Ecological Stewardship Senior Manager

It’s a great time to join the City of Boulder!

Application Deadline:
October 31, 2024

Compensation Details:
Full Pay Range: 90,958.40 - 135,096.00
Generally, the hiring range is from the minimum up to 80% of the range. This is a full-time salaried position.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40

Benefit Eligibility Group:
Non Union (30+ Hours)

Locate the Benefit Eligibility Group value on the Employee Benefit Eligibility document to identify the benefits offered for this job.

Job Description Summary:
Under general direction of the Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Resource Stewardship Deputy Director, the Ecological Stewardship Senior Manager leads, directs, manages, coordinates and tracks the impact of the OSMP wildlife ecology, wetland/riparian ecology and grassland ecology teams. The Ecological Stewardship Senior Manager is responsible for setting the vision and practices of these teams which aids in sharing the department’s vision, mission, and initiatives, and collaborates closely with multiple work groups, other city departments, external partners and agencies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Contributes to the strategic leadership of OSMP, including:

• Serves as an active participant in the department management team, setting vision and direction for the department through annual work planning and budget development, ensuring alignment with broader city strategies and goals, communicating a positive vision of the future and inspiring passion for delivering excellent programs and services.
• Establishes and ensures a culture that models city values, provides effective leadership, and promotes high performance.
• Maintains and promotes organizational norms in internal and external business conduct.
• Serves in a leadership capacity on city-wide initiatives and issues related to the department; attends Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT) meetings as needed; leads the preparation of information, documents and makes presentations for the OSBT and City Council as needed or required.

• Provides vision, goals, motivation, and multi-programmatic delivery for the work group, within broad outlines provided by leadership, working together as part of a department and city-wide team to support the overall charter and mission.
• As part of the Resource and Stewardship Division, work in a collaborative manner to lead the Ecological Stewardship staff in delivery of work through multiple programs including Wildlife Ecology, Grassland Ecology, and Wetlands and Riparian Ecology.
• Through these programs, provide decision-makers, staff, and the public with information about ecological communities and management on open space lands.
• Oversees strategic development, prioritization, and coordination of work within the work group, including research, design, management, and monitoring, to ensure operational consistency and collaboration, meet department goals, and resolve problems.
• Leads and directs the work group and related projects by identifying, prioritizing, and coordinating activities to ensure that departmental needs are met, and that service delivery is provided in a coordinated, efficient, and effective manner.
• May contribute individual work in the area of ecological research and natural areas management.
• Builds effective alliances with other department divisions, city departments, local, state and federal agencies and public interest groups; coordinate with appropriate agencies and partners to ensure timelines, regulatory requirements, public process requirements, and budgetary constraints are met.
• Develops client relationships and provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers through careful listening and understanding of client issues and by communicating research findings, proposals, specifications, and project statuses to ensure multiple management objectives are met.
• Manages capital and operating budgets associated with the work group and related projects; responsible for work group business processes; pursues grant opportunities related to work group goals.
• Brings the best practices and objective scientific research available to support management decisions.
• Ensures that ecological values are considered, supported, and impacts mitigated to the extent practical before proceeding with uses of open space lands.
• Provides timely and quality delivery of permitting processes and proactive regulatory compliance advice.

• Supervises and provides direction to work group staff, typically Sr Ecologists and Ecologists.
• Creates a respectful, trusting, and supportive environment.
• Proactively and positively communicates city and department initiatives to work group staff.
• Is clear about the context and scope of each program within the work group and aligns program contributions with the department mission and charter in the most effective way possible.
• Leads and mentors work group staff based on principles of empowerment, listening, standards of excellence, city and department values, community connections, and responsiveness.
• Develops, updates, implements, and monitors a work plan and longer-term strategy for each program within the work group.
• Ensures that tasks and projects are completed in a timely and quality manner in accordance with established scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Recognizes the needs of staff, coaches them, and seeks training and experiential opportunities to help develop skills and capacity.
• Conducts annual performance evaluations for standard staff, ensures required training needs are being met, and manages personnel budgets.

• Develops and offers advice and objectives for inclusion in department plans that support ecological program goals, including recommendations for property acquisitions.
• Brings forward the best practices and/or objective scientific research available to inform management decisions.
• Reviews department project designs, permits, and leases to make recommendations for improvements to better meet ecological goals.
• Collaborates with department staff to develop, train, and implement best management practices for recreational, scenic, agricultural, and conservation projects to protect ecological resources.
• Contributes design recommendations and monitoring to help ensure department compliance with regulatory requirements related to ecological program disciplines.
• Works as part of a team to coordinate staff response to issues related to ecological program disciplines.
• Participates in revisions and updates to relevant sections of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, and other regional or statewide planning initiatives.

• Develops and conducts informational and interpretive presentations to educational institutions, organizations, and the general public.
• Provides periodic training for staff and volunteers.
• Develops and presents written and oral reports on programs and projects to division, department, and city management staff, city advisory boards, Open Space Board of Trustees, and City Council.
• Provides liaison role to external organizations for program disciplines, as applicable, representing department goals and integrating with the goals of others.
• Participates at a professional level in field of expertise.
• May publish scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.

