County of Sonoma

Land Stewardship Manager

(Open Space District Program Manager)

Recruitment #1005-1299-OSD

Salary:

$40.91 - $49.74/hour; $7,115.34 - $8,651.11/month; $85,384.08 - $103,813.32/year

Department:

Ag. Preservation & Open Space

Date Opened:

5/17/2010 8:00:00 AM

Filing Deadline:

6/7/2010 11:59:00 PM

Job Type:

Full Time (40 hrs/week)

Recruiter:

Maggie Martin

HR Tech:

Kathy Williams

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INTRODUCTION

The Land Stewardship Manager (Open Space District Program Manager) position offers a unique opportunity to play a key management role with the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, one of the nation's leading open space conservation programs. Since completing its first conservation project in 1992, the District's portfolio of protected lands has grown exponentially to almost 77,000 acres. This position will oversee and manage the District's conservation easement and fee lands programs, including: land management and stewardship, natural resources planning and management, and development of land management policies. The Land Stewardship Manager, a key member of the District's management team; will carry out strategic initiatives, implement key District policies, programs and activities related to land management and capital improvements, as well as operations & maintenance.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Land Stewardship Manager (Open Space District Program Manager) with the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, will be responsible for developing new conservation partnerships at the local and state levels to maximize outside funding for District projects and programs. In addition, the Land Stewardship Manager will work to advance the District's mission and strategic vision; direct policy development related to natural resources management; manage project planning and implementation; develop budgets and work plans specific to fee lands and conservation easements; serve as a liaison to various public, non-profit, and advisory groups and agencies; and supervise a professional level staff.

The District is seeking an ideal candidate who has the following:

A passion for conserving land and natural resources for the benefit of future generations

Significant experience working with public agencies and non-profit organizations in operations and management of land and natural resources

Demonstrated ability to exercise effective leadership in furtherance of program goals, objectives and strategic initiatives

Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with management teams, staff, government officials, federal, state and local agencies, community groups and the general public

Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to exercise initiative, good judgment and tact

Understanding of emerging public policy issues affecting land use and land preservation, including habitat protection; water resources and watershed management; and climate change

Effective management of staff and teams to complete projects on deadline

Effective written and verbal communication skills

Proven ability to make presentations before boards, committees and citizen's groups

In addition to the salary listed above, this position enjoys the generous benefit package provided to management employees including 1937 Act Retirement Plan fully integrated with Social Security, deferred compensation, health and welfare benefits, domestic partner benefits, paid time off, and management benefit allowance.

About the District:
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District permanently protects the diverse agricultural, natural resource, and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations. Created in 1990 by Sonoma County voters, the District has protected almost 77,000 acres of land to date through conservation easements and outright purchase. The District is a countywide dependent special district funded by a voter-approved quarter cent sales tax with the Board of Supervisors serving ex officio as the District Board of Directors. In 2006, voters reauthorized the sales tax for another 20 years through 2031. The District was recently recognized for conservation excellence by the National Association of Counties and the Trust for Public Land. Learn more about the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District at www.sonomaopenspace.org. To view the color brochure for this position, visit: Open Space District Color Brochure.

While governed by the County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors and sharing the employee benefits offered by the County, employees of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.

About the Region: Located less than an hour's drive north of San Francisco, Sonoma County combines in one location the beautiful Pacific Coastline, award winning wineries, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities.

Sonoma County is the largest county in the North Bay, covering approximately 1,600 square miles, and home to over 475,000 residents. It has a strong and diverse agricultural economy and a commitment to preserving its farmland and open space. Santa Rosa, with a population of over 155,000, is the County seat and center of government, commerce, and medical facilities. Santa Rosa and the County's eight other incorporated cities each maintain a small-town feel, despite ongoing growth. Excellent health care services are available at several acute care hospitals, a trauma center, and a wide variety of specialty medical facilities. Fine educational institutions,including Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University, and local schools that rank considerably better in the Academic Performance Index than the state as a whole, further contribute to Sonoma County's exceptional quality of life.

For local community information, please click here:
Sonoma County Connections , Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce.

Important Note: If employees of the County of Sonoma or its affiliated special districts/agencies (SCWA, CDC, NCAPD) accept a position with SCAPOSD; they, in effect, terminate their employment and are not considered as transfers or promotions.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Considerable knowledge of: the principles and practices of land conservation, natural resource management, use, site and environmental planning; pertinent federal, state and local laws and ordinances related to land use, planning, zoning, and environmental protection; emerging natural resources management issues including climate change and adaptation, water resources management and watershed planning, and mitigation and adaptive management tools and principles; principles of research and statistics pertaining to the analysis of planning data; grant application and administrative procedures.

Working knowledge of: principles and practices of supervision, training, performance evaluation, project management, and policy development.

