Ecological & Marine Resources Division Manager

Manatee County Government•Bradenton, FL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This classification performs high-level administrative support duties, as well as hands-on tasks related to the planning and coordination of the Ecological & Marine Resources (EMR) Division, which is a division within the Natural Resources Department (NRD). Work is performed with a high degree of independence, with little supervision. The EMR Division is responsible for planning and implementing complex habitat creation, restoration, and mitigation projects throughout the county. Work focuses on ways to protect and enhance the ecological services provided by parks, preserves, and other public lands, as needed. Work outside of normal hours of business operation, including late evenings, early mornings, and weekends may be required. The Ecological & Marine Resources (EMR) Division Manager leads a multidisciplinary team overseeing three core programs within the Natural Resources Department (NRD): 1) Ecological Restoration, 2) Mitigation Services, and 3) Marine Resources. This position manages a diverse portfolio of environmental services supporting land conservation, habitat restoration, waterway management, and environmental permitting across Manatee County. The role also supports the County’s Beach Management Program and cross-departmental initiatives such as resiliency planning, the Gulf Island Ferry Service, and gopher tortoise relocations. In the Ecological Restoration Program, the Manager oversees all phases of grant-funded projects on preserves, shorelines, and submerged lands, including planning, permitting, funding, construction, and compliance. Projects include upland habitat management, mangrove, seagrass, fisheries, and oyster reef restoration, wetland restoration, monitoring, and compliance, and gopher tortoise surveys and relocations variably at sites like Robinson Preserve, Duette Preserve, GT Bray, and Hidden Harbor Park. The program also leads community engagement efforts like RIP-Squad volunteer events, community and stakeholder meetings, public presentations, and an oyster shell recycling program. The Mitigation Services Program provides regulatory support for transportation and capital improvement projects to streamline permitting and reduce costs by coordinating wetland mitigation compliance and wildlife survey efforts. The manager oversees maintenance and monitoring of legacy permittee responsible mitigation (PRM) sites ensuring permit compliance, conducts wetland delineations for public works projects, and develops new mitigation sites, including a county mitigation bank. Wildlife-related tasks may include eagle nest and caracara monitoring, gopher tortoise surveys and permitting, and construction oversight near sensitive habitats. The Marine Resources Program manages 87,000 acres of county waterways, overseeing design, permitting, and inspection of Manatee County boat ramps, feasibility studies for new boat ramps, artificial reef deployment, and dredging operations. Responsibilities include managing 250+ waterway markers, abandoned vessel removal, and manatee protection, and supporting shoreline resilience projects like living shorelines and emergency seawall repairs. The Division Manager also leads interdepartmental coordination to identify and prioritize new grant funded projects. Additionally, the division manager oversees 15–25 federal, state, and nonprofit funding grants for initiatives such as native habitat restoration, living shoreline resilience, dune, oyster, and mangrove restoration, and boat ramp infrastructure. Additional duties include support to the Beach Management Program through pre- and post-hurricane surveys, sea turtle support, beach nourishment, hurricane response, and permitting for projects like maintenance dredging and dredge hole restoration. The manager collaborates regularly with local, state, and federal agencies to align conservation, regulatory, and resiliency goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in natural sciences such as biology, ecology, botany, natural resource management, wetland or soil science, marine biology, ecology, environmental engineering, environmental science, ecological restoration, or related field.
Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in program management directly related to habitat restoration including planning, design, budget development, permitting, implementation, management, monitoring, remediation, adaptive management, and/or contractor or staff oversight.
Deep knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations, permitting, grant administration, and protected species compliance
Strong leadership and project management expertise
Ability to manage interdisciplinary teams and large-scale ecological projects.
Valid driver license with valid Florida driver license within 30 days of hire.
Knowledge regarding conditions analysis and determination of prescriptive restoration measures and constraints for ecological enhancements of natural habitats of Florida including all upland, wetland, lacustrine, and estuarine habitats occurring in Manatee County.
Knowledge regarding selection and establishment of restoration target appropriate vegetation within site and budgetary constraints.
Knowledge of nuisance and exotic species identification and control methods in a habitat restoration setting.
Knowledge of cost and workload estimation for budget planning and development related to ecological enhancement projects.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental resource permitting (ERP), including dredge and fill, earthmoving, and endangered species permitting in a habitat restoration setting.
Knowledge of and proficiency with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, techniques, and invasive species biology.
Knowledge of ecological condition trajectory drivers (fire return intervals, population dynamics, invasive species incursions, etc.) and ecological restoration techniques.
Knowledge and proficiency in personal computer operations, including Microsoft Office Suite, and GIS or similar mapping software.
Knowledge of potential hazards and applicable safety precautions necessary for working in a park or wilderness setting.
Ability to work independently, or as a team member, and efficiently carry out duties with minimal supervision.
Ability to think and act quickly, calmly, and appropriately in emergency situations and under stressful conditions.
Ability to work outside of normal hours of County operation, which will include early morning, late evening, or weekend hours.

Nice To Haves

Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered in meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.

Responsibilities

Prepares work plans and interacts closely with the Department Director to achieve objectives; formulate strategies to achieve objectives; and keep the Department Director apprised of current issues and obstacles to overall mission.
Leads a multidisciplinary team overseeing three core programs within the Natural Resources Department (NRD): 1) Ecological Restoration, 2) Mitigation Services, and 3) Marine Resources.
Develops annual program budgets based on EMR Division needs; Works closely with Fiscal Services and the Government Relations Grant’s Team monitoring revenue and expenses, tracking grant deliverables and deadlines, and allocating fiscal resources appropriately.
Renders technical assistance and liaison services to other government agencies, citizens, and environmental groups regarding restoration ecology of county owned and/or managed lands, inland and along coastal areas.
Responsible for implementing Board-directed ecological restoration projects and programs.
Develops, analyzes, and reviews documents such as engineering plans, surveys, budgets, funding applications, permit applications, and compliance reports related to ecological restoration projects including compensatory mitigation projects.
Develops field assessment protocols for analysis of natural and disturbed habitats.
Performs wetland delineations and monitoring plans, including the development of planting plans.
Plans, assigns, directs, and evaluates work of assigned staff to ensure quality, accuracy, neatness, and efficiency of work projects and, schedules and assigns staff training as necessary.
Works in consultation with leadership staff within the department to coordinate volunteer workdays, visitor programming, efficient equipment and personnel resource utilization, and other team efforts associated with the NRD goals and including working with other departments as directed.
Develops proposals and manages grants and other funding opportunities related to ecological restoration.
Monitors projects to ensure compliance with grant or other contractual mechanisms.
Develops restoration plans; prepares scopes of service for contracted service needs; serves as liaison to contractors performing habitat restoration work.
Effectively applies working knowledge of Florida native plant communities and their functions, exotic species and control methods, and wildlife utilization, including threatened and endangered species monitoring and management needs.
Applies ecological restoration practices with high ethical standards and in conformance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures (including use of prescribed fire); identifies and reports problems as they arise and facilitates appropriate resolution.
May be called upon to represent the Director in presentations to various groups, local, State, and Federal agencies.
Performs other related duties as assigned, including participation in emergency or disaster response activities, as required and consistent with the employee’s qualifications, essential job functions, and appliable federal and Florida law.
Oversees all phases of grant-funded projects on preserves, shorelines, and submerged lands, including planning, permitting, funding, construction, and compliance.
Leads community engagement efforts like RIP-Squad volunteer events, community and stakeholder meetings, public presentations, and an oyster shell recycling program.
Oversees maintenance and monitoring of legacy permittee responsible mitigation (PRM) sites ensuring permit compliance, conducts wetland delineations for public works projects, and develops new mitigation sites, including a county mitigation bank.
Oversees design, permitting, and inspection of Manatee County boat ramps, feasibility studies for new boat ramps, artificial reef deployment, and dredging operations.
Manages 250+ waterway markers, abandoned vessel removal, and manatee protection, and supporting shoreline resilience projects like living shorelines and emergency seawall repairs.
Leads interdepartmental coordination to identify and prioritize new grant funded projects.
Oversees 15–25 federal, state, and nonprofit funding grants for initiatives such as native habitat restoration, living shoreline resilience, dune, oyster, and mangrove restoration, and boat ramp infrastructure.
Support to the Beach Management Program through pre- and post-hurricane surveys, sea turtle support, beach nourishment, hurricane response, and permitting for projects like maintenance dredging and dredge hole restoration.
Collaborates regularly with local, state, and federal agencies to align conservation, regulatory, and resiliency goals.