• Performs related duties as required to meet the needs of the city.
• Maintains a high level of professionalism and integrity; provides excellent customer services to internal and external customers; listens to questions and concerns, evaluates issues and possible solutions, works collaboratively with the OSMP and other city teams to find solutions to challenges that arise; inspires confidence and respect; uses feedback from others to grow and develop.
• Takes proper safety precautions, anticipates unsafe circumstances, and acts accordingly to prevent accidents. Responsible for the safety of self, others, materials, and equipment. Uses all required safety equipment and follows all safety regulations, policies and procedures. Reports all accidents and damage to city property.
• Actively supports and upholds the city’s stated mission and values. Optimizes the use of resources; responsible for knowing and complying with all city and department policies; participating in professional trainings and development; and adhering to attendance and workplace attire policies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability that can be demonstrated to schedule and organize work using latitude in determining approach; taking a systems approach to problem solving; and setting/meeting a strategic vision.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, departments, governmental agencies, and the public.
• Ability to prepare effective written reports and public presentations, and to work and communicate effectively with diverse groups of people, including the ability to deal courteously with the public and land users.
• Ability to lead the response to issues which may have significant impact on processes or stakeholder groups.
• Skills that can be demonstrated in analysis and organization.
• Ability to plan and coordinate the work of others, and to provide feedback to coworkers, volunteers and seasonal employees for the continuous improvement of operations.
• Ability to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Ability to use a variety of ecological research and monitoring methods.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to assume responsibility and to prioritize and resolve problems. Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability that can be demonstrated to work well as a leader and be creative in implementing new project ideas.
• Ability to cope with change, shift gears comfortably, and handle risk and uncertainty.
• Ability and willingness to attend evening meetings and work early or late hours as necessary.
• Ability physically and willing to work in adverse weather and field conditions.
• Ability to use all safety equipment.
• Ability to understand how to get things done in the organizational or planning environment. Uses interpersonal skills and relationships to work through available processes and resources, using both informal and formal channels to achieve results.
• Ability to enjoy working hard, be action-oriented, and seize opportunities.
• Ability to build effective teams; create strong morale and spirit; share wins and successes; foster open dialogue; let people finish and be responsible for their work; define success in terms of the whole team; create a feeling of belonging in the team; build trust.
• Knowledge of ArcGIS and Microsoft Office.
• Skills in written and verbal communication at an excellent level. Foster relationship building and skilled in conflict resolution.
• Valid driver's license and ability to maintain an acceptable motor vehicle record.
• Have and maintain acceptable background information, including criminal conviction history.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge that can be demonstrated of ecological research and natural areas management and conservation techniques and activities in Western High Plains and/or Rocky Mountain Front Range Foothills ecosystems.
• Skills at a proficient level with ArcGIS.
• Advanced degree in Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Biology, Zoology, Wildlife Management, Environmental Science, Water Resources, or related field.
• Five (5) or more years of successful experience supervising professional employees such as natural resource, resource management, or scientific personnel as well as multiple professional work teams.
• Demonstrated experience working in public land management and conservation.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Biology, Zoology, Wildlife Management, Environmental Science, Water Resources, or related field.
• Seven (7) years’ work experience demonstrating a working knowledge of natural resource management, natural areas management, ecological research, or ecological management.
• At least two (2) years of experience managing budgets, contracts and partnerships for a program of similar size and complexity.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience in managing an operational budget and identifying financial priorities.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans.
• Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience supervising professional employees such as natural resource, resource management, or scientific personnel, including developing work plans, coordinating projects, hiring, training, evaluating and managing staff in all aspects of related work.

SUPERVISION

Supervision Received: Deputy Director of Resource Stewardship

Supervision Exercised: Ecologists and Senior Ecologists within the wildlife, wetland/riparian and grassland ecology programs. Temporary or seasonal field crews, contractors, volunteers, and interns.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Demands and Mental Effort:
Ability to perform a wide range of physical and manual tasks in an outdoor environment. Physical ability to stand, bend, walk, and kneel. Ability to carry up to 40 pounds while hiking on rough terrain. Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities that permits the employee to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person. Sufficient vision or other powers of observation that permits the employee to review, evaluate and prepare a variety of written documents and materials. Sufficient manual dexterity that permits the employee to operate computer equipment and other office equipment. Work may include extended periods of time viewing a computer video monitor and/or operating a keyboard. Ability to work under stress from demanding deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities and conditions.

Work Environment:
Works in a clean, comfortable environment, and also works in an outdoor environment year-round. May be exposed to dangerous wildlife (e.g., rattlesnakes, mountain lions, stinging insects), toxic chemicals (e.g., pesticides), and dangerous weather conditions (e.g., heat, cold, lightning).

Machines and equipment used include but are not limited to the following:
Frequently uses standard office equipment including personal computers, calculators, cell phones, and copy machines; vehicles including four-wheel drive vehicles; a range of field measurement equipment.

Additional Job Description:
Last updated: October 2024

The City of Boulder is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected statute. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please send a request to