Ecological Services Coordinator

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. Established in 1934, the Park District is the oldest and largest regional park system in the United States, managing over 125,000 acres of parkland within 73 regional parks, and encompassing over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning.

The Opportunity: 

The Park District is hosting this recruitment to fill one (1) vacancy for Ecological Services Coordinator. In the stewardship department, the Ecological Services Coordinator supports various coordination efforts and cross-divisional priorities and projects. This Ecological Services Coordinator position will be focused on identifying and solving water quality issues and management of water resources to ensure safe recreational use and enhancement of natural habitat function. The hiring pools established as a result of this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and any additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.

The Ideal Candidate Is:

• An individual with strong problem-solving and collaboration skills
• Experience monitoring and analyzing water quality data for lakes, ponds, watersheds, and streams
• Experience implementing physical and chemical methods to manage recreational water bodies to reduce formation of harmful algal blooms
• Experience collaborating with state and federal regulators and meeting permit conditions for management of aquatic vegetation and sediment loading in reservoirs, ponds, and streams
• Experience with and understanding of application of management practices using watershed dynamics and fluvial systems to help improve physical, chemical, and biological resources of aquatic systems

What You’ll Be Doing:  

Under direction, assists and complements the Ecological Services Manager by monitoring, researching, and surveying water quality conditions throughout the Park District; assesses causes and sources of water quality concerns, makes recommendations on possible remediation efforts, consults with regulatory and natural resource agencies, assists with obtaining legally binding State and Federal permits, and/or authorizations for projects; provides water quality and habitat resource information that affects decisions made by internal departments and informs Board decisions; and performs related duties as assigned.

Our Values:

• Respect: We honor each other, the park users we serve, and the land we steward.
• Resilience: We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships: Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Transparency: We hold the public’s trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and unfettered access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job:

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and in future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here (Download PDF reader) for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles).
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

Note: If you have any questions regarding the responsibilities for this position or the scope of work, please call 510-544-2152.*

Essential Functions

• Conducts field assessments and wildlife surveys, determining project impacts;
• Develops and recommends project prescriptions;
• Consults with resource and regulatory personnel;
• Negotiates and implements mitigation measures; works on legal Memorandum of
• Understandings issued by State, Federal, and regulatory agencies;
• Conducts field and resource assessments of listed species to assist, complement, and support the Park District’s wildlife management, recovery, and enhancement plans;
• Monitors, researches, surveys, and implements management plans pertinent to the Park District’s wildlife populations;
• Provides information to internal departments for decision making, including land use development plans, proposed land acquisitions, capital development, and maintenance projects;
• Coordinates with outside contractors and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the implementation of feral animal management;
• Possesses regulatory permits from resource and regulatory agencies for wildlife species that occur in the Regional Park District lands;
• Trains and consults other staff on project assessment, regulatory processes and permitting, biological monitoring, compliance, and environmental and biological awareness;
• Coordinates joint wildlife related projects on a local, state, and federal level;
• Conducts special studies pertinent to Park District and regional issues, State and Federal efforts, and public concerns to enhance and protect rare, threatened, and endangered species;
• Participates in Technical Advisory Committees and other groups on restoration and recovery lands projects;
• Prepares and implements contracts and request for proposals;
• Provides wildlife information for submission of grant proposals; comments on state and assembly bills that may impact wildlife resources; assists with resolving legal cases and issues;
• Addresses resource issues for encroachment permits;
• Coordinates and assists Public Affairs on press releases and media interviews; manages and provides photographic stock; and
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in biological sciences or a related field; and
• Experience: Five years of professional level experience performing field and administrative work in the fields mentioned above.
• License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.

Knowledge of:

• Field survey techniques for biological, ecological, and environmental principles pertaining to wildlife and resource management; principles and practices of CEQA, State and Federal
• Endangered Species Act, and regulatory agencies; permit requirements;
  Integration of biological systems;
• Aquatic and terrestrial systems, integrative biology, wildlife and systematic ecology, and special status species; and
• Stream and wetland systems, functions and processes and what causes disturbances; and office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to:

• Investigate, conduct and coordinate research, monitor projects, analyze biological data, provide recommendations, and help develop management plans;
• Negotiate and obtain regulatory permits;
• Obtain a variety of State, Federal and Scientific Collection permits, including the USACE
• Qualified Wetland Delineator;
• Drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle;
• Maintain good physical conditioning for working rugged terrain and extreme weather conditions, and tolerating poison oak;
• Work unusual hours;
• Interpret topographical and geographic information systems (GIS) based maps; speak before the media and write ecological reports;
• Develop mitigation measures effectively;
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• And establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

Compensation

• Salary Range:  The starting salary for this vacancy will be at Step A of the salary range: $55.52 – $62.81 hourly.
• Notification:  All applicants will be notified of the disposition of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.

Application Information

Conditions of Employment:

• All East Bay Park Regional District employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
• A valid California State driver’s license is a condition of initial and continued employment in this position.
• May be required to attend public hearings and other meetings which may be scheduled outside of normal work hours.
• The selected candidate must pass the Park District’s Level 1 background check, which consists of Department of Justice (DOJ) fingerprinting, professional references, and education verification. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all hired applicants will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.

Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:

1. A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
2. Completed supplemental questions

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system.  If you have previously applied on GovernmentJobs.com, please take care to update your existing profile.  Applications are accepted online only.  Our online application system is provided by NeoGov.  If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.

Union Affiliation: East Bay Regional Parks Employees, Local 2428, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in an Agreement between the Park District and Local 2428.  The probationary period for this classification is nine (9) months.

Selection Process:  The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.

Special Testing Arrangements:  If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154.

Tentative Date of Examinations:
April 2023

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.