Ability to: direct, coordinate and conduct open space planning and natural resources management activities and projects; direct, assign and review the work of other staff and contractors; recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient open space and land use planning and natural resources management services; understand and interpret various title reports, boundary descriptions, deed restrictions and legal issues; assist General Manager and management team in developing and administering contracts and grants; review proposed projects which may impact District lands, goals, and interests and make detailed recommendations for appropriate response; research and analyze data pertaining to a variety of open space planning and implementation matters and develop effective courses of action; establish and maintain effective cooperative relationships with people encountered in the course of work including staff, private consultants, contractors, public officials, and the general public; perform analytical work carefully and accurately; speak and write clearly, concisely and effectively; exercise independent judgment on diverse assignments; make presentations before boards and citizen groups; use a personal computer, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience: A Bachelor's degree from a college or university with significant coursework in planning, geography, environmental studies, agricultural or resource management, landscape architecture, business or public administration, economics or other related field. Four years professional level experience in one or more of the following areas: land conservation, open space or resource planning, park planning, environmental protection, land use or other related field, combined with some experience in real estate negotiations and program management. Experience in a similar agency and/or Master's degree is highly desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Working Conditions: The primary work is in the District administrative office; however, some duties may require working outdoors, traversing rough terrain on foot and by four wheel drive vehicle on unpaved roads. This position may require working extended hours to meet project or other program-related deadlines.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Application Instructions: The information contained in the application and responses to the supplemental questions at the end of this job announcement will be evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the employment process. Applicants should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions. You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, please list each position separately. Failure to comply with these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

PLEASE RESPOND TO THE MANDATORY SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS.

Application materials and responses to the supplemental questions in this job announcement will be reviewed by the Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District. Candidates who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be invited for an interview.

The information contained in the application and responses to the supplemental questions at the end of this job announcement will be evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the employment process. Applicants should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions. You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, please list each position separately. Failure to comply with these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification. Application materials and responses to the supplemental questions in this job announcement will be reviewed by the . Candidates who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be invited for an interview.

Selection interviews will be scheduled within three weeks following the final filing date for this position.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

In an effort to mitigate the impact of budget reductions on the County workforce, the County of Sonoma implemented a program of 5 days of mandatory time off for the current fiscal year. The amount of pay deducted for the unpaid furlough time was determined by the employee’s regularly allocated work schedule and the number of pay periods remaining in the current fiscal year in order to accomplish a 40 hour contribution by June 28, 2010.

In order to minimize the impact of the unpaid furlough on employees, a deduction is being withheld each pay period from the date of hire through the end of the fiscal year in June 2010. The 40 hour deduction is being amortized over the period between date of hire and the end of the fiscal year in June 2010.

Employees hired after January 3, 2010, and prior to the end of the fiscal year in June 2010, will accrue unpaid leave hours (MTO) on a pro-rated basis. Deduction of the accrued MTO hours will be amortized over the remaining pay periods in the fiscal year. Hours accumulated as a result of this deduction shall be used as time off prior to the use of any accumulated vacation leave, by mutual agreement of the employee and their department head or designee. MTO for part-time employees will be pro-rated, based upon their assigned FTE.

Due to continuing budget issues, the County is considering extending the MTO/furlough program into fiscal year 2010-2011. The program could be up to 12 MTO days. This is not official and will need to be approved by the Board of Supervisors, but job candidates should note the possibility of this program. If an offer of employment is made between now and the program being approved and made official, the appointing authority will inform job candidates of the status.

SONOMA COUNTY BENEFITS

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS SUMMARY—MANAGEMENT*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Generous paid time off:

Vacation Leave: Generous vacation accrual (15 days/year for new hires) based on years of service.
Additional annual paid leave: 60 hours for Administrative Management employees.
Sick Leave: 12 days accrued annually with no limit on accumulation.
Holidays: 11 paid holidays plus 17 hours annual compensatory time.

Comprehensive Retirement:

Retirement Plan: Defined Benefit Plan with 3% @ 60 general retirement tax deferred contributory system under the County Retirement Act of 1937. Fully integrated with Social Security. 3% at 50 for most law enforcement management job classes.
Deferred Compensation: 457 plan and 4.5% County contribution towards 401(a) with contributions up to the IRS maximum.
Retiree medical: The County provides a reimbursement program to assist in funding health benefits upon retirement.

Exceptional Health and Welfare Plans:

Insurance: Vision and employee long term disability plan paid by the County. Dental coverage and choice of three health plans with generous portions of premiums paid by the County.
Cash Allowance: Effective May 2009 a cash allowance of approximately $600/month that may be used towards health contribution accounts, deferred compensation, or as cash.
Group Term Life Insurance: Equivalent to two times the annual salary is provided at County cost.
Professional Development: $950 per year for job related professional development activities, roll-over limit for unused funds, and $300 (taxable) for wellness or physical fitness. (This benefit is temporarily suspended due to budget issues through June 30, 2011.)
Tax exempt health/dependent care reimbursement program

And more...

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process, more details about benefits or retirement please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details on employment for management employees may be found at http://www.sonoma-county.org/hr/pdf/salary_resolution.pdf

*The benefits listed herein are intended to give job applicants a general sense of the excellent overall benefit package County of Sonoma employees enjoy. Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and applicants should confirm benefits for a particular position during the hiring process. Additionally, benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Updated 01/12/10