Natural Resource Specialist 2 (PCN 10-N23018)

Salary: $28.31 Hourly

Location : Anchorage, AK

Job Type: Long Term Nonperm

Job Number: 42371

Department: Natural Resources

Division: Mining, Land & Water

Opening Date: 09/26/2023

Closing Date: 10/6/2023 5:00 PM Alaska

Division: Mining, Land & Water

Position Open To: Alaska Residents Only

Bargaining Unit: General Government

Range: 16

Job Description

The Department of Natural Resources is recruiting for a bright, resourceful and enthusiastic professional to serve as Natural Resource Specialist II in the Public Access Assertion and Defense (PAAD) Section of the Division of Mining, Land and Water.

Mission and Culture
The PAAD Section is a small, tightly-knit group of resourceful, dedicated and creative professionals who strive to ensure that Alaska’s Constitutional Promises of public access to natural resources, lands and waters are kept for all Alaskans. Simply put, the vast treasures of Alaska are out of reach to most Alaskans in the absence of the public access that our trails, our rivers, our lakes and our other waters provide. The work of the PAAD Section spans many diverse fields such as law, history, archeology, hydrology, geomorphology and geology; it involves extensive involvement in litigation and administrative proceedings to enforce public access rights; it utilizes cutting-edge technologies, practices and techniques in collecting and presenting data in support of its mission; and remote fieldwork to perform its important duties.

The PAAD Section has two primary public access missions: (1) protecting state title to submerged lands and navigable waters statewide and (2) protecting state title to RS 2477 rights-of-way and other public trail networks statewide. This mission is accomplished in numerous ways: through litigation in the federal and state court system to quiet state title; through the federal and state administrative process, including, but not limited to, applications for Recordable Disclaimers of Interest (RDIs) for navigable waters and state navigability determinations; through administrative determinations concerning the validity of identified RS 2477 rights-of-way; and through other means designed to ensure vital public access in perpetuity.

The PAAD Section prides itself upon both the quality and quantity of positive results that it obtains, as well as its professionalism, stewardship and tenacity in preserving lawful access to the vast natural resources that are owned by the people of the state.

Core Responsibilities
The Natural Resource Specialist II for the PAAD Section has the following primary responsibilities:

1. Assist PAAD staff in compiling and analyzing data for the Alaska Navigable Waters Map which provides an authoritative reference regarding navigable waters and submerged lands owned by the State of Alaska and available as public access routes.
2. Assist PAAD staff in compiling and analyzing data for the DNR RS 2477 database that provides an authoritative reference regarding this vital transportation network across the State of Alaska that includes providing public access to many remote and otherwise inaccessible areas.
3. Utilize ArcGIS for a variety of PAAD projects including, but not limited to, the creation of maps, storymaps, and geographical databases and performing sophisticated geospatial analysis to advance mission objectives.
4. Assist PAAD staff with diverse navigability projects, including quiet-title litigation in state and federal courts as well as state and federal administrative proceedings.
5. Assist PAAD staff with diverse public access easement projects, including quiet-title litigation in state and federal courts as well as state and federal administrative proceedings.
6. Assist PAAD with necessary fieldwork to support the public-access mission in many remote and spectacular areas of Alaska.

Benefits of Joining Our Team
The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of experts and professionals from numerous fields (LAW, History and Archeology, Hydrology, Geomorphology, Surveying and Mapping, etc.); will have the opportunity to participate in high-profile and substantive projects advancing state strategic public-access priorities; will have opportunities to participate in remote fieldwork in gorgeous areas statewide; and will be part of an elite team within the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

The Working Environment You Can Expect
The PAAD Section is stationed together on the tenth floor of the Atwood Building in Anchorage. We routinely attend meetings, court proceedings and administrative proceedings elsewhere. We also perform remote fieldwork across the state (recent projects include fieldwork within the Brooks Range, the Fortymile Region, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, and numerous locations within the southcentral areas). The daily work environment will include interaction with PAAD teammates on numerous and diverse projects with frequent interaction with other state and federal staff, outside experts, attorneys, user groups, Native Corporations and the general public.

