Land and Water Conservation Fund Specialist (Recreation and Conservation Program Specialist)

Are you skilled in parks and recreation management and eager to make a positive impact in our communities? The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is looking for candidates for a Recreation and Conservation Program Specialist position. Your role involves supporting the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program and the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program in Pennsylvania. These programs play a crucial role in helping municipalities across the state create new outdoor recreational opportunities for residents. By joining our team, you will contribute to enhancing the quality of life for Pennsylvanians through improved access to parks and recreational facilities. If you are passionate about community development and outdoor recreation, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

In this position, you will oversee the federal LWCF program and the ORLP program. These federal initiatives offer financial support to municipalities in Pennsylvania that seek grants for outdoor recreation acquisition or development. Your responsibilities will include formulating policies and procedures to guide the implementation of these programs. This entails establishing and recommending statewide goals, objectives, and priorities, ensuring alignment with relevant state and federal regulations, and conducting program evaluations while preparing comprehensive reports on findings and suggestions.

Additionally, this role involves managing both state and federal grants related to outdoor recreation and conservation, as well as executing statewide projects and special initiatives. You will ensure adherence to the requirements for lands acquired or developed with state and federal funding, ensuring their use for recreational, park, and conservation purposes in perpetuity.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with 60-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time up to 5 days per pay period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Please check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year of experience as a Recreation and Conservation Advisor 2 (commonwealth title); or
• Three years of professional experience in parks, recreation, or natural resource conservation administration, planning, or development; and a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation, landscape architecture, environmental sciences, city, regional, urban, or environmental planning, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements will eliminate you from consideration for this position.

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.