State of Maryland

A Conservation Aide is the advanced, semi-skilled level of work in a conservation agency.    Employees in this classification perform more complicated, semi-skilled work on an independent basis, supervise crews of semi-skilled and seasonal workers, and/or operate heavy vehicles in conservation construction and maintenance work.  Employees are responsible for work project completion, providing directions to subordinates, and proper operation and maintenance of vehicles and equipment used.  Employees in this classification supervise full time and seasonal workers with varying skill levels.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Conservation Foreman or other official and work is evaluated in terms of state of completion.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.  

Operates and maintains heavy vehicles such as bulldozers, plows, large trucks, etc.;

Acts as work foreman for variety of conservation-related, semi-skilled and unskilled work such as improving wildlife habitat, preparing soils for tree and shrub planting, maintenance of park facilities, forest fire suppression, fish and wildlife counts, etc.;

Provides training to new employees and seasonal workers;

Prepares monthly reports and may prepare work schedules, as required;

Recommends personnel discipline and efficiency ratings to a Conservation Foreman or other official;

Performs more complicated, semi-skilled work as assigned;

May operate and maintain other vehicles and equipment, as necessary;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of operation and maintenance of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, plows, large trucks, etc.;

Knowledge of conservation principles and practices;

Knowledge of elementary agricultural practices of the more common species of plant life and wildlife indigenous to the State and its geography;

Knowledge of fire suppression practices;

Ability to supervise work crews;

Ability to provide guidance and training to semi-skilled and unskilled workers;

Ability to make all necessary adjustments to operated vehicles and equipment;

Ability to prepare simple work reports and schedules;

Ability to carry out orders and instructions;

Ability to work effectively with fellow workers;

Ability to work independently on specialized assignments;

Ability to deal effectively with the general public.

Education:   None.

Experience: One year of experience performing advanced, semi-skilled level of work in a State conservation agency.

1. Some positions in this classification are assigned duties which will require the individual to be examined by a physician. After an offer of employment, applicants for such positions will be given a medical examination to certify the ability to perform the essential job functions.

2. Candidates must be willing to travel and be available in any part of the State.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit A, Labor and Trades classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.