Who We Are Looking For
An ideal candidate for this Natural Resource Specialist II position will be a creative and motivated individual who has the following desired knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a larger team that includes scientists, other technical experts and attorneys.
• Commitment to preparing a professional work product that is defensible under intense scrutiny through cross-examination and peer review.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS (a candidate who has fluency is preferred).

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in:

• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Decision-Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
• Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

equivalent to those typically gained by:

Education in a natural resource field (such as forestry, geology, agronomy, and hydrology), public administration, planning, economics, cartography, or a closely related field and/or professional level experience in natural resource management.

Definitions:

“Competencies” means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.

“Professional experience” means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession’s principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to one’s own judgment.

“Qualified” means is assessed to credibly possess the competencies needed to learn the job in a reasonable period.

“Training” and “education” in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.

“Typically gained by” means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.

Special Note:

For purposes of the minimum qualifications, natural resource management is defined as the management of the land, water, mineral, forest, oil, gas, agricultural, archaeological, natural and cultural history, park, and related surface and subsurface resources. Experience or education in natural resource management means involvement in the above resources exclusively. Those with experience or education in managing these resources may specialize in different management functions (for example, planning, regulation, research or title). All of this experience is applicable to the natural resource management definition. Some positions may require education in a particular area of natural resource management or specific technical knowledge and training gained through specialized education or progressively greater responsibilities at the lower levels of the series.

Additional Required Information

**NOTE: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY**

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY
This recruitment is open to Alaska Residents only. Applicants must meet to be considered for employment at this time.

At the time of application,the applicant must attach as individual documents the following items (If unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below):

• Cover letter – see instructions below.
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae
• Academic transcripts.

If selected for an interview, the applicant must provide the following:

• Three professional references.
• Copy of Alaska driver’s license
• Pre-Employment Certification form ()

SPECIAL NOTICES

• This position may have occasional fieldwork in remote areas within the State of Alaska. This means that overnight, multi-day camping in a wilderness setting may be required during the open-water season; travel by small aircraft, boat,s and ATVs; and long days of self-propelled river travel and data collection are not uncommon. Appropriate training will be provided to the successful candidate, but all interested applicants should be aware that working in a wilderness setting may occur for this position.

Application Notice
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via a hardcopy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal, such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to apply successfully. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska “” page. Your application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.

Cover Letter
A cover letter is required for this position. The cover letter should explain why you want to work within the PAAD Section and how your knowledge, skills and abilities will benefit the PAAD Section. Your cover letter will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment.

Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online or, if unable to attach it to your application, fax or email it to the contact number provided below.

Education
If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of the interview.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the post-secondary institution. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Work Experience
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.

Note: Attaching a resume is not an alternative to filling out the application entirely. Noting, “see resume” or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

Bargaining Unit
If you are a current state employee, please mark the union you are a member of at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.

Firearms
This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EEO Statement
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or 465-4095 in Juneau or (907) 465-3412 (TTY) or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.
Contact Information
Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to

For applicant password assistance, please visit

For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

Name: Kara Moore

Title: Natural Resource Manager 2

Phone: 907-269-6008

Email: kara.moore@alaska.gov

Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman’s Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
  • The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
    • General Government
    • Labor, Trades and Crafts
    • Public Safety Employees Association
    • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

See for additional information

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Eleven paid holidays a year
• Gym discounts at participating fitness providers in multiple locations throughout the state.

See for additional information

01

A cover letter is required to complete your application for this position; failure to provide may result in your not being eligible for an interview. Have you attached a cover letter that follows the directions listed in the job announcement?

• Yes
• No

02

I understand that the education and/or experience being used to meet the minimum qualifications for this position must be adequately documented in this application in order to be considered. Attaching a resume is not an alternative to completing the application in full. Failure to submit a complete application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and your removal from consideration for this job opening.

• I acknowledge that I understand this requirement.

Required Question