently conserving their property.
• Experience writing, drafting and negotiating permanent land conservation easements.
• Experience conducting deed/title/property and plat records research.
• Knowledge of Maryland or federal land preservation programs and tools related to land acquisition and conservation.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Adobe, MDLANDREC or FINDER or equivalent, SDAT Real Property Database, PLATS.NET for data research, management and presentation.

Responsibilities

• Administering, coordinating, facilitating and implementing programs that protect land that provides open space and rural landscapes.
• Administration, management, and oversight of activities and for the development and final execution of conservation easements funded by, acquired by, and held by the Department of Natural Resources or our partners.
• Administration, oversight, and review of activities for the development and final execution of conservation easement acquisitions for the Rural Legacy Program (RLP), conservation easements for Program Open Space (POS) and conservation easements for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
• Ensure that federal program conservation objectives, policies, and procedures are met in a manner that is compatible and consistent with the state program conservation objectives, laws, policies, and procedures.
• Administer, review, and oversee conservation easement acquisitions (including working closely with local Rural Legacy partners) in Rural Legacy Areas.
• Administer, review, and oversee CREP permanent easement acquisitions.
• Administer, review, and oversee fee simple and conservation easement acquisitions for Program Open Space – Stateside.
• Conservation planning.
• Assessing/evaluating conservation attributes of land.
• Corresponding and working with landowners, local land trusts, conservation not-for-profit organizations, County staff, the Office of the Attorney General and staff of other state agencies to complete conservation easement acquisitions.
• Collaborate with other State land conservation programs such as Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, Forest Legacy, and the Maryland Environmental Trust.

Benefits

• Subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents (contractual employees working 30+ hours/week may be eligible for 75% subsidy).
• Dental coverage (employee pays full premium).
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance (employee pays full premium).
• Life insurance (employee pays full premium).
• Leave granted at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED