Range Conservation Scientist 1 - Land Use Specialist

State of Montana • Lewistown, MT

7d

About The Position

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.
The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.
Core Values:
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.
We value and respect each other.
We create collaborative work environments.
We build and maintain strong relationships.
We practice accountability.
We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work
Work Unit Overview:
The unit manages approximately 1.3 million acres of School Trust Lands, including lease administration for grazing and agriculture, forest management, oil and gas permitting, mining, easements, land use licensing, and recreational access. The unit also provides wildfire suppression support for all private and state lands within its boundaries.
Job Overview:
The Lewistown Land Use Specialist manages assigned natural resource programs and field activities within the Lewistown Unit. This position involves professional planning, implementation, and evaluation of land use practices aligned with DNRC objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree which includes areas of study or knowledge and skills in Agronomy, Range Science, Wildlife Biology, Natural Resource Management, Natural Resources, Rangeland Ecology, Land Resources, Environmental Resources, and Land Rehabilitation.
• No prior work experience required.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
• A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates preparation of lease forms; listing of leases up for renewal; requisitions acreage data from county Farm Service Agency (FSA) and county Clerk & Recorder’s offices, soils data from Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices and Soil Survey publications; procures aerial and topographical coverage of tracts and delineates state ownership on each.
• Conducts field evaluations on expiring state land leases prior to lease renewal which involves detailed analysis of approximately 130 tracts of land per year, providing detailed and comprehensive descriptions of each tract including: classification in regard to its highest and best use, improvements and developments, mineral activity or potential, access availability, recreation potential, cultural sites, determination of the overall resource health and condition, current or potential secondary/special uses, problem areas regarding tract management and unauthorized uses as mandated by the Montana Legislature.
• Assesses effectiveness of lessee management and performs comprehensive pasture and rangeland inventories using artistic and scientific principles of Soil and Range Science. Edaphic attributes, physiographic region and average annual precipitation are employed to determine range sites. Species composition by weight is determined by ocular reconnaissance and comparatively evaluated with that of potential for each site to appraise range condition and thereby determine proper stocking rates. The degree of forage utilization by livestock is also assessed during the survey. Interpolation of data is frequently required as information under consideration may be uncertain and is often ambiguous or distinct.
• Evaluates management and crop production for agricultural tracts of Trust Land to ensure that each is farmed to is productive capacity. Identifies limiting biological, physical, and managerial problems or constraints such as noxious and other competitive weed infestations, blights, insect pests, and other types of agricultural pestilence, saline seep, low soil fertility, excessive soil erosion and ineffectual cultivation practices. Provides professional, technical and managerial advice on remedial farming practices as needed to lessees.
• Conducts site inspections and evaluations of proposed or existing oil and gas wells, pipelines and access routes; permits to prospect for, or mine, metalliferous and non-metalliferous minerals; and permits to conduct seismic activities on tracts of state surface and/or mineral ownership within the office.
• Prepares and reviews environmental documents evaluating the effects of all proposed mineral exploration and development activities.
• Reviews, approves or functions as arbitrator on management plans that mitigate resource concerns, problems or conflicts between various mineral users or companies and the Department and/or the leasehold interest.
• Assists in fire suppression activities as needed by the Unit Manager or DNRC Leadership.
• Interacts with Area’s Forest Management Supervisor in coordinating sale and administration of timber sales within the office boundaries.
• Conducts preliminary archaeological, paleontological and historical resource surveys for proposed disturbances of Trust Lands. Documents observations and submits reports to Department specialist.
• Researches, conducts site inspections, assesses impacts to existing and future land management, interacts with appropriate Department staff, project proponents, current land users and other interested parties to make determinations regarding requests for licenses. Monitors use and conducts inspections to verify licensee’s compliance to license terms. Ensure that rental payments are current.
• Reviews, evaluates, processes applications, performs site inspections and makes recommendations regarding issuance of right-of-way easements across Trust Lands for proposed public and private access roads, overhead and buried electric and telephone lines and cables, and buried gas, oil and water pipelines. Interacts with Departmental staff, project proponents, surface lessees and other interested and appropriate individuals and agency representatives on as-needed basis.
• Performs managerial and administrative tasks such as: office management, preparation of work plans, and coordination of activities with Department personnel and staff of other State or Federal agencies.
• Objectively enforces applicable state laws and departmental rules and regulations concerning implementation of Department programs and activities to ensure compliance using knowledge of appropriate laws, rules, regulations and policies.
• Identifies, researches and investigates violations of license, custom farming, pasturing, lease and sublease agreements. Recommends appropriate remedial actions to the Unit Manager as circumstances suggest and department policy prescribes.
• Conducts long-range planning for the Office to ensure effective and timely implementation of Work Plan Objectives.
• The Lewistown Land Use Specialist communicates with and responds to requests for information from lessees, licensees, special interest groups, and members of the public on an on-going basis relative to departmental programs, activities and policies.

Benefits

• Work/life balance
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts
• A vibrant Employee Assistance Program
• State of Montana employment may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees